The role of Organised Civil Society in the reduction of social risks : How inequality intervenes in civil society actors’ attitudes to co-engagement with migrant citizens in public and community life = El papel de la sociedad civil organizada en la reducción de los riesgos sociales : ¿Cómo la desigualdad interviene en las actitudes de los actores de la sociedad civil hacia el compromiso con los ciudadanos inmigrantes en la vida pública y de la comunidad?

Social investment policy assumes that inequalities are unavoidable and focus on the reduction of new social risks within segments of the population. This requires the participation of Organised Civil Society (OCS) close to those at risk. With the economic downturn, inequality within the EU has become acute. Negative attitudes towards the vulnerable are increasing, while their participation in public life is weak. This article attempts to understand to what extent inequality influences the participation of migrants at risk and the scope of OCS actors to co-engage with them. The text is illustrated with data and responses from OCS actors based in a Barcelona district. The article suggests the link between participation and access to welfare, and how unequal access encourages stigmatised views among some actors. In conclusion, it argues that, to achieve greater participation, it is necessary to have a system that promotes solidarity and inclusion through redistributive policies.La política de inversión social asume las desigualdades como inevitables y focaliza en la reducción de nuevos riesgos sociales en segmentos de la población. Esto requiere la participación de la sociedad civil organizada (SCO) próxima a aquellos a riesgo. Con la crisis europea, la desigualdad se ha hecho aguda y las actitudes negativas hacia aquellos en situación de riesgo van aumentando, mientras mantienen una participación débil en la vida pública. El artículo intenta entender como la desigualdad influye en la participación de estos inmigrantes y la predisposición de la SCO en coparticipar con ellos. El texto contiene data y respuestas de actores de SCO de Barcelona. Sugiere una relación entre participación y acceso a la protección social y sostiene que el acceso desigual estimula opiniones estigmatizadas. Argumenta que, para mayor participación, es necesario contar con un sistema que promueva la solidaridad y la inclusión a través de las políticas redistributivas

'I feel like I am being stabbed by a thousand tiny men’: The challenges of communicating endometriosis pain

Endometriosis, as a widespread gynecological condition, affects an estimated 1 in 10 women and yet has a worldwide average diagnosis length of 7.5 years. Causing incapacitating pain, among other associated manifestations, the condition severely impacts on women’s lives. This article uses online survey data to investigate how pre-diagnosis endometriosis pain is conceptualized and articulated in order to explore communication challenges reported in early consultations that can potentially be seen to play a role in diagnosis delay. The findings of this study indicate that women feel that they do not have the appropriate tools to describe their pain and, in many instances, feel dismissed therefore prolonging diagnosis. The article finds that the majority of the pain descriptors identified use elaborate metaphorical scenarios to convey the intensity of the pain and concludes with some reflections on the issue of metaphorical language in endometriosis pain communication practices while calling for interdisciplinary work in order to devise appropriate tools for endometriosis pain communication

Governmental Promotion of Social Cohesion and Its Effect on Local Civil Society Organisations:How These Institutions Respond to the Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups as Active Citizens

This article examines how social policy influences social cohesion within a London borough. The focus is on the degree to which civil society organisations facilitate the representation of migrants within the public sphere. The policies considered are those introduced by New Labour and the current Coalition government. The theories adopted in this article are based on social cohesion and the public sphere, and the research is based on grey literature and interviews with civil society practitioners. The study concludes that, although the previous government gave visibility to migrants, the conditions imposed for their access to social provision have contributed to the demotion of cohesion. The Coalition's reforms have reinforced social divisions and given rise to two identities within civil society: the insiders, who are in dialogue with the authorities, and the outsiders, who have no contact with the decision makers.</jats:p