Ukrainian Society

8-18

Authors: Zdragat S. G.

Addressing the problem of socialization and integration in educational space of children with psychophysical developmental disabilities or children “with special needs” was proclaimed a priority for the state policy. The inclusive educational process entails proper organization of training activities and meets educational needs of every child. To investigate the awareness level of inclusive education methods and new inclusive educational technologies implementation in the educational process, a series of formal “face to face” interviews with principles and deputy principles of the pilot schools of the International project “Eastern Partnership in the Educational Innovation in Inclusive Education” (INOVEST) “Implementation of pedagogical innovations in inclusive education” were conducted. Another goal of the investigation was to identify the preparedness level of the mass schools managers to implement aforementioned education model. The study allowed to conclude that school leaders are aware of the importance of inclusion as a social technology to be used in overcoming exclusion in society, they also recognize the need to adopt pedagogical innovations in order to create psychological sensitivity in society and public opinion on inclusive education. School leaders stressed the need to develop a procedure for continuous evaluation of the inclusive education implementation by using the system of evaluation techniques.

28-42

Authors: McLarty L., Becker M., Pavlova D. M., Isak S., Emmanuel F., Balakireva O. M., Bondar T. V., Sazonova Ya. O., Sakovych O., Blanchard J.

Rates of new HIV infection in Ukraine are among the highest in Europe, with the epidemic disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including commercial sex workers (CSW). HIV prevention programme coverage for CSW in Ukraine is generally high, but the Zaporizhzhya oblast remains underserved, despite its geographic proximity to the eastern and southern regions of the country, which are disproportionately burdened by HIV. In order to inform HIV prevention services in Zaporizhzhya, this study examines self-reported behaviours that shape HIV vulnerability and place CSW in Zaporizhzhya at increased risk for HIV infection. A multistage, stratified cluster sampling approach identified a random sample of participants between 15 and 24 years old, who were actively practicing sex work at the time of recruitment. A team of field researchers conducted structured interviews with CSW participants to gather information about their sexual behaviours and drug use practices using a standard quantitative tool. In total, 124 CSW were interviewed, with mean age of 21.5 years. Most CSW indicated that their main source of income was from sex work, and less than half had ever been tested for HIV. On average, participants reported 10.3 sexual partners per week, with 55.6% of CSW entertaining at least three clients per day. The majority (88.6%) of clients were occasional, with whom consistent condom use was reported among 76.8% of participants. Nearly all CSW (n = 95, 82.6%) reported alcohol consumption during sex with partners/clients in the past one-month. The use of intravenous drugs was common among drug-using participants (n = 26, 46.4%), but needle sharing was rare. Nearly half (n = 61, 49.2%) of CSW had experienced sexual violence, largely at the hands of clients. This study highlights numerous individual-level risk factors, as well as social and structural vulnerabilities for HIV faced by CSW in Zaporizhzhya. Combination HIV prevention programmes that integrate behavioural, biomedical, and structural interventions are recommended to expand upon existing, local prevention efforts in Zaporizhzhya, and Ukraine more broadly.

54-64

Authors: Ovchynnikova L.V.

The article describes the approaches to the study of employment non-standard forms, especially precarios forms. The essence of the concept «precariat» is revealed. The author explained positive and negative consequences of the proliferation precarios forms of employment at the individual, societal and state level. It is proven that precarious forms of employment are not strictly marginalized by the working activity of the least competitive population segments. The choice of precarious economic models was caused by the modern globalization trends and labor market flexibility and is distinctive for the representatives of the economically active population from the innovative core of the company. Modern labour market requires specialists in the area of information technology, specialists in the creation and implementation of innovative ideas and products, which entails change in the nature of work – term projects instead of stable work within one company, apart from physical places of work. In the modern social reality the following life strategies become actual: downshifting, digital nomading. With this in mind, precarity can be a conscious choice of the individual as the desire to develop a private and family life or as the opportunity to get rid of the career claims, which are costly, considering the time and emotional stress. Despite the fact that precarity includes variety of groups of the economically active population (e.g. freelancers, creative design staff, representatives of the IT industry, self-employed, seasonal workers), they all share general uncertainties about the future, financial security, and social guarantees. Due to that this group has the protest potential, which can be used to increase public discontent.

75-81

Authors: Sogorin A. A.

In terms of modern society socio-cultural transformation, the study of advertising is increasingly important. Nowadays advertising is one of the most powerful means to influence the mass consciousness. In addition, advertising constantly goes beyond commercial interests and imposes certain standards to consumers. A conceptual approach to understanding of the advertising definition within social sciences allows to use sociological tools more effectively while researching advertising. The main goal is to determine the main components of the sociology of advertising and advertising exposure concept. The conclusion is made that advertising as a social institution regulates the formation of individual, group and public perceptions of the ideal model of consumption social practices as well as proposals for socially acceptable way of implementing this model. Sociology studies diverse values, which are provided by members of various communities in accordance with the ideas that dictate their status, role, behavioral and mental characteristics. Advertising is a component of information-communicative space of modern societies and is an important element of mass communication. The advertiser translates patterns of behavior and interaction. This synthesized space affects people’s thinking and behavior. There is need for sociological research aimed at disclosure of advertising, identifying features of its functioning and trends, factors determining advertising strategy and technology in modern society.

90-101

Authors: Borodina O. M.

Based on the empirical data, the author summarized practical approaches to solving the problems of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in rural communities in different regions of Ukraine and described two models to solve this problem, which operate at the local level in the village communitites that have sheltered IDPs. One option of the relationship is built as the personal implementation of the resettled families in rural communities, another model – an organized group resettlement, as a separate settlement within a functioning village. Paper proves that these models are the product of joint efforts of rural communities and IDP families, as well as the representatives of authorities and civil society. A part of IDPs in rural areas work, regardless of professional qualifications and available places of employment. This category of people focuses on their own strength and desire to work to ensure that the local community accepted them as full members, who are able to solve problems and help community in which they want to integrate. In the context of solving the rural development problems, forced internal migration can have positive consequences, as IDPs give new life to rural communities by helping to develop a diverse economic activities, micro-enterprise, revive infrastructure, and forge new social networks, using modern means of communication and telecommunications. Representatives of the middle class and intellectuals among internally displaced persons create in joint efforts their own settlements in rural areas, bringing a new culture of relations with local communities and governments. These settlements demonstrate good examples of self-government and demonstrate the need for collective action for settlement in rural areas. Paper suggests ways of increasing the effectiveness of rural development policies in the context of rural housing construction focused on the provision of state support and of ensuring the rights of internally displaced persons in rural areas, together with the solution of problems of forced migration in Ukraine with attraction of rural areas potential.

114-129

Authors: Huk L .P.

The paper considers methodological and practical development problems of employment flexible forms. It is established that the standard employment is increasingly giving way to non-standard forms of employment, which development depends on socio-economic process. Author analyzed the distribution of non-standard employment in Ukraine, formulated specific features of transformation of social and labour relations and the distribution of the flexible non-standard employment under the influence of globalization and informatization processes. Author systematizes forms of non-standard employment based on the classification criteria, including the formalization of employment, nature of working schedule, terms of agreement, forms of workplace organization and employment methods. It is demonstrated that under the conditions of unstable economic development, the employment of the population in Ukraine is being transformed due to the formation of the following flexible non-standard forms of employment: part-time, overtime, informal, employment under contracts of civil liability, which develops according to the schemes of outsourcing, outstaffing and personnel leasing. It is noted that globalization and the associated with it mobility of labor resources, with the increased competition, created is a necessity for the formation of labor market highly adaptive to changing socio-economic conditions. It is proved that the most important adaptive strategies of the labour market actors that allow them to remain competitive and to operate effectively in conditions of instability are different forms of non-standard employment. Author analyses advantages of non-standard forms of employment and the problems they cause in the area of social and labour relations. It is established that a full realization of population’s labour potential may be effected by the use of non-standard forms of employment of internally displaced persons and the policies, which motivates the combination of employment and family responsibilities. The results of the study show that the development of non-standard employment provides the flexibility of the labour market, increases the mobility and adaptive capacity of its subjects to changes in the economic, social and institutional environment that is necessary for the success of structural adjustment and effective development of the national economy.

138-145

Authors: Korniyaka A. V.

At the current stage of economic development, characterized by a deep crisis in the financial sector of economy, an important issue is the search for additional financial and investment resources, which are subjects of not only entrepreneurial initiatives, but also of the state administrative units such as municipalities. Under given circumstances there is a need to look for the effective mechanisms for additional financial investments and look at the functioning of these administrative units using the existing historical experience. In this context it is important to study a period of the second half of the 19th– the beginning of the 20th century, when the lack of financial resources was the motivating factor for the development of the domestic stock market, in particular, the market for municipal loans, and when the municipalities issue debt in the form of bonds has become an effective mechanism for the financial investments ensuring the development of the aforementioned administrative units. In the second half of the 19th century, socio-economic reforms and stimulated economic development required large investments both from the state and private individuals. But during the study period neither the state nor private sector were provided with a sufficient amount of financial resources for the implementation of effective reforms. Under the conditions of unsufficient financial savings and high cost of credit resources, municipalities’ request to the sub loans during the study period was an effective mechanism for additional financial resources for basic social and economic functions, and municipal bonds have become promising for investment type securities, turnover occurred both in domestic and world stock markets. At the same time the main limiting factor was the practice of attracting financial resources through the issuance of municipal bonds which identified inefficient use of attracted resources, that essentially discredited the present financial and investment mechanism.

156-182

Authors: Balakireva O. M., Dmytruk D. A., Bilous Ye. V.

Based on the results of national public opinion polls of the Ukrainian adult population, authors present foreign policy orientations in the Ukrainian society. Public opinion regarding the driving forces behind country’s development and the assessment of Government’s actions; social and economic well-being of the population, the self-assessment of financial status, actual and desired income, cash savings, cash income, expenditures and the share of shadow incomes, social assistance from the state (housing subsidies in the population’s estimates).