Raising Children the American Way: Court-Mandated Parenting Education in Alameda, California

Based on ethnographic research in Alameda County, California, this dissertation examines the parenting practices and knowledge that are taught in court-mandated parenting classes along with those of parents enrolled in these classes. In California, two of the primary reasons that parents would be mandated to take classes are because of involvement with Child and Family Services (CFS) or in a custody dispute that reaches the courts. I argue that the different forms of knowledge and the practices advanced in the classes, at times consistent with, at times in conflict with those of the parents, reflect the demands and social responsibility of our current political and economic setting in the United States. The demands of a global market-driven economy require citizens who are self-disciplined, prepared to be flexible for the job market, schooled in the ways of a consumer society, and ready to accept responsibility for their own health and well-being ((Katz 2004), (Rose 1999), (Petersen and Lupton 1996)). I also suggest that this ideology rests on the authority of scientific and psychological research that is far from conclusive; it is the authority, rather than the information, that informs the values behind parenting advice. Further, I argue that the prevalent parenting approach, which is time-intensive and expensive, works to reinforce structural inequalities. Parents are the focus of much attention as the means to reverse many social problems including poverty, crime, ill health, and illiteracy. If parents could raise children with the appropriate morals, ambitions, and abilities, the thinking goes, children could grow up to be responsible, healthy, and middle class. As Sociologist Val Gillies phrases it, this assumption results in a stream of initiatives designed to regulate childrearing as part of an almost evangelical drive to equip working-class parents with the skills to raise middle-class children (Gillies 2005, 838). I have tried to show in this dissertation how parenting education is integral to this overall drive. I base my writing on two years of ethnographic research on parenting education in Alameda County, California. I attended classes of three different parenting organizations and conducted in-depth interviews with class participants, teachers, and program directors. I also read hundreds of parenting magazines and books, and had countless conversations with other parents, looking for advice for raising my own three-year-old daughter

Women and ARVâ based prevention: opportunities and challenges

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138349/1/jia29419.pd

Raising children the American way: Court -mandated parenting education in Alameda, California

Based on ethnographic research in Alameda County, California, this dissertation examines the parenting practices and knowledge that are taught in court-mandated parenting classes along with those of parents enrolled in these classes. In California, two of the primary reasons that parents would be mandated to take classes are because of involvement with Child and Family Services (CFS) or in a custody dispute that reaches the courts. I argue that the different forms of knowledge and the practices advanced in the classes, at times consistent with, at times in conflict with those of the parents, reflect the demands and social responsibility of our current political and economic setting in the United States. The demands of a global market-driven economy require citizens who are self-disciplined, prepared to be flexible for the job market, schooled in the ways of a consumer society, and ready to accept responsibility for their own health and well-being ((Katz 2004), (Rose 1999), (Petersen and Lupton 1996)). I also suggest that this ideology rests on the authority of scientific and psychological research that is far from conclusive; it is the authority, rather than the information, that informs the values behind parenting advice. Further, I argue that the prevalent parenting approach, which is time-intensive and expensive, works to reinforce structural inequalities. Parents are the focus of much attention as the means to reverse many social problems including poverty, crime, ill health, and illiteracy. If parents could raise children with the appropriate morals, ambitions, and abilities, the thinking goes, children could grow up to be responsible, healthy, and middle class. As Sociologist Val Gillies phrases it, this assumption results in “a stream of initiatives designed to regulate childrearing as part of an almost evangelical drive to equip working-class parents with the skills to raise middle-class children” (Gillies 2005, 838). I have tried to show in this dissertation how parenting education is integral to this overall drive. I base my writing on two years of ethnographic research on parenting education in Alameda County, California. I attended classes of three different parenting organizations and conducted in-depth interviews with class participants, teachers, and program directors. I also read hundreds of parenting magazines and books, and had countless conversations with other parents, looking for advice for raising my own three-year-old daughter

Transition to a 1‐year deferral for male blood donors who report sexual contact with men: staff perspectives at one blood collection organization

BACKGROUND:Front-line staff at blood collection organizations (BCOs) play important roles in keeping the blood supply safe, yet research on their professional practice and perspectives on training needs is sparse. This qualitative study explored these topics with regard to the then-impending change in donor eligibility for men reporting sex with another man (MSM). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:Semistructured, individual interviews with BCO staff (n = 13) in Northern California covered experiences of and opinions on indefinite deferral, the revised 1-year deferral, and anticipated potential challenges arising from the new policy. Transcripts were thematically coded, using deductive and inductive approaches. Analysis identified recurrent and divergent themes. RESULTS:Interviewees reported strong values of professionalism and respect for donors and supported the change to a 1-year deferral for MSM donors. Nonetheless, nearly all voiced the need for more in-depth training to maximize the likelihood of successful implementation. Specific recommendations included the use of role-play, provision of science-based talking points or FAQs, and empathy for donors and staff. CONCLUSION:More than the usual training may be required to help BCO staff feel prepared to educate the public about changes to MSM-related deferrals and communicate effectively with donors about potentially deferrable behavior. Overall, these findings suggest that before future policy changes, BCO staff's opinions about and role in implementing new donor eligibility screening procedures merit consideration

La culture des champignons

National audienc

Perceptions of the "Fabric" - An exploratory study of a novel multi-purpose technology among women in Sub Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND:HIV and pregnancy prevention are dual health priorities for women, and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Drug-eluting fibers offer a dosage form that combines HIV prevention and contraception, but early understanding of end-user perspectives is critical to avoid misalignment between products being developed and preferred product attributes. METHODS:Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe, among 55 women who had used vaginal products in previous trials. Participants were given the opportunity to feel a sample of electrospun nanofiber (the fabric), see how it dissolves, and give feedback on shape, size and other attributes. Women were also asked to compare the fabric to vaginal gel and film. RESULTS:Three key themes regarding the acceptability of the fabric emerged: 1) look and feel of the product undissolved vs. undissolved, 2) expected effect on sex, and 3) convenience and ease of use. Upon being presented with the fabric, women were initially distrustful, seeing it as undesirable for vaginal insertion. Women generally approved of the product once they saw it dissolve. However, they stressed the importance of the product not interfering with sex by altering the vaginal environment. Women also reacted favorably to the perceived convenience of the fabric, particularly with regards to storage and transport, perceived ease of insertion and use, and dosing regimen. CONCLUSION:Multipurpose prevention technologies, and nanofibers in particular, should be developed with an eye to minimizing impact on sex while maximizing convenience, and presented in such a way as to emphasize non-abrasiveness and ease of dissolution

L’imaginaire et la représentation des Nouvelles Technologies de Communication

C’est sur le versant de l’imaginaire et de la représentation des nouvelles technologies d’information et de communication dans la société contemporaine que se situe cet ouvrage qui réunit spécialistes en Sciences de l’information et de la communication, philosophes, professionnels en charge de structures innovantes qui font référence en matière de création numérique, porteuse par excellence de cet imaginaire nourri des NTIC, que nous continuons à désigner comme telles, pour souligner, que l’immense saisissement, dans lequel leurs possibilités sans cesse renouvelées nous plongent, perdure. Précisément, nos représentations ne sont elles pas en retard par rapport aux bouleversements opérés par les NTIC dans nos vies ? Espaces privés, professionnels, publics, sont affectés et ici observés. L’avènement des NTIC s’est accompagné de la richesse d’une transversalité accrue dans tous les domaines, transversalité dont cet ouvrage témoigne tout en l’interrogeant. On retrouve dans l’analyse des différents auteurs le constat essentiel que ce sont les usages des NTIC dont il faut envisager les responsabilités dans nos modes de vie et non la fatalité de leur incidence. Elles accompagnent nos représentations, les amplifient. « Miroir, amplificateur, accélérateur », autant de termes qui désignent les effets des nouvelles technologies mais nous renvoient à nos responsabilités de citoyen, d’homme avant celles d’internaute. Le rêve numérique renvoie à la société que nous voulons vraiment imaginer, construire. On perçoit l’actualité et la nécessité de cette réflexion approfondie sur l’imaginaire et la représentation des NTIC dans une société où l’innovation technologique est avancée en permanence comme une réponse aux problèmes de société sur lesquels bute l’action politique

Women's experiences with oral and vaginal pre-exposure prophylaxis: the VOICE-C qualitative study in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In VOICE, a multisite HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) trial, plasma drug levels pointed to widespread product nonuse, despite high adherence estimated by self-reports and clinic product counts. Using a socio-ecological framework (SEF), we explored socio-cultural and contextual factors that influenced participants' experience of daily vaginal gel and oral tablet regimens in VOICE.In Johannesburg, a qualitative ancillary study was concurrently conducted among randomly selected VOICE participants assigned to in-depth interviews (n = 41), serial ethnographic interviews (n = 21), or focus group discussions (n = 40). Audiotaped interviews were transcribed, translated, and coded thematically for analysis.Of the 102 participants, the mean age was 27 years, and 96% had a primary sex partner with whom 43% cohabitated. Few women reported lasting nonuse, which they typically attributed to missed visits, lack of product replenishments, and family-related travel or work. Women acknowledged occasionally skipping or mistiming doses because they forgot, were busy, felt lazy or bored, feared or experienced side effects. However, nearly all knew or heard of other study participants who did not use products daily. Three overarching themes emerged from further analyses: ambivalence toward research, preserving a healthy status, and managing social relationships. These themes highlighted the profound and complex meanings associated with participating in a blinded HIV PrEP trial and taking antiretroviral-based products. The unknown efficacy of products, their connection with HIV infection, challenges with daily regimen given social risks, lack of support-from partners and significant others-and the relationship tradeoffs entailed by using the products appear to discourage adequate product use.Personal acknowledgment of product nonuse was challenging. This qualitative inquiry highlighted key influences at all SEF levels that shaped women's perceptions of trial participation and experiences with investigational products. Whether these impacted women's behaviors and may have contributed to ineffective trial results warrants further investigation