Book Launch
Book presentations
On 6th May 2010 at the House of Europe in Nicosia, the Research Unitof Behaviour and Social Issues – affiliated with the University ofNicosia – launched its first book publications in Greek. The publishedbooks are:
1. “Sexual Interactions: The Social Structureof Atypical Sexual Behaviors” by Constantinos Phellas, AndreasPhilaretou and Stavros Karayiannis
2. “Society and Health: Psychosocial and Cultural Approaches in Cyprus and Greece”, Constantinos Phellas, editor
Thebooks were launched under the auspices of the Office of the EuropeanParliament in Cyprus and KRITIKI Publishers. Dr Michalis Attalides,Rector of the University of Nicosia, presented the first book, “Sexual Interactions: The Social Structure of Atypical Sexual Behaviors”.He gave a short description of the contents beginning with the firstchapters by author, Andreas Philaretou, which refer to the sexualhabits of men based on the Cypriot patriarchal values of ‘machismo’ andthe sexual exploitation of the female, especially of foreign women. Hethen praised the literature style of Stavros Karayiannis, who examinesan interesting post-colonialist intercrossing of political gender,sexuality and national politics. While Stavros Karayiannis focuses onhow masculinity has postured in Cyprus’ post-colonial states and howthis posturing is reflected in the everyday sexual practices of theGreek Cypriots, he considers the condemnation of homosexuality as acolonial western residue. Finally, Dr Attalides noted the interestinganalysis by Constantinos Phellas of the social structure ofhomosexuality in Greek-Cypriot society, which stigmatizes with aspecific social stigma the effeminate man, and he makes a specialreference to the identity of the Anglo-Cypriot gay men in Britain whichis more safely constructed in terms of their relationships with family,significant others and occupational community peers, instead of theirsexual identity.
Dr Attalides acknowledged the importanceof the book regarding the social, political and historical elementsgiven in relation to the theorizing of sexuality in Greek-Cypriotculture, as well as the social research methods practiced by the threeauthors, prompting the need for this research to be continued. Morespecifically he commented that “such social research methods werefollowed which preserve and promote the voluntary nature of humanaction, the formation of will and the pursuit of meaning. [Suchmethods] do not push these dimensions to the edges, in which amethodology in social sciences might result, either from dry reportingof statistical behaviour and phenomena or from the elimination of humanpersonality”.
Dr Demosthenis Agrafiotis, Professor Emeritusof Sociology, National School of Public Health, Greece, presented thesecond book, “Society and Health: Psychosocial and Cultural Approaches in Cyprus and Greece”.He noted that the book, the first of its kind in the two countries, hasmanaged to offer a multi-disciplinary unison in the area of health,science. The book erases public debate doubts regardinginter-disciplinary accounts of the psychological and social aspects ofhealth. Dr Agrafiotis referred to the diversity of the book, whichcovers a wide range of public health topics, particularly by scientistsfrom diverse scientific and academic backgrounds. He highlighted thevalue of qualitative research approach regarding the registration ofthe patients’ experiences, as well as the analysis of the dimensions ofsocial structure within the health context. He actually suggested thatthe title of the book should have been “Health, Society” or The Societyof Health”; titles which probably would better describe the contents ofthe book.
The publication covers issues of sexuality andsexual behaviour: experiences of patients who live with differentdiseases like HIV/AIDS and Diabetes; anthropological approaches toissues such as organ transplant; studies describing behaviour withregard to health factors, namely substance abuse; health behaviour ofspecial population groups like refugees and immigrants. Within thiscontext, the book has managed to combine the psychosocial aspect ofhealth resulting from the research work of 21 social scientists fromthe field of sociology, psychology and social anthropology, during aperiod when the collaboration between these disciplines is considereddifficult. As noted by Dr Agrafiotis, this attempt, although risky, hasmanaged to succeed and produce the result which is now before us.Afterwards, the valuable comments of Dr Agrafiotis triggered a veryfruitful discussion among the guests.
The event wasaddressed by Dr Constantinos Phellas, Executive Director of RUBSI,author and editor of the two publications; Mrs Frini Charalambous gavea short address on behalf of the Publishers KRITIKI, and the event wascoordinated by Mrs Alexandra Attalides, Press Attaché of the Office ofthe European Council and the Representation of the European Commissionin Cyprus.
30th Jun. 2010