College Age Lesbianism as a Developmental Phenomenon

Abstract

Based on clinical work with lesbian college students, this paper discusses a relationship between their lesbianism and the development of autonomy and intimacy. Three subgroups among the students are described, oriented respectively to: ideology, personal development, and interpersonal feelings. It is suggested that for these students lesbian orientation be understood in terms of ongoing ego development more than arrested psychosexual development. The students oriented to ideology and personal development seem to be experiencing a shift from authority and sense of identity located externally, in others' expectations, to a more autonomous, self-governing self. The interpersonally-oriented students seem more focally involved with issues of intimacy than of autonomy. The cultural context is seen as crucial to the lesbianism of these students, particularly traditional cultural assumptions of male dominance and more recent changes in womens' attitudes toward themselves. It is assumed that homosexuality may have many styles, origins and meanings, and that this paper does not elucidate the experience of all lesbians or even all lesbian college students.     

THE VALUE OF THE VOTE: A MODEL AND TEST OF THE EFFECTS OF TURNOUT ON DISTRIBUTIVE POLICY

This article demonstrates important effects of voter participation. A model shows why, for some types of distributive policy, incumbents are more likely to be reelected if high-turnout regions receive more funds than do low-turnout regions. The model predicts, therefore, greater allocations to high-turnout regions. This prediction is tested with county-level data from the New Deal's Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA). The estimates suggest that by voting rather than not voting, an individual increased by about $30 the expected FERA allocation for the individual's county. The size of the estimated effect differs across states. ( JEL D72, N42)     

Consumer Trust in the U.S. Food System: An Examination of the Recreancy Theorem*

Abstract Because consumer opinions to an increasing extent affect the structure and management of the U.S. food system, it is important for social scientists to accurately model consumer trust in this system so they can better understand and anticipate public responses to existing or proposed food‐related regulatory policies and facilitate effective partnership building between food‐system representatives and the public. The recreancy theorem posits that individuals' trust in and support for societal institutions reflects their perceptions of the competence and fiduciary responsibility of institutional actors. This theorem might prove effective at identifying the key determinants of consumers' trust in and support for institutional actors within the U.S. food system, whether these actors be representatives of large‐scale, internationally operated firms or small‐scale, locally operated businesses. We used data from two nationwide samples of adults to test the recreancy theorem for seven to nine pertinent institutional actors each within five areas of the U.S. food system: food safety, nutrition, treatment of workers, environmental protection, and treatment of livestock. The resulting 55 tests of the theorem entailed the estimation of 55 structural equation models to evaluate model fit and the efficacy of perceived competence and fiduciary responsibility in explaining trust and support. The results of analyzing the structural equation models separately and overall indicate support for the recreancy theorem. Based upon our results, we offer suggestions for enhancing public‐private partnership formation within the U.S. food system.     

„100 Jahre und kein bisschen glücklich“

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