A National Challenge: The Decline in MSW Admissions Applications

A steep and continuing national decline in MSW admissions applications is influencing decisions, the composition of the MSW applicant pool, student enrollments, and social work education programs. A recently recognized phenomenon, its patterns are consistent with national trends that show a shift in fields of study and choices of career. Factors in the decline include immediate and long-term economic considerations, as well as current lessened interest in social reform and human service. These changes pose such important issues for social work education and for the profession as questions regarding social work education programs and staff, quality of MSW education, and the numbers and qualifications of new MSWs.     

Gender Inequality,Processes of Adaptation,and Female Local Initiatives in Cash Crop Production in Northern Tanzania

This article contributes to development research, as well as research studying inequality in agricultural systems. We use empirical data from an ethnographic study in the village of Mamba, in northern Tanzania (2006–2009). This study analyzes the question of changing gender relations and the patriarchal constraints to collective action under market liberalization of cash crops. Our findings demonstrate that the shift to a market economy has influenced the nature of production relations, deepening inequalities in gender relations and the position of women. However, some women circumvent their disadvantaged situations through their association with various types of collective action groups or networks. In order to investigate the different impacts on women's lives, we analyze women's interest and motivations for these collective actions. We also identify the processes of adaptation to the new production relations through the coffee trade network and tomato cultivation groups, two local initiatives. We analyze the differences between these two forms of collective action and theorize on their different impacts on women's empowerment.