Vesa Puuronen

Mitä Suomen koulukodeissa todella tapahtui"Yhteiskunnan tahra?" selvittää koulukoteihin sijoitettujen lasten ja nuorten kokemuksia Suomessa vuosina 19401985. Tutkimusta varten on haastateltu 35 koulukotien asukasta. Kirja kuvaa heidän elämäänsä ennen koulukotia, siellä asuessa ja sen jälkeen. Jokaisella haastatellulla on oma tarinansa, mutta yhtäläisyyksiä löytyy. Tärkeä yhteinen piirre on lapseen lyöty leima, tahra, joka vaikeutti monen elämää vielä aikuisuudessakin. Pahantapaisina pidetyt lapset tulivat usein köyhistä tai muuten rikkinäisistä kodeista. Haastateltujen kokemukset koulukotiarjesta kertovat kaltoinkohtelusta, alistamisesta ja väkivallasta. Kirja osoittaakin, että varsinainen yhteiskunnan tahra eivät ole sijoitetut lapset vaan koulukotisijoitus itsessään. Vaiettujen käytäntöjen esiintuominen on tärkeää, jos se auttaa ehkäisemään vastaavia virheitä tulevaisuudessa. KM Marjo Laitala on sosiologian tutkija ja YT Vesa Puuronen sosiologian professori Oulun yliopistossa.

This title was first published in 2000: The book is aimed at uncovering certain features of the future of Karelia, which is partly situated in Russia and Finland. The authors believe that this can be done by studying in depth the opinions, values, norms, beliefs, fears and hopes of young people living in two neighbouring but profoundly different societies: Russia and Finland. Young people are constructing these societies in the 20th century. The book is based on a comparative research project, financed by the Academy of Finland, which was carried out during 1995-1997 by an international, inter-disciplinary research group. The novelty of the book is based on the use of different research methods and theoretical starting points. One of the crucial questions raised by the book concerns the applicability of Western theories in research into Russian society and people. The analysis shows that many of the concepts applied frequently in Western social sciences do not apply in research relating to Russian specific culture. The book proposes that more attention should be paid to the challenges of comparative research.

This title was first published in 2000: The book is aimed at uncovering certain features of the future of Karelia, which is partly situated in Russia and Finland. The authors believe that this can be done by studying in depth the opinions, values, norms, beliefs, fears and hopes of young people living in two neighbouring but profoundly different societies: Russia and Finland. Young people are constructing these societies in the 20th century. The book is based on a comparative research project, financed by the Academy of Finland, which was carried out during 1995-1997 by an international, inter-disciplinary research group. The novelty of the book is based on the use of different research methods and theoretical starting points. One of the crucial questions raised by the book concerns the applicability of Western theories in research into Russian society and people. The analysis shows that many of the concepts applied frequently in Western social sciences do not apply in research relating to Russian specific culture. The book proposes that more attention should be paid to the challenges of comparative research.