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Women and the New Gambling Culture in Australia
In: Loisir & société: Society and leisure, Volume 22, Issue 1, p. 101-125
ISSN: 1705-0154
SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MELBOURNE CASINO
In: Australian journal of social issues: AJSI, Volume 32, Issue 4, p. 365-390
ISSN: 1839-4655
Non‐genetic Mothers and Their 'Own' Children: Infertility and IVF Donor Birth
In: Australian journal of social issues: AJSI, Volume 26, Issue 2, p. 122-136
ISSN: 1839-4655
Over the 1980s in Western societies which have used new reproductive technologies, there has been intense argumentation about connected philosophical, ethical and economic issues. This research on I.V.F. donor egg (i.e. 'non‐genetic') motherhood is based on qualitative data from partial life histories of twelve women having children by this technology through a Melbourne infertility programme. Methodology, interpretation and discussion place it within both critical social and feminist personal identity theoretical frameworks.None of the respondent women but all except one of their respective partners are the biological parents of a total of ten children already born at the data collection stage, and in three well‐established pregnancies. Two‐thirds of the respondents used 'unknown' donor ova. 'Known' donors were typically the recipients' sisters. Many of these Australian births represent world 'firsts' in medical technical applications.In biographical accounts, the focus was on experiences of social pressure towards parenthood, of infertility and medical treatment, and attitudes of openness or secrecy about using donated ova. While socially and technologically acquired parenthood added a highly‐desired dimension to their social identities, a sense of loss appeared to persist in most of the women's personal identities. Where a policy of secrecy towards relatives and friends about use of reproductive technology and gamete donation was maintained, this loss was reinforced by a feeling of social isolation.
Women, Therapy and Dependency
In: Australian journal of social issues: AJSI, Volume 23, Issue 4, p. 268-286
ISSN: 1839-4655
A microsociological longitudinal study of 120 middle class Melbourne women who were having psychotherapy or counselling was conducted over a five year period. The relative effectiveness of four dominant kinds of psychotherapy was assessed, together with outcomes for types of individuals. The therapies were medical chemotherapy (with psychotherapeutic drugs prescribed by general practitioners), social casework counselling, human relations training and church pastoral counselling. Personal accounts of the women revealed their main concerns were to change their personal identities, and the economic, psychological and emotional aspects of dependency on significant others. After five years, only a small proportion of the total showed positive changes as represented by movement towards independence and autonomy. More than twice as many experienced a serious deterioration of circumstances and increased dependency on others, on therapists and drugs. None of the psychotherapies had much positive outcome. However the clients who felt most helped by the therapies became professional therapists themselves — a finding which suggests the perpetuation of ineffectual systems.
Critical Management Research: A Case Study in the Production of Knowledge and Organisational Change in the Financial Services Industry
In: The International Journal of Knowledge, Culture, and Change Management: Annual Review, Volume 6, Issue 11, p. 9-24
ISSN: 1447-9575