'Ladettes' and 'Modern Girls': 'troublesome' young femininities

‘Ladettes’ are argued to be a sign, and product, of contemporary development and change; their fortunes are presented as inextricably related to the conditions of late modernity. Using the past to shed light on the present, this paper considers whether fears and claims about the behaviour of some contemporary young women in Britain are exclusive to the present. Two data sets inform the discussion: first, representations of ladettes in national and local newspapers from 1995 to 2005; second, materials relating to the ‘modern girl’ published in the popular print media between 1918 and 1928. Although there have been important changes in the conditions of girlhood since the 1920s, this historical comparison highlights continuities in the representation of ‘troublesome’ youthful femininities. We explore similarities and differences in the characteristics attributed to the modern girls of the twenties and the ladettes of recent years, and the dominant discourses that underpin popular constructions of troublesome young women.     

Krafting the obesity message: A case study in framing and issues management

This study examined the application of framing theory in issues management. Using case study methodology, the researchers analyzed message frames used by Kraft Foods in its public response to the obesity crisis, how the Kraft frames were reported by the media and whether Kraft's approach might help define effective framing and issues management practices in public relations. The study suggested that framing was indeed useful in Kraft's attempt to manage the issue of obesity.     

The effectiveness of back pain and injury prevention programs in the workplace

Musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace cause thousands of injuries and cost industry billions of dollars yearly. Work injury prevention programs have been developed and implemented as a means for cost containment. A variety of preventive strategies have been investigated in primary research. The purpose of this review article is to examine the effectiveness of back injury and pain prevention programs in the workplace. Nine studies published between 1995 and 2000 were reviewed and analyzed. Studies used primarily one of three types of preventive strategies: 1) back belts, 2) education and task modification, and 3) education and task modification with workstation redesign. The effectiveness of back belts to prevent back pain and injury remains inconclusive. Positive outcomes were associated with studies reporting high compliance that used job-specific and individualized/small group education and training approaches. Themes that arose following a critical review of primary research studies are discussed.     

Schizophrenia and Family Therapy

The case presented is of a young man hospitalized twice for schizophrenic disorder before the commencement of family therapy. The therapy which dealt with the family system, specific pathological communication patterns and intra-psychic conflicts, is discussed. As the parents of the young man confronted their inter- and intra-personal problems, the function of his illness disappeared, along with his psychotic symptoms. While demonstrating the process of psychotherapy, the thesis that psychotic decompensation in young people often signifies severe family dysfunction is also presented. Accepting the ‘identified’ patient as such and ignoring the family dynamics may serve to create a chronic schizophrenic illness.     

On the place of reality in social work and psychoanalytic theory

This article reviews the theoretical concepts involving reality as these were used in orthodox psychoanalytic theory and concludes that purely empiricist thinking of the type common in Freud's time has contributed to problems experienced within the social work profession. It proposes the consideration of a view of meaningful reality as constructed through interpersonal transactions based on the model of the transitional object. This model may hold promise for better understanding of the relationship between the person and the situation, of some aspects of the treatment relationship, and ways in which to measure treatment effectiveness.     

Early Work Orientation & Later Situational Factors as Elements of Work Commitment Among Married Women College Graduates*

Using Becker's theory of commitment, national longitudinal data on 1961 college graduates are analyzed to determine the effects of early work orientation and the situational attributes of full-time work experience, husband's attitude and income, and number of children on the probability of 1968 employment among white married women. Work orientation is an insignificant predictor of work status and remains insignificant even when bolstered by any of the above variables. Similarly, the statistical interaction of other pairs of predictors makes no contribution to the probability of wives' employment. In the additive model, neither work orientation nor work experience affects employment probability. Three marriage-family variables are significant predictors: favorable husband, low income husband and absence of children. The findings are consistent with Becker's theory of nonconscious commitment.     

Contributions from linguistics to an understanding of affect in diagnosis and treatment

A brief overview of classical psychoanalytic theory about affect is provided, noting a current recognition of a need for better understanding of this important factor in treatment. A developmental approach to both language usage and affective expression is proposed as useful in diagnosis and treatment, especially with persons with severe ego deficits. Illustrative material from cases and a research project are provided to highlight the usefulness for clinical social workers of the growing knowledge about language acquisition.Parts of this paper are based on work done toward the dissertation in the Program of Advanced Studies at the Smith College School for Social Work.     

Ergonomics in a hospital and a university setting: The effect of worksite analysis on upper extremity work-related musculoskeletal disorders

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether individuals with work-related injuries receiving worksite analysis would have less lost workdays than individuals not receiving worksite analysis. Therapeutic management of work-related injuries in a hospital and a university setting were also compared. STUDY DESIGN: Over a one-year period, employees who sustained an upper extremity work-related injury were issued questionnaires regarding their injury, treatment, functional status and pain level. Participants were divided into three groups: group 1 consisted of hospital employees (N=14) who underwent worksite analysis, group 2 included university employees (N=15) who underwent worksite analysis whereas group~3 included university employees (N=14) who underwent no analysis. RESULTS: All groups were similar in demographics, functional status, and pain level. Satisfaction with the worksite analysis was similar for groups one and two. CONCLUSION: A pattern of less absenteeism but greater modified duty days was associated with those individuals undergoing worksite analysis.