Proposes that students' plans for college consist of conscious and unconscious goals and subsequent obstructions to be overcome. Results found acceptable interjudge reliabilities and criterion validity and several themes in the goals. Obstructions were illustrated. Discusses the method's potential for generating inferences about unconscious…

Explores the relationship between Helms'"womanist identity" attitudes and the mental health of black and of white women. Results showed that black women and white women have different patterns of responses to both womanist and mental health scales. Discusses limitations of the study, and implications for counseling and education. (RB)

Data from 6 sites in 3 countries were examined to determine developmental course of physical aggression in childhood and to analyze linkages to violent and nonviolent offending outcomes in adolescence. Findings indicated that among boys, chronic physical aggression during elementary school years increased risk for continued physical violence and…

An Afro-American woman discusses her experiences as an entrepreneur, describing the inspiration provided by her parents; the vision which enabled her to create a multi-million dollar business; the loss of her company through industrial sabotage; and her comeback as head of a seminar, speaking, and consulting firm. (JDD)

A creative writing program for disadvantaged women in Chicopee, Massachusetts, is described. The program's effects in empowering the women resulted in the women making a number of specific changes in their lives. Reasons for the workshop's success are discussed, as is the power of the arts to effect social change. (DB)

This study compared the level of ego development of 30 women with histories of childhood sexual victimization and 30 women with no history of abuse. Results indicated no significant difference in ego levels between groups, with a slight trend toward higher ego development in the abused group. (Author/DB)

Studied elderly religious women (n=30) using a phenomenological interview technique. Discusses women's "call to vocation," the remembered life events that influenced their decisions to enter the convent as young girls. Participants described motivations and spiritual direction. Uses remembrances of three women to demonstrate circumstances and…

Examined patterns of psychosocial development for white and African-American traditional-age undergraduate female college students (n=218). Differences were found by class level in measures of autonomy with seniors scoring higher than other classes and mature interpersonal relationship scores indicating a gradual increase. In a measurement of…

Fourteen female single parents attended Jobtrain courses to prepare for employment through literacy, personal, and career development. The holistic approach including assertiveness, parenting, health issues, sociology of work and self-image caused dramatic changes in their self-worth, supportive networks, and self-confidence. (SK)

Study of college women (n=131) at midwestern university found significant effects of an unwanted childhood sexual experience on subsequent psychosocial tasks of intimacy and career planning. In addition, victims of incestuous, adult perpetrators, who encountered experiences of greater severity, reported greatest number of negative developmental…

A female outdoor educator who had recovered from anorexia nervosa reflects on the boundaries between her personal and professional identity as she anticipates taking on a research role in adventure-therapy programs. Gender issues in outdoor education are discussed in relation to women's body image and eating disorders. (SV)

A young women's employment program in Fiji focused on personal development, self-reliance, and small business development. The responsibilities of women's traditional roles and lack of capital and credit were difficulties encountered, but the human development sessions were most valued by the participants. (SK)

This study used a feminist psychodynamic developmental framework to test the hypothesis that internalizing conventional femininity ideologies in two domains--inauthenticity in relationships and body objectification--is associated with early adolescent girls' mental health. One hundred forty-eight eighth-grade girls completed measures of femininity…

Past research indicates a significantly higher prevalence of early sexual maturation in African American (AA) girls, which is associated with a number of psychological and behavioral problems as well as with health problems such as childhood obesity and diabetes. Both nutrition and body image perceptions have never before been empirically…

Examines the relationship between assertive personality traits and sexual satisfaction in 45 employed professional women. Results show: (1) a positive correlation between assertiveness and reported sexual satisfaction; (2) as age and length of marriage increase so does reported sexual satisfaction; and (3) as assertiveness increases so do reports…