Rita James Simon - Böcker

Howard Altstein and Rita Simon are the editors of this volume which describes the experiences of foreign born adoptees and their families. Countries discussed include the United States, Canada, Norway, West Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Israel. Agency sponsored intercountry adoption (ICA) first began with the end of World War II when European orphans were adopted by American families. This book provides a brief history of intercountry adoption; specifies the rules and procedures employed in the various countries; and evaluates the pros and cons and successes and failures in the seven nations.For each country the book provides information on the number of transracial and intercountry adoptions since the end of World War II (or 1960). It discusses each country's formal statutes on transracial and intercountry adoption, and describes the organizations and/or social movements advocating such adoptions as well as those opposing them. The editors conclude with a summary, drawn from the case studies, which assesses the successes and failures of the adoption policies and experiences. Compiled by leading scholars in the adoption field, this volume is designed for use by social workers, adoption agencies, sociologists, and psychologists.

In this detailed 1978 study, Professor Rita J. Simon examines two significant ethnic communities in Israel: one of ultra-Orthodox Jews, and the other of Israeli Arabs. The Jews form a tiny but cohesive group with a strong sense of pride in their heritage and values. The Arabs, who comprise thirteen percent of the total population of Israel, occupy a politically and culturally sensitive position within that state. The author argues that despite these and obvious other cultural differences the two communities are akin in their separateness from the mainstream of Israeli society. She presents explanations of how and why both groups maintain cultural values and social patterns that prevent their assimilation into and acceptance by the broader society. Continuity and Change is significant as a study of contemporary social conditions in Israel, of sources of conflict within that society, as of implications that these conflicts have for the future.

The role, status, and treatment of women is one of the major issues confronting the military today. This volume provides a range of perspectives on the magnitude of concerns, the sources of problems, how issues might best be addressed, and the future for women in the armed services. It is based on a special issue of the journal Gender Issues, supplemented with additional contributions from leading scholars.Historical and theoretical perspectives are provided by Lorry M. Fenner and Jean Bethke Elshtain. Fenner focuses on the role of women in the military since 1940, and argues for broader inclusion of women as well as other groups that have previously been restricted from full participation. Elshtain analyzes the extraordinary ability of war to draw both women and men into civic life, and observes how it calls forth and establishes a sense of particular identity for both men and women.Critical views are provided by other scholars. Laura L. Miller examines the feminist movement's insistence on full participation in combat units. Former Army chaplain Marie deYoung provides qualitative and quantitative data on military readiness and unit cohesion in mixed gender units. Leading military scholars (Mady W. Segal, David R. Segal, Jerald G. Bachman, Peter Freedman-Doan, and Patrick M. O'Malley) review national surveys comparing male and female high school seniors' responses to surveys conducted on questions about their propensity to enlist. Male-female differences are also addressed by Judith Hicks Steihm, who looks at the opinions each group has about the capabilities and performance of women. She finds differences by rank on questions as to how hard female soldiers work as compared to male soldiers and whether women are ready for combat duty.Historically, the military has provided minorities equal opportunity. Brenda L. Moore and Schulyler C. Webb examine whether or not this is still perceived to be the case in today's Navy. They focus on different perceptions by women and men, and by African American women in particular. Finally, William O'Neill examines whether the post-cold war downsized military will find women soldiers more or less important. Drawing upon social science research, historical data, and contemporary opinion surveys, Women in the Military is a cutting-edge assessment of a major gender issue in the United States. It will be valuable to researchers in women's studies, as well as those teaching courses in sociology, history, and military studies.Rita James Simon is University Professor in the School of Public Affairs and the Washington College of Law at American University. She is the editor of Gender Issues and author of The American Jury, the Insanity Defense: A Critical Assessment of Law and Policy in the Post-Hinkley Era (with David Aaronson), Adoption, Race and Identity (with Howard Alstein), In the Golden Land: A Century of Russian and Soviet Jewish Immigration, Social Science Data and Supreme Court Decisions (with Rosemary Erickson), and Abortion: Statutes, Policies, and Public Attitudes the World Over.