Nonprofessional Women Research Articles

“A Comparative Study of Psychosocial Stress, Health and Satisfaction with Life among Professional and Non-Professional Women”

“A Comparative Study of Psychosocial Stress, Health and Satisfaction with Life among Professional and Non-Professional Women”

Fertility Behavior of Professional Women in China

Background: The actual fertility level is lower than the policy fertility rate reflects in China. Family planning based on fertility intention has replaced national planning as an important variable affecting fertility levels. The lower than expected fertility rate reflects the existence of many inhibitory factors in family fertility decision-making. Professional women's participation in labor has become an inhibitory factor in second-child fertility behavior. Objectives: The study explores the difference in fertility behavior between professional women and non-professional women and aims to contribute to the debate on to what extent the increase in labor participation rate reduces women's fertility behavior and whether the emergence of professional women is an inhibitor of second-child fertility behavior. Methods: The authors developed an analysis of national data from the social survey involving 10,968 records applying the Heckman model. The sample used for the study consists of 3,912 females registered in the national survey according to the formal definition of ‘professional woman’. The empirical research developed aimed at testing if the selection bias exists. That is, whether the characteristics of professional women's education, urban, income, and other factors led to differences in fertility intention and fertility behavior, applying confounding variables through propensity score matching. Results: It was possible to demonstrate that there is a selective effect among low-birth behaviors of professional women. However, the selective effect of fertility intention was not significant. On the other hand, labor participation reduced the fertility behavior confirming the existence of fertility dilemma. Therefore, the study indicates that it is necessary to explore how to alleviate the fertility dilemma within options of social support, family support and employment environment. Main Contribution to Evidence-Based Practice: The article demonstrates how the Heckman model contributes to facilitate the understanding of participation on fertility intention and fertility behavior. Additionally, it contributes to the international debate on the topic.

What the World Happiness Report doesn’t see: The sociocultural contours of wellbeing in northern Tanzania

This paper presents a mixed methods approach to understanding wellbeing in the Kilimanjaro region of northern Tanzania—a country consistently ranked by the World Happiness Report as one of the least happy in the world. A primary objective is to demonstrate how qualitative data offering bottom-up perspectives on wellbeing offer a necessary complement to quantitative self-report measures, allowing for more nuanced cultural understandings of lived experience and wellbeing that recognize diversity both globally and locally. The research contextualized responses to standardized life evaluations (including the Cantril ladder question used by the World Happiness Report) through observations and interviews along with culturally sensitive measures of emotional experience. Findings show Kilimanjaro to have more positive life evaluations than Tanzania as a whole, and significant within-region demographic variation driven particularly by lower levels of wellbeing for nonprofessional women compared with nonprofessional men and professionals. In part because such demographic groups were often unfamiliar with standardized self-report measures, it was only through interviews, case studies, and culturally sensitive reports of emotional experience that we were able to recognize the diverse and nuanced life circumstances which individuals and groups were navigating and how those circumstances interacted with wellbeing. Drawing on the example of nonprofessional women for illustration, we describe how key sociocultural factors – particularly, family stability, parenting circumstances, social relationships, and meeting life course expectations -- intersect with economic realities to create varied experiences of wellbeing. The complex picture of locally understood wellbeing that emerged from this research presents an alternative picture to global perspectives reliant on survey self-reports. It serves as a reminder of the importance of methodological choices in global wellbeing research and urges the addition of local perspectives and paradigms to inform policy and practice.

(Des)articuladas por el cuidado: trayectorias laborales de mujeres chilenas

This qualitative study explores the experience of care work in the labor trajectories of Chilean women, considering age and educational level. To this end, we interviewed fifty professional and non-professional women, aged between 24 and 88, and living in Santiago, Chile. The results show different types of care and their relationships with labor trajectories, through: a) changes in type of work, b) exits and re-entries, c) permanent retirements, and d) lack of interest in maternity. We highlight the role of care in women’s lives, which can lead to both satisfaction and guilt. We conclude that traditional gender roles persist in a cultural system that limits the social management of care and that places its responsibility on women.

Working Chilean women: identities in question

Work and family have an influence on identity. This qualitative research analyzes the meaning that work acquires in the identity of Chilean women workers. It uses semi-structured interviews and biograms in a sample of 50 professional and non-professional women, between 24 and 88 years old from Santiago, Chile. The paper reveals the foundations of work identity and the tensions generated by traditional gender roles in the identity(ies) of working women. The results show that identity is dynamic and relational, with multiple identities coexisting (worker, mother, feminine, professional). These identities cohabit and unfold depending on the context, life stages, work experiences, and meanings. This study contributes to the understanding of identity processes and aims to inform labor policies with a gender perspective.

Trayectorias Laborales de Mujeres y Violencia en el Trabajo: Una Cuestión de Género

El reconocimiento de la violencia en el trabajo ha aumentado en los últimos años (Cruz & Klinger, 2011). Recientemente en Chile, se ha comenzado a visibilizar la violencia de género en el trabajo (Díaz, Mauro, Ansoleaga & Toro, 2017). En esta línea, este estudio relaciona las trayectorias laborales de mujeres chilenas con la violencia de género en el trabajo. Es un estudio cualitativo que utiliza entrevistas semiestructuradas y biogramas para analizar las trayectorias laborales de mujeres profesionales y no-profesionales, residentes en Santiago de Chile. La muestra por conveniencia consta de 7 mujeres (24-62 años) que reportaron eventos de violencia laboral como hitos fundamentales en sus trayectorias. Se identificaron 3 tipos de violencia de género en el trabajo: (a) trato condescendiente, (b) discriminación frente a la maternidad y (c) acoso sexual. Ante estos hechos, se encuentran reacciones de resignación y resistencia, variando según el tipo de violencia, nivel educacional y experiencias subjetivas de las mujeres. El acoso sexual produce cambios laborales, siendo un punto de inflexión en sus trayectorias laborales. Se concluye que la violencia en el trabajo es típicamente una cuestión de género. Se insta a generar una cultura laboral libre de violencia de género.

Professional Women's Well-Being: The Role of Discrimination and Occupational Characteristics

This study examined the association between perceived discrimination, workplace racial composition, and three outcomes—psychological distress, life dissatisfaction, and job dissatisfaction—among a sample of Black (n = 72) and White (n = 74) professional women. As a comparison, these relationships were analyzed to determine if they varied from those observed in more traditionally studied populations: Whites and non-professional Blacks, using data from a population of working women in the 1995 Detroit Area Study (N = 533). Perceived discrimination was associated with differences in psychological distress and job dissatisfaction but not with life dissatisfaction. The correlation between perceived discrimination and psychological distress was larger for White professional women than for Black professional women (White women odds ratio [OR]: 1.99; Black women OR: 0.80). A larger correlation between race and job dissatisfaction was observed for Black professional women than for Black non-professional women. The racial composition of the workplace was unrelated to any of the outcomes. Study results emphasized the importance of decreasing the frequency of discrimination for positive mental health and underscored the need for more systematic research on discrimination and health among Black women of higher socioeconomic status, a growing sub-population in the United States.

A Pilot Study of Early Intervention for Families With Children With or at Risk of an Intellectual Disability in Northern Malawi

AbstractIn low‐income rural communities, access to early intervention and support services is restricted and resources needed to support children and families are limited. The aim of this study was to explore the role of local nonprofessional women, recruited as community home visitors (CHVs), to assist trained professionals in supporting parents with educating their child in their home environment. Structured questionnaires were developed and completed by interview. Three Portage staff, four trained CHVs, and a convenience sample of ten parents with children (aged <6 years) participated. An independent researcher conducted the interviews and parent interviews were assisted by a translator. Findings show that the CHVs are satisfied with the training received, are passionate about their job, and engaged parents with ease and as a friend. Challenges encountered include stigma, social exclusion of families, and a lack of community knowledge on how to help. Parents reported satisfaction with the support received, positive views of the home visits, varied progress in their child's development, increased involvement by fathers and siblings in the care of the child but continued lack of neighbor involvement, and some community pressure. Results show the centrality of using local women trained as home visitors in rural communities. Reciprocal respectful and trustful relationships can help to sustain parental compliance with an intervention program. The CHVs' presence in the village places them in a mediating role in efforts to integrate and destigmatize families and children with disabilities. More civic education and targeted anti‐stigma campaigns could provide a more inclusive and positive learning environment.

Correlates of Smoking among Polish Adults: Socioeconomic Status, Leisure Time Physical Activity and Alcohol Consumption among Polish Adults from Randomly Selected Regions

To determine the association between smoking status and leisure time physical activity (LTPA), alcohol consumption, and socioeconomic status (SES) among Polish adults. 466 randomly selected men and women (aged 18-66 years) responded to an anonymous questionnaire regarding smoking, alcohol consumption, LTPA, and SES. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association of smoking status with six socioeconomic measures, level of LTPA, and frequency and type of alcohol consumed. Smokers were defined as individuals smoking occasionally or daily. The odds of being smoker were 9 times (men) and 27 times (women) higher among respondents who drink alcohol several times/ week or everyday in comparison to non-drinkers (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001). Among men with the elementary/vocational level of education the frequency of smoking was four times higher compared to those with the high educational attainment (p = 0.007). Among women we observed that students were the most frequent smokers. Female students were almost three times more likely to smoke than non-professional women, and two times more likely than physical workers (p = 0.018). The findings of this study indicated that among randomly selected Polish man and women aged 18-66 smoking and alcohol consumption tended to cluster. These results imply that intervention strategies need to target multiple risk factors simultaneously. The highest risk of smoking was observed among low educated men, female students, and both men and women drinking alcohol several times a week or every day. Information on subgroups with the high risk of smoking will help in planning future preventive strategies.

Recreation and Racial Politics in the Young Women's Christian Association of the United States, 1920s–1950s

Founded in the early twentieth century, the Young Women's Christian Association of the United States of America was one of the country's largest independent organizations for women. Unusually cross-class and multi-racial, the group's members, professional staff and volunteer officers frequently debated the YWCA's principles and programmes before mid-century, especially in relation to its segregated black centres. The most contested sites of discrimination were the gymnasium, swimming pool, and summer camp. This essay examines the arguments of advocates and opponents of interracial recreation between the 1920s and 1950s as well as their practical struggles over local policies and reforms. Based on the archival records of the YWCA National Board and nine representative city associations (white and black), the essay demonstrates the important role of voluntary groups and non-professional women in female recreation. More broadly, it explores the volatile politics of race relations, social justice and active bodies.

When the customer shouldn't be king: Antecedents and consequences of sexual harassment by clients and customers.

Much of the work in today's service industries requires women to deal with people outside of their organizations, namely, customers and clients, yet research on sexual harassment has focused almost exclusively on sexual harassment within organizations. Because the threat of harassment also operates at the boundaries of organizations, our existing models based solely on harassment inside organizations may be too restricted to adequately explain the harassment experiences of women in today's economy. To address this, the authors introduce a theoretical model of the antecedents and consequences of sexual harassment by clients and customers (CSH) and describe 2 field studies conducted to test components of the model. In Study 1, they developed a model of antecedents and consequences of CSH and illustrated that certain contextual factors (client power and gender composition of the client base) affect levels of CSH and that CSH is related to a number of job and psychological outcomes among professional women. Study 2 revealed that CSH is related to lower job satisfaction among nonprofessional women, above and beyond that which is accounted for by internal sexual harassment. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Work return rates after childbirth in the UK - trends, determinants and implications: a comparison of cohorts born in 1958 and 1970

During the 1980s a significant growth in the proportion of women returning to work quickly post-childbirth became apparent. It was observed, however, that a polarization of opportunities was emerging, with professional women becoming the main beneficiaries of change - a trend that was predicted to accelerate during the 1990s. Comparing two cohorts of women born in 1958 and 1970, this article indicates that the trend toward faster returns continued but that the experiences of professional and non-professional women converged.The predictors of return rates also changed over this period: while occupational class was an important determinant of return timing in the 1980s, by the mid-1990s this was no longer the case. Instead the financial burden of mortgage debt was pushing women into early work returns. Associated with these changes, a reduction in the incidence of downward occupational mobility, was observed, with the greatest improvements experienced by clerical and secretarial workers.

Removal of amateur blue‐black tattoos in Arabic women of skin type (III–IV) with Q‐switched alexandrite laser

Tattoos in Arabic society used to have a cosmetic importance on the face of females. These were usually amateur tattoos done by non-professional women in the tribe. Because Islam as a religion prohibited its practice and its application, people became concerned about removing the old tattoos by any means. Nowadays, laser is considered an effective method of tattoo removal. Here, we report our experience in the removal of tattoos in Arabic women of skin type III-IV using the Q-switched alexandrite laser. Twenty female subjects aged 35-50 years from similar racial and ethnic background with amateur tattoos were treated using the Q-switched alexandrite laser. Fluence threshold was determined and a spot test was made. Q-switched alexandrite laser with a fluence range 4.0-7.5 J/cm(2) (mean 6.05) was used at 6-12-week intervals. Total treatment numbers ranged from three to six sessions (mean 4.15) with single-pulse technique application. More than 95% lightening was achieved in five patients after three to six sessions at fluence range of 6-7.5 J/cm(2) and > 75% lightening in 10 subjects after three to six sessions of treatment at fluence range of 4-7.5 J/cm(2). Pinpoint bleeding was observed in one case but no pigmentary alteration or scarring was seen. Tattoo pigment removal by Q-switched alexandrite laser is an effective method in skin type (III-IV) with minimal side effects, which gives high patient satisfaction.

Retirement for Women: The Impact of Employment

ABSTRACT This study compares the retirement experiences of professional and nonprofessional women. The analysis is based on 48 interviews with women ranging in age from 63–83 years. Participants provided personal and occupational histories and described their retirement decisions, transitions, and lives in retirement. The women's retirement experiences differed in five areas: (1) attachment to work, (2) professional identity, (3) social contacts, (4) family roles/obligations, and (5) community involvement. Findings indicate investment in the work role does affect how women transition to retirement as well as how they structure their time in retirement.

The Influence of Gender on the Perception and Response to Investment Risk: The Case of Professional Investors

In a previous issue of this journal, O'Barr and Conley, noted that cultural differences caused public pension fund managers to invest differently and more conservatively than their private fund counterparts. An additional insight to is that cultural factors have a non-trivial affect on how assets are managed. This article continues with this theme and suggests that, even with equivalent training, experience and information, investment managers make different decisions based on identifiable cultural differences. This study focuses on professional men and women investment managers who perceive and respond to risk differently. This supports O'Barr and Conley, suggesting cultural factors may be responsible for this risk related gender effect. There is extensive evidence that when faced with social and technological hazards, women are more risk averse than men. This appears to be so even when decision-makers of both genders have the same level of expertise and experience. In the investment realm, non-professional women investors also appear to accept less risk than their male counterparts, after controlling for factors such as age, education, wealth and experience. Although the precise reason for this gender difference in risk taking is unknown, it appears to be related to evolutionary and social factors. This paper is unique in that it investigates the risk/gender difference for professionally trained investors. It is found that women investors weight risk attributes, such as possibility of loss and ambiguity, more heavily than their male colleagues. In addition, women tend to emphasize risk reduction more than men in portfolio construction. While gender differences appear to influence perceptions of risk and recommendations to clients, these differences tend to be the most significant for assets and portfolios at risk extremes.

Social support transactions between professional and nonprofessional women and their mothers.

A theoretical model predicting professional and nonprofessional women's perceptions of social support transactions with their mothers was tested. A sample of 210 Professional women and 165 nonprofessional women answered mailed questionnaires. LISREL VI was used to evaluate the quality of the measurement model and generate a revised model. Social support was greatest when employed women were professional, had positive filial responsibility attitudes, lived near their mothers, visited them frequently, and when mothers were not married. These findings provide a beginning theoretical model that can serve as a basis for nursing practice and research when working with intergenerational families.

Social support transactions between professional and nonprofessional women and their mothers

Social support transactions between professional and nonprofessional women and their mothers

Contraceptive use dynamics of Asian women in Britain.

In-depth interviews were conducted with married Asian women from Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds, to investigate patterns of contraceptive use and influences on contraceptive decision making. The results show two distinctively different contraceptive 'lifecycles'. Non-professional women typically have little knowledge about contraception until after their marriage or first birth. Their patterns of contraceptive behaviour show low levels of contraceptive use until after their first birth, when condom use is most prevalent. Non-professional women are influenced by their extended family, religion and cultural expectations on their fertility and family planning decisions. Professional women show an entirely different pattern of contraceptive behaviour. They are more likely to have knowledge about contraception before marriage, use some method of contraception throughout their childbearing years (typically the pill) and cite personal, practical or economic considerations in their fertility decisions rather than religious, cultural or extended family influences.

Communicating prognosis in early breast cancer: do women understand the language used?

To determine the degree to which women with early breast cancer understand the prognostic information communicated by clinicians after breast cancer diagnosis, and their preferences for how this information is presented. Cross-sectional survey conducted within two months of breast cancer diagnosis, using a self-administered written questionnaire. One hundred women attending five Sydney teaching hospitals and one country hospital, who were diagnosed with early stage breast cancer between January and December 1997. The 100 respondents represented 70% of the 143 women originally approached to participate. Many respondents did not fully understand the language typically used by surgeons and cancer specialists to describe prognosis: 53% could not calculate risk reduction (with adjuvant therapy) relative to absolute risk; 73% did not understand the term "median" survival; and 33% believed a cancer specialist could predict an individual patient's outcome. Women in professional/paraprofessional occupations understood more prognostic information than nonprofessional women. There was no agreement on the descriptive equivalent of a "30%" risk, nor the numerical interpretation of a "good" chance of survival. Forty-three per cent of women preferred positively framed messages (e.g., "chance of cure"), and 33% negatively framed messages (e.g., "chance of relapse"). The information women most wanted was that relating to probability of cure, staging of their cancer, chances of treatment being successful, and 10-year survival figures with and without adjuvant therapy. Our results suggest that misunderstanding is responsible for women's confusion about breast cancer prognosis. Clinicians should use a variety of techniques to communicate prognosis and risk, and need to verify that the information has been understood.

Psychometric Properties of the Life Role Salience Scales: Some Construct Validation Evidence from a Sample of Nonprofessional Women

For work-family research to progress satisfactorily, investigators need questionnaire instruments that possess adequate construct validity. The Life Role Salience Scales (LRSS) displayed promising psychometric characteristics in the initial normative samples of college students and professional employees. This study provides additional construct validation evidence for the LRSS within a sample of 94 nonprofessional working women. Three kinds of information are examined: (a) comparisons with the original sample in terms of means, intercorrelations, and reliabilities; (b) effects of actual role status on the various life role scales; and (c) evidence of scale convergence and divergence with a selected set of appropriate variables. Overall, with the exception of this study's inability to reproduce the "value" and "commitment" distinctions found in the original analyses, the results of this examination offer reasonable evidence supporting the scales' construct validity and provide another normative base against which future research can be compared.