Copyright (c) 2009 Fayetteville State University All rights reserved. http://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/iswkj Recent documents in Interdisciplinary Social Work Journal en-us Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:29:00 PDT 3600 http://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/iswkj/vol1/iss1/5 http://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/iswkj/vol1/iss1/5 Mon, 20 Mar 2006 04:45:48 PST The great majority of older people live on their own or with their spouses, children, siblings, or other relatives--not in institutional settings. When elder abuse happens, family, other household members, and paid care givers usually are the abusers. There is no single pattern of elder abuse in the home. Sometimes the abuse is a continuation of long-standing patterns of physical or emotional abuse within the family. Perhaps, more commonly, the abuse is related to changes in living situations and relationships brought about by the older person's growing frailty and dependence on others for companionship and for meeting basic needs. Linda Juma http://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/iswkj/vol1/iss1/4 http://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/iswkj/vol1/iss1/4 Mon, 20 Mar 2006 04:45:48 PST Female Circumcision is carried out for reasons that include cultural and gender identity; social and cultural control of women's sexuality and reproductive functions; beliefs about hygiene, aesthetics, health and religion. There is the fear that the girl might bring shame to the family by being sexually active and becoming pregnant before marriage. Female Circumcision is a manifestation of gender-based human rights violations, which aim to control women's sexuality and autonomy. It is one of the many forms of social injustice, which women suffer worldwide. Female Circumcision is an act of barbarism, savagery, torture, and maiming, which deprives women of their femininity, especially wotj regard to sexual sensitivity and pleasure. It is a denial of the fundamental and inherent human rights of women to an intact body, physical and moral integrity, freedom from discrimination and the highest standard of health. Cultural claims should not be invoked to justify the violation of human rights. Jonas E. Okeagu http://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/iswkj/vol1/iss1/3 http://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/iswkj/vol1/iss1/3 Mon, 20 Mar 2006 04:45:48 PST This paper is about assisting teachers to identify and help to change and retain deviant students. The major focus is on the instruction and training of teachers on how alcohol and drugs affect a person's body and behavior, and the effective methods for helping to change that behavior. In order to accomplish this objective, the paper is divided into following separate, but interrelated, sections: introduction; teachers can make a difference; a theoretical reverberation on alcohol, drugs and deviant behavior; the physiology of alcohol and drug abuse; politeness strategies for communicating with deviant students; the teacher as decision-maker; the teacher as leader; the teacher as conflict resolver; then conclusion. Abdul K. Bangura http://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/iswkj/vol1/iss1/2 http://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/iswkj/vol1/iss1/2 Mon, 20 Mar 2006 04:45:47 PST The ecosystems perspective is a metaphor that provides an understanding about the reciprocal transactions that take place between people and the social environment in which they function. Therefore, people and environments are part of a holistic system in which each shapes the other. This paper suggests that this perspective can be elucidated and adapted to conceptualize the environmental component of mentoring focus. The paper further proposes that such a conceptual perspective will provide mentors with a symbolic representation or picture of an individual's view of the world. Chukwuyem Odiah http://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/iswkj/vol1/iss1/1 http://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/iswkj/vol1/iss1/1 Mon, 20 Mar 2006 04:44:45 PST The rate of immigration has increased dramatically as a result of changes in the global economy, ethnic and political conflict, and the increased availability of communication and transportation networks. This increased immigration has caused much resistance and tension among the countries experiencing an influx of immigrants (Esses, Jackson & Armstrong, 1998). In America, which has a long history of anti-immigration sentiment, immigrant are met with ambivalence. This article reports the results of a survey designed to show the attitudes of the residents of small southern county toward Latinos. A community-based sample (N=173) from a small southern was asked to complete a survey on attitudes toward Latinos. The literature suggests that attitudes toward Latino immigrants in rural areas are for the most part negative. Contrary to the literature, the survey data indicate a positive attitude toward Latinos. Although there were areas of negative opinion concerning Latinos, the survey data suggest that the bias and negative attitudes toward Latinos by residents of a small, rural county is somewhat exaggerated. Ronnie Martin