A Preliminary Study on Unwanted Sexual Intercourse Within Long-term Relationships in The Bahamas

Rape has been a concern in The Bahamas and the law recognizes rape outside of marriage as being a criminal offence. However, the so-called “marital rape exception” means that rape within a marriage is not treated as a crime. This has resulted in several national conversations about changes to the law. This study focuses on established (long-term) relationships and so is distinct to previous studies on rape in The Bahamas. This Internet-based study, which obtained responses from over 1,000 women, attempts to provide a first estimate of the prevalence of rape within long-term relationships. The estimate of at least 15% is in line with other studies from North America. The results also indicate that over 50% of the adult population are in favour of changing the law allowing the marital rape exception; however, the level of support varies by sex and age of the respondent. Male respondents in the 55 or older age group were less inclined than younger men to agree that marital rape can occur. The study provides a preliminary estimate of the number of women who would be potentially protected by a change to the law and indicates that such a change would be in the public interest

The Bahamian Justification for Using Corporal Punishment Within the Home: A Christian Habit?

Corporal punishment is a common means of disciplining children in Bahamian homes. Previous studies in The Bahamas have linked the justification for its use with religious beliefs. An Internet survey employing a snowball sampling method resulted in 1,570 persons participating in a study designed to focus on the association between biblical influence and attitudes toward corporal punishment; namely, is there an association with biblical influence in the lives of participants and their attitudes towards corporal punishment of children? This study found that those most influenced by biblically-based teachings were most likely to support the use of corporal punishment on their children. The results show that while overall belief in the Lord God of the Bible is associated with the use of corporal punishment, there is divergence between Christians to the extent corporal punishment is justified by the biblical texts, as well as how much participants’ lives were modelled on biblical precepts (specifically, the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes). The divergence of opinions within the Christian population, which represents over 90% of the population of The Bahamas, indicates that attempts by the State to regulate the practice of corporal punishment will need to be promoted by pastors to make messages on nonviolent discipline of children acceptable to Christians in The Bahamas

Behaviours Associated with Male “Sweethearting” (Infidelity) in Heterosexual Relationships in The Bahamas

This paper presents incidental data on sweethearting from a study on sexual violence in intimate-partner relationships between men and women in The Bahamas. Females participating in the study reported male infidelity to be common (with about 20% and possibly as many as about 50% of men being unfaithful) in both unmarried and married relationships. Associated with infidelity were behaviours of concern, such as physical and sexual violence, as well as psychological abuse by male partners. These abusive behaviours were associated with the woman feeling that she would leave the relationship if she could, and that the relationship was not a loving one. Furthermore, the study suggests that unfaithful married men are more likely to demonstrate activities of concern (in the form of elevated scores for domestic violence and psychological abuse) compared to unfaithful unmarried men in relationships with women

Mental Health and Negative Sexual Experiences of Bahamian University Students

This study investigates the mental health of victims of sexual abuse, particularly rape, in college student populations. The study identifies the connection between sexual abuse/rape and elevated scores of mental health. It indicates that even with other stressful events occurring in the lives of respondents, sexual abuse/rape has a detrimental effect on the mental health of both males and females. A death in the family was the most commonly reported stressful event for males and females, and females were more likely than males to have suffered from a sexual attack. Early negative experiences of sexual intercourse can apparently have long lasting negative effects on the victim’s mental health. These findings require society to look beyond the physical consequences of sexual abuse and rape to ensure that the long-term mental health of victims, both male and female children and adults, is not overlooked

The Morality of Moral Education

The Background - Moral Education as the Traditional Source of Personal Development. One of the abiding interests of moral philosophy is how some measure of competence at existence can not only be attained, but attained to an excellent degree. The idea that man is born imperfect but may so order his life that he approaches a more complete state of perfection has been echoed in the words and deeds of men through the ages. It is reflected in our willingness to revere those men and women who in their lives neared the condition of existential entelechy. Throughout the ages, for instance, humankind has sought out heroes and martyrs who by virtue of their superior conduct and more impressive virtues have become the models upon which lesser men and women model their own lives

Inclusion for the Excluded: Applying Critical Realism Within an Alternative Provision Academy for Excluded Primary School Pupils

This study took place in an alternative provision academy for 40 primary school children in the north of England. All the children attending the centre had either been permanently excluded or were at serious risk of permanent exclusion from their mainstream primary schools due to their challenging behaviour. Many of the children had been observed to cease this challenging behaviour quickly on entry to the centre. The aim of this study was to develop the researcher’s understanding of the underlying mechanisms affecting this cessation of challenging behaviour and charts the change in both the researcher’s developing understanding and his practice. A three-cycle, first-person action research model was used in combination with critical realism, and a hermeneutic approach was taken to consider the place of the researcher as the professional at the heart of the process. In following this novel methodological approach, the aim of this study was also to offer an explicit example of applied critical realism being used in an educational setting. The study was instrumental in developing practice within the centre through a set of emerging social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) principles which also provided the basis for the training of student teachers and professionals from other settings. As the study moved through repeating cycles, the researcher proposed an emerging model which applied the theory of social domains to a centre for excluded primary school children. The study supports the view that a child’s challenging behaviour may be seen as the outcome of a failing environment rather than because of a flaw in the child. It concludes by suggesting that political and educational leaders raise questions about the enabling and constraining effects that their wider policies have on the ability of schools to meet the needs of children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs