Socialno delo, Vol. 52 (2013), Issue 4
ARTICLES
Partner equality as a process: case study of a partnership from Slovenia - 221, (Abstract)
Experiences of caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease - 237, (Abstract)
Social-ecological model of preventive activity in the field of exposure of children and adolescents to domestic violence - 251, (Abstract)
Qualitative analysis of the causes and consequences of homelessness - 261, (Abstract)
ABSTRACTS
Abstracts
Živa Humer, Metka Kuhar
Partner equality as a process: case study of a partnership from Slovenia
Achieving equality at home has been a relevant feminist issue for couple of decades and has became part of policy measures (family and employment policy, equality policy). Many studies and academic literature have been revealing still persisting inequality between men and women in the private sphere; this inequality is one of the main barriers for gender equality in broader society. The article, however, focuses on equality at home, which already exists and is already practised by some couples in Slovenia. The first part shows the characteristics of the social and political context relevant for family life, in particular for gender relationships in Slovenia. In the second, main part a case study of an equal sharing couple in Slovenia is presented with the analysis of main factors that lead towards equality. The main conclusion of the case study is that equality is a process, which is developing in the relationship and goes beyond gendered divison of domestic and care work and beyond an agreement of sharing domestic chores on the basis 50/50. Equality at home is a process of everyday interactions and negotiations between partners which intersect with social, economic and political factors and circumstances.
Keywords: equality as a process, gender, family life, work, case study
Živa Humer, PhD in Sociology, is a researcher at the Peace Institute in Ljubljana. She is focused on gender studies, gender equality politics and social politics. She is coauthor of monographs New fatherhood in Slovenia (2008) and Faces of homophobia (2011). Contact: ziva.humer@guest.arnes.si. Metka Kuhar, PhD in Communication Studies, is an associate professor of social psychology; a lecturer and researcher at the Faculties of Social Sciences and Social Work, University of Ljubljana. She is focused on the psychology of interpersonal communication and relationships, as well as on youth studies. Contact: metka.kuhar@guest.arnes.si.
Jelena Perak, Ana Štambuk
Experiences of caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia, is one of the biggest health and social problem of this century. As the world’s population is getting older, escalation of that problem is inevitable. People in Croatia with Alzheimer's disease and their families are still an unrecognized issue in society. Focus of this work is on the caregivers and their experiences and problems that they run into. Lack of suitable facilities, high price of drugs, stress, lack of environment and professional support, are among the biggest problems. The most positive part for caregivers is their membership in Croatian Alzheimer’s Disease Society where they get most valuable help. The work is trying to emphasize the importance of education and awareness of public about this issue, but also focuses on the wider acceptance and support of caregivers from professionals and the rest of society.
Keywords: dementia, awareness, stress, social support, spouses of affected people
Jelena Perak has a Bachelor's degree of social work. She works as an intern at the vocational training at the Centre for social welfare Vukovar, Croatia. Contact: jelena.perak88@gmail.com. Ana Štambuk, PhD, is a Head of the Chair for social gerontology at the Department of social work, Faculty of law, University of Zagreb. She teaches Social gerontology at the undergraduate level, and Palliative care and Social work with older people at the graduate level. Her areas of scientific research interests are related primarily to social gerontology: social policy for older people, quality of life, issues related to the end of life and attitudes toward death and dying, older people with physical disabilities. Contact: astambuk@pravo.hr.
Ksenija Domiter Protner
Social-ecological model of preventive activity in the field of exposure of children and adolescents to domestic violence
The article presents the social-ecological model of preventive activity as one of the possible models of preventive activity in the field of exposure of children and adolescents to domestic violence in Slovenia. The suggested model of the preventive activity has been founded on the basis of the research on exposure of Slovene adolescents to domestic violence, which was implemented on a representative sample of Slovene adolescents (secondary school students). The article also presents an overview of certain examples of good practice of preventive activity, found on a global scale, and the characteristics of existent preventive activity in Slovenia.
Keywords: prevention, violence, young people, social-ecological theory, social ecology
Ksenija Domiter Protner, PhD in Sociology, works at the First Grammer School in Maribor, Trg generala Maistra 1, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia. Contact: ksenija.protner@guest.arnes.si.
Klavdija Höfler, Štefan Bojnec
Qualitative analysis of the causes and consequences of homelessness
Homelessness is one of the worst forms of social poverty. At the moment Slovenia is in the first phase of solving the situation of homeless people. They can get their basic needs, such as shelter, food or clothes, met. The situation is worse in the case of preventing people from becoming homeless, and employing or educating the homeless people. Identification of reasons and consequences of homelessness can contribute to reducing the problem of homeless people, including their employment and education. The prospect of getting and implementing a strategy to prevent homelessness is not very encouraging. The economic and financial crisis, a lack of suitably trained and skilled staff to deal with the problems and low political interest in solving the problem are additional unfavourable factors regarding the reduction of the number of homeless people.
Keywords: homeless people, employment, education, unemployment, social policy
Klavdija Höfler holds a Master of Science in management from the Faculty of Management in Koper. She is employed at the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs of Republic of Slovenia. Contact: veselje33@yahoo.com. Štefan Bojnec is a Full professor of economics at the University of Primorska, Faculty of Management, Koper. Contact: stefan.bojnec@fm-kp.si.