Funerals and families: locating death as a relational issue

Situated at the intersection of the Sociology of Death and Sociology of the Family, this paper argues that the organization and funding of funerals is an overlooked and available lens through which to examine cultural and political norms of familial obligation. Drawing on interviews with claimants to the Department for Work and Pensions’ Social Fund Funeral Payment, the paper shows how both responsibility for the organization and payment of a funeral is assumed within families, and how at times this can be overridden by the state. In highlighting the tension between reflexive choice and political norms of family espoused in this policy context, it supports Gilding's ( 2010 ) assertion that understanding family practice through reflexivity alone neglects the institutions and conventions within which ‘doing’ family takes place. In so doing, the paper further makes a case for families and relational negotiations and tensions to be more explicitly included within sociological understanding(s) of death more generally.     

Beijing Released a New Model of Family Doctor Service

正On May 7,Beijing released a new policy about family doctor service model.In the future,residents in Beijing can sign up with family doctors.Once a resident does that,he can make appointments with thecorresponding doctor directly.When having medical diagnosis,he will also be"allocated"to the signed     

Minister Li Bin Attended the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2014

正During April 8~11,2014,Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2014 was convened in Boao,Hainan.Ms Li Bin,Minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission(NHFPC)attended the opening ceremony and spoke at the roundtable of"Mission of International Medical Tourism Pilot".Li pointed out in her speech at the roundtable that,in 2013,the State Council issued Some Opinions on     

吴陵家班谱传奇——明清泰州地区昆曲家班及其主人考论

古称吴陵的江苏泰州地区的戏曲文化，作为泰州地域文化的突出代表，有着极为深厚的文化底蕴。除蜚声国内外的“梅桃柳——戏曲三家村”外，明清时期泰州地区众多的昆曲家班可谓泰州戏曲文化史上最辉煌的一幕。明代中后期至清代中前期，泰州地区曾出现过十多个昆曲家班。一定程度上使得明末至清中前期的泰州，成为地区性的昆曲创作与表演中心，谱写了泰州戏曲史的一代传奇。根据目前可见部分地方文献和中国戏曲史料，可对明清泰州地区昆曲家班及其主人、形成原因及对后世之影响等作初步考证。     

西昌姓氏“巫”读音考辨

《现代汉语词典》、《新华字典》里对＂巫＂的注音都是＂wū＂,没有作为姓氏的特殊注音。西昌人却把姓氏＂巫＂读成[mu21],经过调查走访、查阅资料,发现西昌巫氏族人,多系清朝时＂湖广填四川＂移民运动从广东嘉应州迁徙到四川的客家人,客家话等南方方言仍保持古语语音＂,巫＂属微母字,而在客家话中很多古代微母的字声母都是[m]。     

凉山新农村建设中的彝族习惯法因素探析

凉山彝族习惯法在凉山新农村建设中具有不可忽视的重要作用。凉山彝族习惯法与传统伦理道德的结合,深入彝族社会,其公开性、凝聚力和向心力,具有广泛的约束作用。凉山彝族家支浓厚的民族道德色彩、注重家支以及家庭内部和睦,在调解民间纠纷、化解社会矛盾、维护社会稳定、促进社会和谐、全面建设社会主义新农村方面发挥着积极作用。     

Decisional conflict among Chinese family caregivers regarding nursing home placement of older adults with dementia

Purpose: To describe factors influencing decisional conflict among Chinese family caregivers regarding nursing home placement of older adults with dementia. Design and Methods: Individual interviews were used to collect data with 30 Chinese family caregivers of older adults with dementia in Taiwan. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Factors influencing caregivers' decisional conflict included the Chinese value of filial piety, limited financial resources and information, placement willingness of the older adult, family disagreement, distrust of nursing home care quality, and limited nursing home availability. Factors influencing caregivers' decisional conflict post placement included disappointment with nursing home care quality and self-blame for the placement decision. Implications: Findings resulting from this study indicate that Chinese family caregivers experience decisional conflict during the nursing home decision making process as well as after the placement decision. It is important to provide appropriate decision support beginning before admission and across the trajectory of the older person's nursing home stay in order to decrease decisional conflict and facilitate a more positive decision making process for caregivers, family members, and older adults with dementia.     

人祭习俗商盛周衰原因新探

商代盛行的巫术观念是人祭广泛实行的思想根据;异族间文化冲突所引起的种族仇恨,使得商人大量杀害异族以祭祀神灵,是人祭习俗在商代盛行的现实根据。人祭习俗在周代呈现衰败的趋势,这一方面是由于先周时期,周人本无人祭习俗;另一方面是由于商末周初,周人进行思想文化大变革,提出＂敬德保民＂的口号,人的地位得到抬高。     

《家族歌》所反映的传统服制及法律体现

《家族歌》里的亲属称谓有11个,这些称谓的集中表现就是服制。亲属们在服制中的差异同样也体现在法律中,传统法律中处处都体现了对于家庭内部与常人的规定及审理不同,尤其表现在服制定罪和不孝罪上。其法律中家族部分的刑事或民事规定,集中体现了"亲亲"的原则。尽管在西方也有不少国家有关于家庭内部与常人的规定及审理不同的法律,但是都没有中国繁琐而精细。     

已婚流动育龄妇女计生公共服务现状与需求满意度——基于在江苏部分城市进行的问卷调查

通过对苏州等城市部分已婚流动育龄妇女进行的问卷调查,考察了江苏已婚流动育龄妇女群体接受计划生育公共服务的现状、需求及其满意度。调查发现,已婚流动育龄妇女对人口计生部门的工作认可程度较高,但为其提供的计生公共服务中还存在着管理机构建设滞后、经费投入不足、计生服务供给不能满足需要、管理客体缺乏生殖健康意识等问题,据此提出构建以政府为主、多元参与的流动人口计生公共服务供给模式,增加财政投入,提高流动人口计生公共服务质量等政策建议。