Suchergebnisse

Caring is central to the experience of women. It is also a form of oppression for women, since this culture demands that women care for, as well as care about, others, yet does not acknowledge the value of caregiving tasks. Women who are caregivers to relatives with a severe and persistent mental illness carry an intolerable burden of care, with little support from the state. This article delineates these issues and proposes specific changes in social policy and actions by social workers that would alleviate the burden of care and the gender oppression on which it is based.

Marital rape is a serious problem in this country. However, in 36 states, husbands are protected from prosecution by a marital rape exemption. The origins of this exemption are found in antiquated patriarchal concepts of women. The State is reluctant to abolish the exemption because of the fear that abolition will further the disintegration of the patriarchal family and will shift the balance of power between women and the male State. Feminist social workers must work toward the eradication of this exemption and the patriarchal structure on which it is based.

Women with mental illnesses have reported that one painful aspect of living with their diagnosis is the loss of personal identity when they are labeled "mentally ill." Although a number of studies have focused on services to address issues of relevance to women, few have explored the different ways in which women and men view services within the mental health system. Using a focus-group approach, the authors conducted a study that examined the service needs and views of women and men with mental illnesses. This article reports on this study and identifies the participants' common and unique needs and views and discusses the implications for research and practice.

The mapping of the human genome and scientific discoveries regarding genetic contributions to disease hold great promise for the prevention and treatment of an array of conditions. Social workers and other professionals must keep abreast of these developments and the ethical dimensions of such progress. Familiar ethical provisions such as confidentiality, informed consent, self-determination, and social justice take on new meaning in light of innovations in genetic science. This article reviews ethical issues and practice implications emerging from advances in genetics knowledge, and it suggests mechanisms for continuing professional development and involvement in this important area.

Women with histories of justice involvement are not only more likely to enter prison with a diagnosis of HIV infection, but also are up to 15 times more likely to be HIV positive than women in the general U.S. population. Given the growing prevalence of both women affected by HIV and women in the criminal justice system, an urgent need exists for prevention interventions tailored for justice-involved women. This formative qualitative study uses semi-structured interviews to examine formerly incarcerated women's perspectives on their HIV risks and behaviors. Findings inform future HIV-risk reduction interventions for justice-involved women.