Socialno delo, Vol. 53 (2014), Issue 6
ARTICLES
Social and psychological factors influencing reporting of homophobic hate crime - 321, (Abstract) (Full text)
Medical discourse on the imperative of the natural within contraception in the case of coitus interruptus - 335, (Abstract) (Full text)
Borders of social work: detention centre in the light of citizenship, criminalisation and state power - 347, (Abstract) (Full text)
INTERVIEWS
Ulla-Maija Takkunen: Outreach youth work - 373 (Full text)
Abstracts
Srečo Dragoš
Social distance
(Full text)
The paradox of social thought in Slovenia is that when we talk about social distance towards ethnic, migrant and religious groups, we all agree that this is a destructive phenomenon. However, consensus quickly disappears on social distance between stratification groups. Here we find completely opposite opinions, of course with a significant and unfortunate characteristic: among political and economic elites, those are prevailing who believe that the distance between rungs on the scale of inequality is too small, and very rare individuals think the opposite. The author therefore challenges the self-evident strengthening of (culture of) social distance. He thinks this is a higher risk for Slovenian society than, for example, stagnation of the economy, lack of values or corruption. When understatement of physiological metaphor for social distance – nystagmus disease, as it is understood by Orwell – is combined with rise of inequality and the risk of getting a decile and even percentile, instead of class struggle between social groups in the future, then we know that we are heading towards deterioration of our living conditions.
Keywords: social work, inequality, nystagmus, poverty, culture.
Srečo Dragoš is a sociologist at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Ljubljana. His main interests are general sociology, sociology of religion, social policy and welfare state. Contact: sreco.dragos@fsd.uni-lj.si.
Jasna Magić
Social and psychological factors influencing reporting of homophobic hate crime
(Full text)
Existing research in Slovenia shows that more than two thirds of gay men and lesbian women have been a victim of antigay violence; the data also suggest this type of violence is significantly underreported. This is a global problem, and while the majority of research on homophobic hate crime focuses on the psychological impact of these incidents, little research exists addressing reporting behaviour and/or explaining why some people report homophobic hate crime, but most seem not to. With the key question in mind ‘What informs the decision to report homophobic violence?’ this study examined the willingness of lesbian, gay and bisexual people to report homophobic incidents and the role of the Slovene reporting (police) and support system (NGOs) in this process. The results clearly demonstrate different perceptions of violent incidents and crime significantly influence the willingness to report as well as the decision of which agency to report to. In its conclusion the study relates the findings to social work practice and suggests that more active involvement of social services might also contribute to building the trust of gay and lesbian communities in non-LGBT services and in long term result in improving reporting levels for this particular minority.
Keywords: antigay violence, police, victim support services, gay, lesbian, social work.
Jasna Magić is a PhD Candidate at INDOSOW (International Doctoral Studies in Social Work) at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Ljubljana. She is an executive board member of Slovene NGO Information Centre Legebitra and the ILGA-Europe. Contact: jasna.magic@student.anglia.ac.uk.
Gabrijela Simetinger
Medical discourse on the imperative of the natural within contraception in the case of coitus interruptus
(Full text)
The aim of the study was to determine gynaecologists’ views and opinions on the imperative of the natural within contraception in the case of coitus interruptus. A qualitative study on contraception and coitus interruptus, which included 27 semi-structured in-depth interviews with gynaecologists from various geographical parts of Slovenia, was carried out between December 2010 and May 2011. Many gynaecologists believe in the imperative of the natural and trust natural methods of contraception, where they also place coitus interruptus. Due to their personal views and opinions, a significant number of gynaecologists, mainly female, still recommend natural methods of contraception despite the opposing medical doctrine. Thus, personal gynaecologists’ views and opinions dominate when it comes to choosing a contraceptive method. Female gynaecologists proved to be carriers of traditional sexual culture by promoting traditional methods of contraception.
Keywords: gynaecologists, sexual culture, sexual medicine, reproductive health, medicalisation.
Gabrijela Simetinger is a medical doctor, a gynaecologist and obstetrician, a FECSM (Fellow of the European Committee of Sexual Medicine), a social worker, and a teaching assistant at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana. She is also a PhD student at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, doing a research on social and medical construction of contraception in connection with sexuality. Contact: gabrijela.simetinger@siol.net.
Philipp Günther, Asja Hrvatin, Maja Ivačič, Alexander Rehm
Borders of social work: detention centre in the light of citizenship, criminalisation and state power
(Full text)
The article is a reflexion on a visit in a detention centre and on the EU policies of migration. It discusses the idea of establishing border from four different starting points: space, gender, social work and citizenship. It shows how borders extend beyond territorial ones and are internalised by state’s organisation. Foucault’s concepts of biopower and criminalisation are presented as a generator of the unmaking of citizenship. Authors point out how genderization of the Other moulds the differences in the perception of migrant bodies. Compatibility of social work practice and a detention centre is discussed. The concept of citizenship as resistance is suggested and a need for redefinition of citizenship is proposed.
Keywords: human rights, exclusion, migration, control, triple mandate, transmigrant.
Philipp Günther is a student of Transcultural Studies at the University of Bremen, Germany. His academic interests concern migration, borders, subcultures and matters of representation, notably from a critical and post-colonial perspective. The motive force of his work is the connection between theory and activism. Contact: philipp.g@systemli.org. Asja Hrvatin studies at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Ljubljana. She is interested in community mental health services. She is an anti-authoritarian activist in many social movements and autonomous spaces. Contact: lovely.asja@gmail.com. Maja Ivačič studies at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Ljubljana. Her academic interests lay within the fields of marginalization, gender, queer commentaries and migration. Contact: ivacic.maja@gmail.com. Alexander Rehm is a student of social work at the FH Vorarlberg, University of Applied Sciences, in Dornbirn, Austria. His study interests are social work practice with children and families as well as the field of immigration, refugees and asylum seekers. Contact: alexander.rehm@students.fhv.at.