‘Out of the Blue’ A qualitative evaluation of the Home-Start Perinatal Mental Health Project

Commissioned piece of research and report for the Home-Start Hertfordshire charityFinal Published versio

Queerying activism through the lens of the sociology of everyday life

The approaching 30th anniversary of the introduction of the 1988 Local Government Act offers an opportunity to reflect on the nature of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) activism in Britain. The protests against its implementation involved some of the most iconic moments of queer activism. Important though they are, these singular, totemic moments give rise to, and are sustained by small, almost unobtrusive acts which form part of LGB people’s everyday lives. This article aims to contribute to a re-thinking of queer activism where iconic activism is placed in a synergetic relationship with the quieter practices in the quotidian lives of LGB people. The authors interrogate a series of examples, drawn from three studies, to expand ideas about how activism is constituted in everyday life. They discuss the findings in relation to three themes: the need to forge social bonds often forms a prompt to action; disrupting the binary dualism between making history and making a life; and the transformative potential of everyday actions/activism. The lens of the sociology of everyday life (1) encourages a wider constituency of others to engage in politics, and (2) problematises the place of iconic activism.Peer reviewe

Older Bisexual People: Implications For Social Work From The ‘Looking Both Ways’ Study

There is a growing social work literature about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older people. However, research and guidance are predominantly based on the experiences of older gay men and, to a lesser extent, older lesbians. There is little to help practitioners work with older bisexual people. The Looking Both Ways study aimed to contribute to this gap in knowledge. We undertook in-depth purposely-sampled qualitative interviews with 12 people aged over 50, all of whom have bisexual relationship histories and half of whom also currently identify as bisexual. There were three main findings. Firstly, biphobia (prejudice against bisexual people) impacts on older people with bisexual histories in ways that may affect their wellbeing in later life. Secondly, concerns around receiving care are similar in some ways and different in others from the concerns of lesbians and gay men. Thirdly, people with bisexual relationship histories may have developed strong support networks and resilience, factors that may be very beneficial in later life. Three recommendations for social work professionals were identified: 1) understand biphobia, 2) recognise the legitimacy of concerns about receiving care, and 3) ask about support networks rather than assuming family support

‘We treat them all the same’: the attitudes, knowledge and practices of staff concerning old/er lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans residents in care homes

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: Paul Simpson, Kathrynn Almack, and Pierre Walthery, ‘ “We treat them all the same”: the attitudes, knowledge and practices of staff concerning old/er lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans residents in care homes’, Ageing and Society, first published online 29 December 2016, available online at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X1600132X Copyright: © Cambridge University Press 2016. Content in the UH Research Archive is made available for personal research, educational, and non-commercial purposes only. Unless otherwise stated, all content is protected by copyright, and in the absence of an open license, permissions for further re-use should be sought from the publisher, the author, or other copyright holder.The distinct needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) residents in care homes accommodating older people have been neglected in scholarship. On the basis of a survey of 187 individuals, including service managers and direct care staff, we propose three related arguments. First, whilst employees’ attitudes generally indicate a positive disposition towards LGBT residents, this appears unmatched by the ability to recognise such individuals and knowledge of the issues and policies affecting LGBT people. Statements such as, ‘We don’t have any [LGBT residents] at the moment’ and ‘I/we treat them all the same’ were common refrains in responses to open-ended questions. They suggest the working of heteronormativity which could deny sexual and identity difference. Second, failure to recognise the distinct health and social care needs of LGBT residents means that they could be subject to a uniform service, which presumes a heterosexual past and cisgender status (compliance with ascribed gender), which risks compounding inequality and invisibility. Third, LGBT residents could be obliged to depend largely on the goodwill, knowledge and reflexivity of individual staff (including people of faith) to meet care and personal needs, though such qualities were necessary but not sufficient conditions for inclusion and no substitute for collective practices (involving commitment to learn about LGBT issues) that become integral to care homes’ everyday functioning. A collective approach is key to advancing inclusion, implementation of legal rights to self-expression and securing equality through differentiated provision.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

The rural health facilities of Lewis County, Missouri

Publication authorized May 4, 1943

III.—Remarks on the Authenticity of the Paston Letters

n/

Experiences of and responses to disempowerment, violence, and injustice within the relational lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people

© 2020 The Author(s). The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in Journal of Sociology by Sage Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. It is available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783320958812.This article introduces a special edition of the Journal of Sociology that aims to interrogate the ongoing entrenchment of hetero- and cis-normative borders, and the consequential manifestations of power, violence and in/justice experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in their relationships and family lives. The articles in this issue all explore different forms of violence, injustice, and persecution that continue to exist despite the success of many social justice campaigns in recent years for LGBTQ people. This article provides a synopsis of the research in this collection – research which demonstrates and expands our understandings of the complexities of LGBTQ lives around the globe negotiating empowerment, safety, and justice. We highlight the ongoing importance of this work as LGBTQ people around the world are experiencing the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.Peer reviewe

The role of sexual orientation, age, living arrangements and self-rated health in planning for end-of-life care for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) older people in the UK

© The Author(s) 2020. The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in Sexualities by Sage Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. It is available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460720932381.This article reports on findings from the quantitative phase of a two-year research project designed to explore end-of-life care experiences and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We draw on a subset of the sample (N = 180/237) to analyse the relationship between advance care planning, sexual orientation, living arrangements and self-rated health. The results contribute to a growing body of evidence on how sexual minorities approach and make decisions on advance care planning. A greater understanding of such patterns could help inform the way healthcare professionals engage in conversations about end-of-life care planning with older LGB people.Peer reviewe

Exploring caregivers’ experiences of caring for men with advanced prostate cancer in a resource-poor setting: a qualitative serial interview study

Background: Family caregivers who assume the responsibility of care for patients living with advanced diseases could have challenges especially in resource-poor settings. The bulk and responsibility for care are predominantly provided by the family caregivers within the informal sector. The family caregivers, therefore, could be described as the ‘general practitioners’ of the patients at home. Using a qualitative study, the experiences of the family caregivers caring for men with advanced prostate cancer were explored. Methods: Using serial qualitative approach, 23 in-depth individual and dyad interviews were conducted. Patients and their caregivers participated in repeat interviews approximately 2 months apart, across a period of up to 6 months. Transcribed interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: This paper focuses on the experiences of family caregivers in the light of inadequate resources for care. Two main themes emerged from the data: Challenges and burden of care, and the support and coping strategies adopted. The family caregivers expressed the overburden nature of the care, ‘feeling of being alone in the middle of a deep sea’, disruption of their lives, and unhappiness and the fear of an unknown future. On the other hand, they rely on the support of the social network of the extended family, their faith in God, and the positive aspect of living helped to mitigate some of the challenges. The belief in reciprocity and ‘giving back’ through caring for their loved ones were highlighted by participants. Conclusion: Generally, the informal social network helped in the care at home. However, the magnitude of the adverse changes in their lives and challenges associated with the caring role was dependent on factors such as the level of care required, financial and other resources available, and the coping mechanisms in place. Efforts to enhance existing social support systems are recommended

‘Out of the frying pan into the fire’: a qualitative study of the impact on masculinity for men living with advanced prostate cancer

© The Author(s), 2023. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Background: Studies have highlighted how advanced prostate cancer causes biographical disruption and presents challenges to masculine identities for men. This article draws on a wider study that focused on the experiences of men living with advanced prostate cancer and their caregivers. Although men’s experience of advanced illness is not overlooked in the literature, only a small body of work has taken an in-depth look at men’s experiences with advanced prostate cancer and their caregivers in a non-Westernised cultural and social context. Objective:: To explore how advanced prostate cancer impacts on men’s masculine identity from the perspective of patients and their caregivers. Methods:: A qualitative study of men living with advanced prostate cancer (n = 23) and family caregivers (n = 23) in Ghana. We used the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ) as the reporting guideline. Results:: The findings from this study highlight profound challenges for most men to their masculine identities, from both the treatment and the symptoms of advanced prostate cancer within a non-Westernised, patriarchal society. Four main themes were developed. These were the impact on masculinity in terms of: (1) physical changes, (2) sexual ability, (3) socio-economic roles and (4) expressing emotions. Changes in physical appearance, feeling belittled, having no active sexual life and the inability to continue acting as provider and protector of the family made some men describe their situation as one of moving out of the ‘frying pan into the fire’. Conclusion:: This study revealed the impact of advanced prostate cancer on masculine identity. These narratives add a new dimension to what is already known about the impacts on men’s masculine identities when dealing with advanced prostate cancer. This knowledge can help improve the care provided to men with advanced prostate cancer with emphasis on the cultures, beliefs and aspirations of these men and their caregivers. Objective: To explore how advanced prostate cancer impacts on men’s masculine identity from the perspective of patients and their caregivers. Methods: A qualitative study of men living with advanced prostate cancer (n = 23) and family caregivers (n = 23) in Ghana. We used the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ) as the reporting guideline. Results: The findings from this study highlight profound challenges for most men to their masculine identities, from both the treatment and the symptoms of advanced prostate cancer within a non-Westernised, patriarchal society. Four main themes were developed. These were the impact on masculinity in terms of: (1) physical changes, (2) sexual ability, (3) socio-economic roles and (4) expressing emotions. Changes in physical appearance, feeling belittled, having no active sexual life and the inability to continue acting as provider and protector of the family made some men describe their situation as one of moving out of the ‘frying pan into the fire’. Conclusion: This study revealed the impact of advanced prostate cancer on masculine identity. These narratives add a new dimension to what is already known about the impacts on men’s masculine identities when dealing with advanced prostate cancer. This knowledge can help improve the care provided to men with advanced prostate cancer with emphasis on the cultures, beliefs and aspirations of these men and their caregivers.Peer reviewe