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"I was so afraid all you wanted from me was sex": a corpus-assisted study in the pragmatics of manipulation in online child sexual groomers' discourse
No full textUsing a corpus pragmatic approach, we analyse online groomers’ discourse within chat logs from the Perverted Justice Foundation (PJF) archive (2019) (www.pjfi.org) to expose online groomers' stylistic modus operandi. Informed by Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) (Giles et al., 1973) and Sorlin’s Manipulative Discourse (MD) Model (2017), the study shows that online child sexual offenders’ use of implicit, belief-based manipulation is based on two paradoxes: (1) The offenders’ use of a ‘transparency’ tactic to establish a reciprocal, adult-to-adult relationship and draw the child-target in; and (2) the ‘polite’ offenders falsely passing the power and control over to the child, thereby creating in the child’s mind an illusion of free choice, maturity and capacity to consent. It is suggested that the two paradoxes contribute to the development of one narrative with, as its recurring theme, the implicit, yet prevalent adultification of the child. We argue that the discursive adultification of the child-target deserves to be further explored, as it can lead to role and responsibility reversal, which supports online grooming processes and, crucially, it may result in the child-victim’s self-blame and reluctance to report OCSEA.</p
Perspectives on prenatal care among mothers in an ethnically diverse neighbourhood
Get PDFBackground: Timely initiation of prenatal care is critical to maximising positive maternal and infant health outcomes. Women from ethnic minority backgrounds in high income countries are likely to initiate prenatal care later than the recommended 10 weeks. We explored experiences and perspectives of prenatal care among mothers in an ethnically diverse area in the United Kingdom. Methods: We conducted in-depth qualitative semi-structured interviews with 20 expectant and recent mothers who started prenatal care after 10 weeks in an ethnically diverse area. Mothers were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling, through local networks and online advertisements. Interviews were conducted in-person, over the phone or online based on participants’ preferences. Data were analysed using a thematic framework guided by Levesque Conceptual Framework. Results: Three key themes emerged: 1.experiences of and perceptions about prenatal care appointments; 2.factors hindering timely initiation of prenatal care; and 3.strategies to enhance prenatal care uptake. Women felt dissatisfied with limited engagement during appointments and suggested that seeing the same professional could improve trust and confidence. Delays were linked to low awareness and insufficient information on scheduling, as well as employment and childcare constraints. Participants recommended simplified health information about care pathways, appointment reminders, and multilingual resources to improve access. Conclusions: Key barriers in prenatal care highlight the need for targeted co-produced interventions, including provision of simplified health information and culturally inclusive resources to enhance timely uptake among women in ethnically diverse areas in high income countries. Key messages: • Women in ethnically diverse area perceived several barriers for timely prenatal care initiation. • Key barriers in prenatal care highlight the need for targeted coproduced interventions, to support mothers in ethnically diverse areas to start prenatal care on time
‘Nothing geeky about photography’: engaging and supporting girls and young women accessing a specialist child sexual exploitation service through photography and digital storytelling
Get PDFThere is a gap in the literature surrounding creative, arts-based approaches for engaging and supporting young people accessing specialist child sexual exploitation (CSE) services in the UK. This paper is based on an ethnographic study of a group photography and digital storytelling project to illustrate why and how these tools can engage girls and young women affected by CSE who, as a group, are routinely described in the literature as ‘hard to engage’. The article draws on interviews and field notes to consider why photography in particular may be engaging and appealing for this group. Furthermore, it illuminates how photography and digital storytelling may potentially be utilised to help counter trauma dynamics associated with child sexual abuse and exploitation through foregrounding choice and control. Consideration to whether such opportunities and outcomes may be achievable with the use of other arts-based tools, or within traditional one-to-one support settings, is also explored. Further research is required to unfurl the potential of arts-based tools and strategies for engaging and supporting young people who have experienced child sexual abuse and exploitation
School life during COVID-19: a qualitative study exploring English secondary school staff and pupils’ experiences of the school-based mitigation measures
Get PDFBackground In England, the national Government was responsible for balancing the risks of COVID-19 infection, transmission and illness against the known risks of school closures. The Department for Education (DfE) issued guidance to schools, however, there is limited empirical evidence on the experiences of staff and pupils affected by the guidance and accompanying COVID-19 mitigation measures. Methods This qualitative study explored secondary school staff and pupils’ views and experiences of COVID-19 guidance and mitigation measures. There were two main objectives: (i) to examine implementation effectiveness, and (ii) to explore their effectiveness at promoting safety. Participants were purposively sampled from English schools serving diverse communities participating in the CoMMinS (COVID-19 Mapping and Mitigation in Schools) study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted remotely, and data were analysed thematically. Results Interviews took place between January and August 2021 with participants from five secondary schools (20 staff and 25 pupils); staff represented a range of roles within the school and pupil demographics varied. Main themes were: (i) negative views of the DfE guidance; (ii) negative experiences of the DfE guidance; (iii) ineffectiveness of the DfE guidance and school mitigation measures at promoting safety and reducing risk; (iv) ineffective implementation of the mitigation measures due to poor adherence and acceptability (with sub-themes for Lateral Flow Testing (LFT), face coverings, physical distancing and ventilation); and (v) positive perceptions (with sub-themes for hygiene measures, and approaches that facilitated implementation and safety which included staff enforcing compliance, having an ethos of co-operation, addressing inconsistencies, and minimising change). Conclusions Insights from this research will help understand effectiveness of the measures in the ‘real-world school setting’. Understanding the experiences of staff and pupils will help to support policymakers and school leaders in future pandemic decision-making. This research identified challenges with the guidance and measures, minimal impact on perceived safety, and a negative impact on wellbeing. These challenges should be considered when assessing the benefit of the measures in keeping schools safe
Differences in muscle activation and joint kinematics between deadlift styles when performed at high intensity training loads
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to compare the conventional (CDL), sumo (SDL) and hex-bar (HBD) deadlift actions at a high intensity training load across a wide range of leg and back muscles to explore which lift has the biggest impact on prime mover musculature. Twelve males (age: 19 ± 2 years; height: 1.81 ± 0.81 m; body mass: 85.64 ± 10.87 kg) performed 3 repetitions of HBD, CDL and SDL at a 90% 1RM intensity. Load lifted, EMG for the Erector Spinae Longissimus, Gluteus Maximus, Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus, Rectus Femoris, and Vastus Medialis and knee and hip range were compared via effect size magnitude of change. The EMG results showed a general pattern of greater muscle activity, considered a large effect, during the HBD compared to the CDL and SDL, possibly due to the greater absolute load lifted during the HBD. The only anomaly to this was greater EMG activity for the bicep femoris within the CDL compared to the HBD, large effect, and the SDL, moderate effect. This finding was attributed to the greater hip flexion seen in the start position for the CDL compared to other lifts. These findings suggest that the HBD would be the preferred deadlift technique for total muscle recruitment and load lifted for high intensity (90% 1RM) training regimes. However, the CDL would be the preferred lift if bicep femoris muscle activity were a specific targeted requirement
The emergence of the student in Colin in Black and White & Top Boy
Get PDFThis article considers the relational and positional emergence of the student in two shows (markedly different narratologically and socioculturally): Colin in Black and White, which features and is based upon the life of NFL player turned activist Colin Kaepernick; and Top Boy. Both shows are concerned with the intersection of race and class and with the role of place (as particularized geographic location) and space (as cultural, ideological, discursive) in that intersection. The article considers instances in which the student emerges as such in both the presence and absence of the discursive reach (or institutional gaze) of the school. Colin in Black and White not only depicts a young Colin Kaepernick negotiating high school (a ready microcosm for the social, cultural, and political landscape of America), but also takes its audience to school: the audience is positioned as one of the show’s students. Top Boy, by contrast, dramatizes the emergence of teacher-student relations in the absence of formal educational structure. It does so by centring people and places that are often marginalized, and marginalizing those which are often centred
Relational wellbeing amongst care-experienced young people in transition in the context of Covid 19
Get PDFCare-experienced young people typically negotiate the transition to adulthood at a younger age than their peers in the general population and with less reliable access to support. Concerns have been raised that Covid 19 exacerbated the challenges they faced and widened the ‘care-gap’. The paper employs a relational wellbeing approach to explore young people's wellbeing and experiences of ‘having enough’, ‘being connected’ and ‘feeling good’ in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic. It presents three case examples and draws on data from 32 interviews with young people in England, to explore the impact that the presence or absence of ‘family-like’ ties had on the extent to which needs were met. Findings illuminated that feeling ‘connected’ did not ‘prevent’ fluctuations in ‘having enough’ or ‘feeling good’ (or less bad), but strong relational ties did assist young people as they navigated precarious times. For some, institutionally arranged care arrangements evolved, making way for deepening connections and the emergence of ‘family-like ties’, which were mutually supportive. For those living alone, or in transitional placements and who lacked a network of support during Covid 19, its absence was keenly felt. Young people's accounts also serve to reinforce the importance of professionals being attentive to who matters to them and taking their wishes and feeling into account in decision-making processes
Developing teacher capabilities for 21st century challenges: findings from a climate simulation pilot workshop on learning, teaching and action
Get PDFIn June 2024 we collaborated on a climate modelling workshop for around 200 of UCL’s pre-service (PGCE) secondary school teachers. This focused on the use of the En-ROADS climate simulator which was developed by MIT-Sloan, primarily for policy decision-makers. The initiative was part of broader efforts at UCL to integrate sustainability and climate education into teacher education. In this article we reflect on this collaboration
Nonlinear dynamics of militarization and income inequality nexus in post-socialist Eastern Europe: a panel kink regression analysis (1990-2023)
Get PDFThis paper examines the relationship between militarization, and income inequality in Eastern Bloc European countries from 1990 to 2023 – a period marked by post-socialist transition, economic upheaval, and political instability. The region’s unique geopolitical position and complex socio-political structure have contributed to widening socioeconomic disparities and rising militarization. Using a panel kink regression (PKR) model with the Global Militarisation Index and GINI index, we identify a critical threshold beyond which militarisation’s effect on inequality reverses. Below this point, militarization modestly reduces inequality; above it, further increases worsen disparities. These findings underline the need for balanced policies that promote both security and social equity in the region
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