Library Bulletin – Journal Articles – February 2010
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WOMEN'S HEALTH
MARTIN, Jo M and GHAFERI, Jessica M and others. Changes in skin tanning attitudes : fashion articles and advertisements in the early 20th century. American Journal of Public Health Vol 99, No 12 - December 2009: 2140-2146
Abstract: Historical reviews suggest that tanning first became fashionable in the 1920s or 1930s. To quantitatively and qualitatively examine changes in tanning attitudes portrayed in the popular women's press during the early 20th century, we reviewed summer issues of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar for the years 1920, 1927, 1928, and 1929. We examined these issues for articles and advertisements promoting skin tanning or skin bleaching and protection. We found that articles and advertisements promoting the fashionable aspects of tanned skin were more numerous in 1928 and 1929 than in 1927 and 1920, whereas those promoting pale skin (by bleaching or protection) were less numerous. These findings demonstrate a clear shift in attitudes toward tanned skin during this period.
RUTTEN, Alfred and ABU-OMAR, Karim and others. Assets for policy making in health promotion : overcoming political barriers inhibiting women in difficult life situations to access sport facilities. Social Science and Medicine Vol 69, No 11 - December 2009: 1667-1673
Abstract: Although the need for intersectoral policy making in health promotion has been commonplace and a high priority for several decades, there is still a lack of appropriate methods available to assess the inputs, processes, and outcomes associated with the effectiveness of such approaches, particularly in relation to sectors outside of health. This paper demonstrates how asset based models to intersectoral policy making in health promotion can improve the effectiveness of projects aiming to improve health and related outcomes. In particular, it summarises how asset based approaches to the planning and implementation of health promotion programmes can be used to develop our methods for assessing intersectorial actions. The paper is based on the findings from a local neighbourhood project based in Erlangen, Germany, aiming to improve the opportunities for physical activity among women in difficult life situations. The neighbourhood was characterised by high rates of unemployment, social welfare recipients, and migrants. Ethnographic methods enabled us to highlight the range of health related assets available in the neighbourhood which could be activated to improve access to and uptake of physical activity amongst the target population. Results indicate that intersectoral policies seeking to improve health outcomes, are more likely to be successful if they maximise the opportunities for making the most of the assets that exist in individuals, communities and organisations. This study demonstrates how the asset model was used to create the supportive environments which facilitated women from the target population to work with policy makers on an equal footing. Their involvement in project planning and implementation helped to achieve the structural changes required to achieve the aims of the project. These included the establishment of a new job position at the city office for sports and improved access to sport facilities for women in difficult life situations.