The crisis of 'identity' in high modernity

The concept of 'identity' is central to much contemporary sociology, reflecting a crisis that manifests itself in two ways. Firstly, there is a view that identity is both vital and problematic in this period of high modernity. Secondly, while this awareness is reflected in sociology, its accounts of identity are inconsistent, under-theorized and incapable of bearing the analytical load required. As a result, there is an inherent contradiction between a valuing of identity as so fundamental as to be crucial to personal well-being, and a theorization of 'identity' that sees it as something constructed, fluid, multiple, impermanent and fragmentary. The contemporary crisis of identity thus expresses itself as both a crisis of society, and a crisis of theory. This paper explores the diverse ways in which 'identity' is deployed before turning to case-studies of its use by Anthony Giddens and Manuel Castells. This strategy demonstrates the widespread and diverse concern with identity before exploring how problematic it has become, even in the work of two of the world's leading sociologists.     

Voice and Identity in a Bicultural/Bilingual Environment

Researchers have noted that with the onset of adolescence, girls' voices become muted and school achievement drops. Girls learn that the expression of strong feelings leads to distance from others, and that full use of their bodies and minds cause others discomfort. Self-esteem suffers and girls become at risk for destructive behaviors. Most studies have been done with middle class Caucasian girls. Those few studies done with young girls of color speak of girls on the margin who seem to resist losing their voices and their self-esteem. This article describes a study involving 5th–8th grade girls participating in an Advisory group program at a grammar school in a predominantly Mexican community of a large city. Group sessions were taped and analyzed for common themes including voice and self-esteem. Focus was directed to the influence of the bicultural/bilingual environment in analysis of group content. Implications for practice are included.     

党的三代领导集体关于民族与国家安全问题的论述

中国共产党自从成立以来就非常重视民族问题,尤其是重视解决民族与国家安全问题。本文从以毛泽东、邓小平、江泽民为核心的三代领导集体关于“民族与国家安全问题”的论述出发,总结了建国以来我党在处理这一问题中的决策、理论和成功的经验．     

文化力:综合国力竞争的重要内容和强大精神动力

十六大关于文化建设和文化体制改革的论述高度重视文化力和精神力在综合国力竞争中的地位和作用,具有重大意义。文化力的系统构成包括文化创新生产能力、对人民的文化聚合能力、文化产品生产者和消费者的综合素质和精神状态("士气战斗力")、对外部文化的影响力。文化的力量,深深熔铸于民族的生命力、创造力和凝聚力之中。     

学习十六大精神之我见

学习十六大精神,进一步提高对“三个代表”重要思想的认识,按照“三个代表”重要思想的根本要求保持与时俱进的精神状态,深刻认识全面建设小康社会奋斗目标的重要意义,紧紧围绕这一目标开展各项工作。     

"八大"路线中断带来的理论思考

从4个方面我党(包括毛泽东在内)的理论缺憾;我党缺乏领导经济工作的经验和能力;脱离实际,不尊重客观经济规律,急于求成;毛泽东的个人崇拜,个人专断,党内的民主制度不健全等,探讨了"八大"路线中断的原因及其引发的现实思考,从而更加坚定了我们对建设社会主义现代化事业的信心.     

危害国防利益罪适用中的竞合问题

在立法和司法上未能正确处理有关竞合问题,是新刑法首次确立的危害国防利益的犯罪罪名在一些地方很少适用的一个原因.正确处理危害国防利益罪涉及的"包含竞合"应坚持"特别法优于普通法"的司法适用原则;正确处理危害国防利益罪涉及的"交叉竞合"应在司法中适用"法益保护的完整性"原则;正确处理危害国防利益罪涉及的"并列竞合"有赖于刑法的修正或相关司法解释.只有做到这些,才能充分体现刑法单独规定危害国防利益罪的应有价值.     

Deviations From Desired Age at Marriage: Mental Health Differences Across Marital Status

Although several factors condition mental health differences between married and never‐married adults, given recent increases in marriage delay and permanent singlehood, one modifying factor—deviation from desired age at marriage—has yet to be examined. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (N = 7,277), the author tested whether deviation from desired age at marriage shapes the mental health of married and never‐married adults as well as mental health differences between them. The results showed that most respondents failed to meet their initial preference for age at marriage. Marrying both earlier and later than desired (compared to on time) resulted in poorer mental health and fewer benefits compared to never marrying. For the never‐married, mental health was best, and differences compared to the married were nonsignificant, for those nearest their desired age at marriage. As timing deviations increased, however, a mental health deficit among the never‐married emerged.     

Building a worldwide evaluation community: past, present, and future

This article describes recent efforts to build a worldwide evaluation community. It notes events that led to an almost 200 percent growth in the number of regional and national evaluation organizations in slightly more than one year. Profiles are provided on the present status of many national and regional evaluation organizations that participated in the W.K. Kellogg Foundation-sponsored international evaluation meeting in Barbados, West Indies. Afterwards, the authors engage in a scenario planning exercise to picture alternatives of what the future of international evaluation might look like.     

Drinking Game Participation Among Undergraduate Students Attending National Alcohol Screening Day

Abstract

Objectives, Participants, Methods: Drinking game participation has increased in popularity among college students and is associated with increased alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. The current study investigated drinking game participation among 133 undergraduates attending National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD) in April of 2007. Results: A large percentage of the sample reported lifetime (77%) and recent (52%) drinking game participation. Males were more likely to report recent participation and reported higher levels of consumption while playing drinking games. Drinking game participants were more likely to experience a range of alcohol-related problems, and the relationship between drinking game participation and alcohol-related problems was mediated by weekly alcohol consumption. Conclusions: These results suggest that drinking game participation is a risk factor for elevated levels of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. Programs should be developed to educate students about the risks of drinking game participation, and prevention programs like NASD should address drinking games.