A century of change in occupational segregation 1891–1991

Abstract Data from the Population Censuses for 1891 and 1991 are analysed to assess long term trends in the degree and pattern of occupational segregation. Two competing theories are addressed: that occupational segregation is linked to levels of female employment, and that occupational segregation was prompted in the nineteenth century by a concern to control sexuality and fertility behaviour. Sociologists have overlooked the impact of social factors outside the labour force on developments within the workforce.     

‘My dad hangs out of helicopter doors and takes pictures of oil platforms': Children's accounts of parental work in the oil and gas industry

Against the backdrop of the acceleration in pace of work and family life over the last decade, and the accompanying intensification of the work-family debate, this paper argues for the need to include children as stakeholders in the work-family debate. The ethnographic study on which this paper is based brings together children, family, work and community to explore interrelationships between workplace change, parental employment and family life in the oil and gas industry in Scotland. This paper focuses specifically on children's accounts of parental work and the work-family interface. Children, aged 8-12, were seen in schools and at home. Eight focus groups were conducted in two primary schools with 33 children. Nineteen of the families of these children participated in follow-up home interviews, in which 21 focus group children and a further 21 children (siblings, cousins and friends) were seen at home. Multiple methods were used: pictures and photographs of 'work', drawings, a poem, vignettes, word games, and a 'life mode technique'. The paper discusses children's concepts of 'work'; children's knowledge of parental work and the oil industry; children's perceptions of the impact of work on their parents; children's accounts of the effects of parental work on them and the importance of 'family time'; children's own work aspirations; and children's views and values about involvement, communication and decision making regarding parental work. Similarities and differences between children's accounts are highlighted. Sobre el telón de fondo del aumento de paso del trabajo y de la vida familiar en esta última década, y la intensificación del debate 'trabajo/familia' que lo acompaña, este artículo aboga por lo necesidad de incluir a los niños como partes interesadas en tal debate. El estudio etnográfico sobre el cual se basa este artiículo reune a los niños, la familia, el trabajo y la comunidad para explorar las interrelaciones entre el cambio de lugar del trabajo, el empleo de los padres y la vida familiar en la industria petrolera y del gas natural en Escocia. Este artículo se centra específicamente en las cuentas de unos niños del trabajo de los padres y de la interrelación entre el trabajo y la familia. Se entrevistaron a unos niños de 8—12 anos de edad en la escuela y en casa. Se realizaron ocho grupos de enfoque con 33 niños en dos escuelas de estudios primarios. De las familias de estos niños, 19 participaron en entrevistas de seguimiento, en las cuales 21 niños de los grupos de enfoque y 21 niños más (hermanos, primos y amigos,) fueron entrevistados en casa. Se emplearon múltiples métodos: ilustraciones y fotografías de ‘trabajo', dibujos, un poema, estampas, juegos con palabras y una ‘técnica modo de vida'. El artículo trata de los conceptos de los niños del trabajo; los conocimientos de los niños del trabajo de los padres y de la industria petrolera; las percepciones de los niños del efecto del trabajo en sus padres; las cuentas de los niños de los efectos del trabajo de los padres en los mismos niños y de la importancia del ‘tiempo para la familia'; las propias aspiraciones del los niños acerca del trabajo; y los puntos de vista y los valores de los niños sobre la participación, la comunicación y la toma de decisiones acerca del trabajo de los padres. Se ponen del relieve los elementos en común y las diferencias entre las cuentas de los niños.     

Estimating the Prevalence of Illegal Drug Use

A generic globally applicable integral equation allows the estimation of hidden drug use. Formulas for estimating the prevalence of drug use are provided for both the assumed and known latency period. Estimates of prevalence of opiate use in Ireland ranging from 7,955 [5,789, 10,122] to 11,986 [8,792, 15,181] with prevalence rates ranging from 2.7 [2.0, 3.5] per 1,000 to 4.1 [3.0, 5.2] were obtained. The model can be implemented by service providers and planners if numbers of first treatments for drug use and the latency period are known or assumed.     

Child Sexual Abuse Allegations in the Context of Divorce: Issues for Mothers

Correspondence to Catherine Humphreys, Department of Applied Social Studies, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL Summary The investigation and assessment of allegations of child sexualabuse constitute a difficult and contentious area for practitionersinvolved in this process. When these allegations emerge in thecontext of divorce, the problems of assessment appear to becompounded. This paper argues that when mothers raise concernsabout child sexual abuse during divorce proceedings these areoften construed as vindictive or misguided. Such constructionsof mothers have significant implications for the protection,or lack of protection of children in these circumstances. Theway in which this ‘knowledge’ about mothers hasdeveloped is explored and held up against the results of empiricalstudies which show that there is little basis for this constructionof mothers. Possible explanations for this incongruity are suggestedwith a view to progressing child protection in this area. As the court cases go on I can see the hopelessness of the wholething. It's getting stronger in me to want to take the law intomy own hands. I wouldn't say it's revenge, it's not ... I meana mother protects its young. You wouldn't see a lioness lettingsomething attack its young. (A mother expressing her desperation that the Family Court ofAustralia has ordered her to send her child on visits to herex-husband who she believes sexually abused their child.)