Socialno delo, Vol. 39 (2000), Part 1
ARTICLES
Qualitative Research on Resocialization of Refugees: A Case Study - 5, (Abstract)
Couvade in Slovenia: A Research on the Changes in Male Partners during Women’s Pregnancy - 13, (Abstract)
A Contribution of Qualitative Methods to Empirical Research in Social Work - 33, (Abstract)
The Need of Additional Education for Workers with Persons with Psychotic Disorders - 39, (Abstract)
ABSTRACTS
Abstracts
Dijana Krajina, Damir Nadarević
Qualitative Research on Resocialization of Refugees: A Case Study
The authors present the linear-iterative model of qualitative research on refugees. The model is applied to an investigation of the process of resocialization of temporary refugees in a refugee centre. Phases of the model is analysed. The population of refugees is divided into five groups, according to the accomplished degree of resocialisation. The paper concludes with a proposition as to how to achieve better integration of refugees into Slovene socio-cultural milieu.
Keywords: refugees, qualitative research, linear-iterative model, degree of resocialisation, integration.
Dijana Krajina is culturologist; Damir Nadarević is politologist.
Monika Fritz, Tanja Greif, Veronika Klančnik, Sara Lunaček, Sabina Monro, Nataša Špiranec Maurer, Nino Rode
Couvade in Slovenia: A Research on the Changes in Male Partners during Women’s Pregnancy
The authors seek an answer to the question about the couvade in Slovenia by way of a questionnaire. Their assumption was that the couvade in men is formed after the model of women’s pregnancy. The questionary was based upon an American research carried out by comparing behaviour in men who expect a child and those who do not. It is divided into sections covering personal habits, working habits, mood and coaenesthesia, needs, attitudes, relationships, expectations and convictions of both partners. The sample consisted of fifty couples from different localities. Analyses showed some changes as significant, in particular those related to sex – both partners’ response was that they have less of it. Notable, too, is a general increase in needs related to their partnership (of mutual trust, communication, responsibility, mindfulness in the partner, safety and fidelity). Men show a slight increase need of intellectual work, whereas women do not. Pregnant women seem to feel most distinctly the changes related to physiological need; partners as well but to a much lesser degree. The findings have been compared with the American research and the phenomena it pointed out in men (combativeness, flight, fear, changes and deviations in sexual behaviour), but no significant correspondence with the Slovene situation has been noted in the results of the questionnaire. In addition, two cases of the researchers who have been pregnant during the process of research are self-reported, both including their observations on their partners.
Keywords: ritual couvade, psychosomatic couvade, fatherhood “psychosis”, questionnaire, symptoms of passage, reactions to change.
Sabina Monro has finished her studies of philosophy and sociology of culture and given birth to a girl in 1997. Nataša Špiranec Maurer has finished the same studies and given birth to a girl in 1999. Sarah Lunaček has finished her studies of ethnology and sociology of culture. Veronika Klančnik has finished her studies of comparative literature and sociology of culture. Monika Fritz has finished her studies of Spanish and sociology of culture. Tanja Greif has finished her studies of journalism and sociology of culture.
Jelka Zorn
Homosexuality from the Perspective of the “Other”
From the anthropological point of view the “others” represent other cultures or minority cultures within the dominant one. The “others”, however, are subject to fundamental structural inequality. The paper concentrates upon the aspects of the “others”’ inequality, in this case of lesbians. The bulk of the paper consists of five women’s narratives. In semi-structured interviews they talk about their relations with their parents and expectations of the latter, about their problems arising from not being able to marry their partners, about their situations at work, with relatives, etc. The narratives make it clear that their parents mostly take their choice as an impossible one, and describe the deprivileged situations in which they may find themselves. In their perspective many customs, habits and even laws that are taken for granted and unquestionable do not in fact apply universally but rather represent privileges of heterosexual women and men.
Keywords: interviews with lesbians, stigma, discrimination, parents, legislation.
Jelka Zorn is a doctoral student of anthropology of everyday life. She has graduated from the University of Ljubljana School of Social Work.
Blaž Mesec
A Contribution of Qualitative Methods to Empirical Research in Social Work
As a comment to the analysis of a paradigmatic case of social work with family, in which parents neglected and physically abused their children, some questions of post-transitional development of social work in Slovenia are analysed. What has been characteristic during the period was a development of social work from a politically and professionally dependent profession to an autonomous one and an academic discipline, responsible to its own ethical and academic standards. As a part of the process, the contribution of qualitative methodology to empirical social work research and the nature of social work science and its theory are discussed. The task of social work science is a critical reflection of practical social work and the development of its theory and methods. For that purpose, qualitative research methods seem most suitable, as they relate to commonly used methods of reflection within the frameworks of practical training and supervision.
Keywords: social work science, social work theory, qualitative research.
Dr. Blaž Mesec is associate professor of methodology at the University of Ljubljana School of Social Work and Dean of the School.
Vesna Švab
The Need of Additional Education for Workers with Persons with Psychotic Disorders
The paper outlines several reasons for the deficient development of rehabilitation services for persons with mental disorders. Basic characteristics of care planning in a multi-disciplinary working group are described, as well as the basic knowledge members of such groups need. A model of education is proposed which might enable better communication between participants in the process of rehabilitation of persons with grave and repeating mental disorders.
Keywords: psychoses, education of workers, care planning, rehabilitation, community care.
Psychiatrist Vesna Švab is chairperson of the Slovene Association for Mental Health ŠENT and an assistant professor in the psychiatric department of University of Ljubljana Medical Faculty. She works as Head of Rehabilitation Service in the Psychiatric Hospital Polje.