'Talking Not Taking'

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Motherhood in Western Europe

Insights from Western European Mothers

The changing face of motherhood — Western Europe

The accompanying reports combine a review of existing literature with an analysis of original quantitative data derived from a poll of 9,582 mothers from 12 countries in Western Europe, making it one of the largest studies of this kind ever conducted

Child Obesity and Health

An analysis of the latest available data from the Health Survey for England (HSE)

Child Obesity and Health — download the full report in pdf format

In this ‘National Childhood Obesity Week’, the SIRC report, Children, obesity and heath: Recent trends, holds up a true mirror, accurately reflecting the trend towards slimmer, healthier children. more

The Future of Freemasonry

An examination of the role of Freemasonry in the 21st century

Freemasonry

This report is, as far as we know, an account of the first ever study that has been commissioned by Freemasons from a non-Masonic body. None of the SIRC members involved in the project are Freemasons, a fact that evoked surprise and welcome in equal measure from the Lodge members we met. more

The Changing Face of Motherhood

Insights from three generations of mothers

Motherhood

The report seeks to answer some specific questions about the changing face of motherhood and determine the extent to which modern ‘solutions’ to motherhood are more or less beneficial than the solutions of the past. more

Young People 'Talking Not Taking' Drugs

20% of teenagers say their mates pretend to take drugs, according to new research by the free and confidential drugs helpline, FRANK

Almost half of UK teenagers (49%) say the need to fit in with their 'tribe' dictates their group's behaviour, according to new research by FRANK, the free and confidential drugs helpline, with a fifth of teens claiming that peer pressure leads their friends to pretend to take drugs to look 'cool'.

The FRANK report asked over 1,000 11-18 year olds across the UK about their tribe, and the ways in which they present themselves as part of the group, from their music tastes, dress sense and hairstyles to their attitudes to drugs. The research uses data from youth experts, dubit to identify ten current leading teen tribes in the UK; Academics/Geeks, Gangstas, Goths, Indies, Moshers, Scallies, Skaters, Sporties, Townies and Trendies.

The research shows that so-called 'presentation' tactics are used by all members of teenage tribes. Dr. Peter Marsh, Director at the Social Issues Research Centre, and co-author of the FRANK report, says:

"Like their tribal ancestors, teenagers today learn to understand who they are by defining themselves through social bonds and affiliations with a peer group. As they make the hormone-laden journey from child to adult, they forge a personal identity by first creating a social identity. Music tastes and appearance are the obvious ways to define oneself, but the ways in which young people talk about themselves to their peers also helps them to create a sense of self. To be an individual, we first need to be one of the lads or lasses."

Key findings of the research include:

Report prepared by Peter Marsh – August 2004