Do Religious Affirmations,Religious Commitments,or General Commitments Mitigate the Negative Effects of Exposure to Thin Ideals?

Western pressures for thinness tell women that having a thin body makes a person worthy. Two factors that may provide alternative means of self‐worth are religion and general commitment to a meaningful goal. This study experimentally tested whether religious‐affirming statements buffered against exposure to thin models for everyone, or only for women with strong religious commitment. It also examined the relationships among religious commitment, general commitment, and body satisfaction. One hundred eleven women at a religious‐affiliated college completed the commitment scales and baseline body measures. They were later randomly assigned to read one set of affirming statements, after which they then completed body measures again. Results showed that religious commitment buffered against exposure to ultrathin models. Women who were strongly religiously committed and who read religious statements that affirmed the body showed higher body esteem. Correlation results showed that general commitment was positively related to body esteem, body satisfaction, and healthy dieting. Religious commitment was positively related to body esteem and body satisfaction. Results are discussed in relation to schemas and depth of processing. Practical implications are discussed.     

女性不孕中的个体体验、社会境遇与医学干预分析

对17名不孕女性进行了半结构式访谈,并用解释现象学中Colaizzi分析方法对资料进行了分析。结果表明,不孕女性忍受着医学技术介入导致的生理痛苦,以期望治愈“残缺化”的身体,并遭遇内疚、缺憾感等负面心理体验以及家庭关系的失序与重塑。不孕事件与中国传统文化中“传宗接代”“母职”建构等相关联,不仅使女性形成低价值感的身份认同,还会遭遇社会污名,而污名管理中的集体沉默策略又影响了女性的社会生活质量。专业人员可以通过个人叙事表达生命关怀,通过社会政策和组织给予支持。

     

近代女子中医学校的诞生及其现代价值

受封建文化的影响,古代女子鲜少能在医学上有所造诣。女医成长主要依赖家族资源,成才具有偶然性。近代以来,随着西学东渐女子教育的兴起,诞生了近代第一批女子中医学校。自李平书开设我国近代第一所女子中西医学校始,到丁甘仁开办的上海女子中医专门学校,再到王慎轩兴办的我国近代第一所妇科函授学校,近代女子中医教育呈现了制度化、规范化、社会化、地域化以及专业化的转型趋势,不仅反映了我国中医教育事业曲折的发展历程,而且反映了近代女性解放的历史进程,具有一定的现代价值。     

In Forty Years,What has Changed … or Not?

Abstract : Drawing on the background of her own experiences over the past forty years, the author reflects on the marginalization, tokenism, and mainstreaming of women in ministry and feminist theology that has occurred during this time. She calls for greater sensitivity to the realities women globally still face today, and for more interactive, trans‐contextual, and transformational engagement with these realities.     

Between Midlife and Old Age:

This article is based on taped interviews with 56 women, individually and in groups, between the ages of 60 and 70, as well as my own experience as a woman past 65. Discussions with my friends and colleagues in this age group also contributed to my thinking. My sense is that the seventh decade is one of numerous transitions in the lives of women, and that these transitions require extensive, varied, and often painful opportunities for learning. Furthermore, the proximity to life's ending also acts as a strong motivator for engaging in activities that had previously been put off; these include a variety of self-selected and often pleasurable learning experiences. The learning that takes place at this age is rarely acknowledged; it is more likely to be overshadowed by the ageist assumption that old people lost their ability to learn or even to comprehend new information, and by the sexist assumption that women are incapable of making intelligent and practical decisions. These interviews and informal discussion contradict such stereotypical misinformation about old women, showing instead a high level of personal and interpersonal learning, as well as the development of extensive and creative new coping strategies.