Understanding Women in Scotland

This article explores obstacles to understanding the history and contemporary experiences of women in Scotland, and to the development of feminist research in Scotland. It is argued that explanations which invoke Scottish male chauvinism and misogyny alone are insufficient, and that the marginalization of women in Scotland is produced both by male domination within Scotland, and by English cultural and political hegemony within the UK. The article comments on the relationship of the concept of ‘Britishness’ to that of ‘Scottishness’ (and other identities within the UK) and illustrates how the frequent confusion of ‘British’ with ‘English’ serves to obscure Scottish experience. It is also argued that the place of Scotland within the British state has led to the creation of an institutional framework that disadvantages women, and a system of government that excludes women. This implies that feminist debates on the state in Britain require a specific focus on the form of the British state, and in the context of constitutional change in particular this is important for the development of future strategies. It is argued that the double marginalization of women in Scotland is not just a problem in relation to the development of feminist research, but is also a political problem in that it contributes to a degree of alienation from feminism in England. The article concludes by arguing for the necessity of recognition of difference, but also for dialogue, as the basis for feminist alliances in different parts of the UK.     

Value orientation and psychosocial adjustment at various levels of marijuana use

Personality characteristics and values of 475 undergraduates were studied with respect to marijuana use and the usual demographic variables. Frequent Users and Adamant Nonusers (i.e., those persons who never have used marijuana and never will) each account for 23% of the sample. The demographic data were essentially similar between the four groups under study, but the group differences in reported marijuana use corresponded to large differences in personality and values. The latter was assessed with an instrument developed by the authors based on F. Kluckhohn's theory of variation in value orientations; personality characteristics were assessed with the California Psychological Inventory. The latter (CPI) portrays the Frequent User, in comparison to the other groups but especially relative to the Adamant Nonuser, as likely to be interpersonally and intellectually more effective, trusting in others, and confident and to possess a greater degree of ego strength. The Adamant Nonuser appears to be more submissive in general, lacking in self-insight, dependent on external structure, and judgmental. These differences are interpreted in terms of the value orientations that have primacy for the members of each of the groups. For example, the Adamant Nonuser feels that nature is more subjugating than do the other groups. His standards are extrinsic, and he has a desire for order, associated with an emphasis on authority supported by a belief that humankind is naturally evil or dangerous and that oneThis study was supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Law Enforcement Commission under grant A-70-52R, 2-09-25-04 10-02.Received B.A. from Columbia University and M.A. from the City University of New York. Currently completing dissertation in Educational Psychology at the University of Chicago. Interests lie in the areas of moral development, moral education, role-taking, statistics, methodology, and delinquency.Received B.A. from Cornell University and M.A. from the University of Illinois, where he is a doctoral student in the Psychology Department. Interests lie in the areas of role-taking, therapy, moral education, guided group interaction, and aggression.