Fordham University: DigitalResearch@Fordham
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Sandler, Ruth
No full textSummarizer: Sophia Maier
Ruth Sandler, born 1940, grew up in the East Bronx near the Bronx Zoo, where she would go with her parents. Her mother came to the United States in 1921, and her father came in 1938, though his family unfortunately remained in what was then Poland, his sisters dying in the Holocaust. Her father became a children’s clothing presser in the garment district, despite owning a business back in Europe. Sandler remembers being told her first language was Yiddish, not speaking English until entering school. She attended PS 57, participating in school plays there. Education was important, and though she loved to read, she cared more about doing well in school than the learning.
Attending Bronx High School of Science, Sandler felt she didn’t belong there because other people came from wealthier and more educated backgrounds, almost like a private school. She went on to be a psychology major at City College and work for the government. Sandler remembers “synagogue hopping” on the holidays with her friends, seeing various synagogues in the Bronx, and her family keeping kosher. She describes her neighborhood as primarily Italian Catholic, with some fighting between the kids, particularly on holidays.
Sandler left the Bronx to move to Queens at the time of her marriage in 1961. Returning to the Bronx for a tour, her apartment building is now gone, replaced with a single family home. She says the North and East Bronx were less touched by the fires and deterioration, though things were different and her parents had moved out to Queens as well because of that. Though she says her parents were not worldly enough to be involved in European culture, Sandler describes the difference between her parents and American born parents as that her parents were constantly concerned for their safety as Jews, as is she because of that environment. There were some antisemitic acts she remembers, fires set at Jewish buildings. Overall, she remembers the people important to her during that time, keeping a scrap book of old pictures with family and friends.
Keywords: East Bronx, Bronx Zoo, antisemitism, the Holocaust, Poland, immigration, marriage, education, PS 57, Bronx High School of Science, City College, Queens, safety, white flight, suburb
Indigenous Land Back in Malaysia: Capturing Orang Asal resistance through #KembalikanTanahAdat
No full textThe rise of a pan-indigenous network has been empowered by digital media in the 21st century. Universal concepts such as “landback” have traveled beyond the boundaries of language and borders. For indigenous peoples in Malaysia, the Orang Asal, online resistance is a reclamation of space long suppressed historically and physically. With actions like spreading local news on land rights court cases and development projects, indigenous reclamation from within the Orang Asal as well as indigenous allyship from citizens and diasporic Malaysians alike is possible. #KembalikanTanahAdat in Malay, #ReturnCustomaryLand is one of the many hashtags for a move towards increasing awareness on the stripping of Orang Asal land rights. A connection to land rights and legal battle, customary law directly addresses Indigenous land rights in most British postcolonial Southeast Asian nations. Through an analysis of tweets under the hashtag of #KembalikanTanahAdat, this study noted factors such as language, rhetoric, interactive features such as quote tweets or retweets, the purpose of the tweet, user accounts, and more. The most impactful use of hashtags exists on Twitter; On Malaysian Twitter specifically, the use of Malay hashtags allows for discourse to still be grounded within Malaysia but the adapted use English within the body of the tweets act as an invitation to international onlookers. With collectives such as @MSolidariti and @OrangAsal as results of activists coming together, the increased activity on Twitter shows promise for momentum in land rights for the Orang Asal. This paper seeks to explore the intricacies and contributions of Malaysian discourse on Twitter toward a growing collective movement of securing indigenous land rights, as a local movement aligns with a universally experienced fight
“We party as a form of survival”: Clubbing During Economic Crisis in Beirut, Lebanon
No full text2020s Lebanon is wrought by a banking crisis, a refugee crisis, infrastructural issues, border conflict, and an unstable government—yet its nightlife scene is thriving. This has been the case since the onset of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) when discotheques and nightclubs emerged in the region despite the decimated infrastructure and beleaguered nation. Although that war period has drawn considerable scholarly attention, there is limited scholarship on the persistence of the clubbing scene during the nation’s troubles of the 2020s. This project studies the vibrant Lebanese nightlife scene in contrast with the various crises the country is experiencing. Rendering my past experience into participant observation captures the qualities of club spaces and club-goers\u27 behavior, while online comments shed light on how Lebanese individuals make sense of club dancing during national troubles—whether they endorse it or criticize the practice. I adapt ethnographic methods to examine nightclubs at two levels: in the actual space of six nightclubs, based on my recollection of club-going over two years, and in the digital space of discourse about clubs gathered from posts on Instagram shared during these same two years. The case study illuminates two understandings of the Lebanese nightlife scene concerning the nation: that it contributes to the socioeconomic problems that prevail, and that it creates a sense of national identity and belonging that alleviates the symptoms of the crisis
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Prosperity: Harnessing Traditional Ecological Knowledge to Revitalize Australia\u27s Economy, Environment, and Human Wellbeing
No full textThis paper explores the traditional knowledge of Australia’s Indigenous people and how it can improve Australia\u27s environment, health, and economic prosperity to shape a more sustainable future. Indigenous Australians managed the land for thousands of years; however, being forced off the land following European colonization resulted in terrible cultural, social, and environmental disruption for Aboriginal Australians and made conservation efforts difficult. Wildfires, imported species, mining, and agriculture is steadily destroying the Australian ecosystem, contributing to climate change, species extinction, and gaps in our cultural and ancestral knowledge. Chapter One overviews Australia\u27s environmental issues; it uses quantitative data to explore the current state of the environment, shifts in biodiversity management, and their ecological impact. Chapter Two of this paper examines Australia\u27s environmental history, its native flora and fauna, and the evolution of the continent\u27s biodiversity, precisely the effect of the imposition of Western resource management and the damage this has had on the ecosystem. To clarify the connections between Indigenous worldviews and land management, Chapter Three explores the environmental anthropology of Indigenous practices and how traditional ecological knowledge and the environment fit within culture and society. Chapter Four delves further into the cultural relevance of traditional ecological knowledge, considering the interdependence of human and environmental health and the effects of climate change on the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. The study examines the impact of traditional ecological knowledge on environmental welfare in Chapter Five, highlighting how traditional ecological knowledge supports ecological resilience, ecosystem services, and responsible resource management. Chapter Six pays particular attention to ecotourism, bioprospecting, and sustainable resource management, highlighting the economic value of traditional ecological knowledge. Chapter Seven is an accumulation of policy recommendations that have come to light in researching traditional ecological knowledge; it examines the current political landscape of Australia and defines how current policies may be improved, or new ones may be implemented. Recognizing the potential of traditional ecological knowledge to build a sustainable and culturally aware future, the research explores ways to incorporate it into economic frameworks, environmental policies, and educational curricula. This research attempts to contribute to a comprehensive knowledge of the complex link between environmental well-being, cultural heritage, and the development of effective environmental policies by addressing the diverse relevance of traditional ecological knowledge. Aboriginal knowledge can supplement existing scientific knowledge and, in some cases, offer an alternative viewpoint. Accepting Aboriginal ecological knowledge will benefit the scientific community and Australia\u27s political, cultural, and economic spheres
Menstrual pads on parliament: Women’s activist strategies in challenging conservative gender ideologies in Kosovo (2020s).
No full textTwo decades after the gender-based violence weaponized in the Balkan Wars, women in the region have acted as catalysts for social and political change. In Kosovo, the journey of women in challenging patriarchal ideologies exemplifies this broader movement. This study examines one feminist NGO, QIKA, tracing its multiple strategies ranging from protests to menstrual product distribution to respond to aspects of violence against women and girls. The cultural qualities in Kosovo reflect both Albanian and Islamic influences, embodying conservative patriarchal norms. In this research, I explore the ways in which women activists employ certain strategies in addressing gender inequalities within this conservative context. This case study highlights the underrepresented contemporary activism of Kosovar women, often overshadowed by existing scholarship focused on the Kosovo-Serbia War and post-war advocacy related to war crimes. Therefore, my research bridges the gap by examining the advocacy of current Kosovar women in confronting the social fabric that continues to aid in their oppression. To do so, I utilize the gender-analysis framework with a feminist lens to focus on the theme of the othering of women’s bodies; including menstrual stigma (and tax), physical violence and sexual violence against women. The project analyzes gender in social, religious, and political ideologies to adequately understand the obstacles faced by QIKA, and how they strategize around them. Based on direct field observation and reflexive recollection from over 9 months in Kosovo (2019-2023); social media posts; informal interviews with NGO representatives, political figures, and civilians, I was able to assemble my data for research. Upon completion, this case study unveils the formidable challenges faced by women\u27s activism in Kosovo, stemming from diverse sources within the home, the country\u27s Muslim influences, and the ethnic conservatism of Albanians. Notably, the perceptions of women\u27s bodies remain a continuous target of societal attacks. QIKA\u27s strategic response to these structural inequalities highlights that feminist action in Kosovo operates on a collective level, advocating for the emancipation of all women in the country. The study underscores the intricate interplay of societal, religious, and cultural factors that shape and impede feminist movements in conservative societies like Kosovo. While particularly pertinent to Balkan and Muslim-majority societies, the research also addresses broader global resistance movements. It underscores the transformative power of collective action in fostering enduring social and political change. Additionally, it explores the interconnectedness of feminist movements worldwide, examining their mutual influence across historical, contemporary, and future contexts
Reflexivity of Tourism on Cultural Performance As Seen By America’s New York City
No full textThe effects of tourism go beyond that of economic and educational standards. It extends into the conception of identity. As the accessibility and interest in other cultures develops, so does the reputation and developments of said cultures. While there is a culture to be interested in, there is a culture for the interest. This paper focuses on the relationship between tourism and general perceptions of cultural identity, through the example of New York City
The Lived Experience of Female Psychology Trainees With Personal Trauma Histories Working With Trauma Patients
No full textThis study sought to understand the lived experiences of psychology doctoral trainees with personal trauma histories working with patients with trauma histories. Seventeen doctoral trainees in counseling or clinical psychology were interviewed. Participants’ experiences were organized along five overarching domains: (a) vicarious traumatization, (b) impact of personal trauma history, (c) new therapist, (d) coping/supports, and (e) vicarious posttraumatic growth. Major themes included: (a) feeling sad and heartbroken, (b) emotional fatigue and bringing work home, (c) instigates personal trauma, (d) difficulty maintaining boundaries, (e) enhanced empathy, connection, and understanding, (f) draws from personal experience to inform approach, (g) mindful of how personal trauma is brought into the room, (h) feeling incompetent, (i) compartmentalizing, (j) self-care and taking time to process, (k) supervision, (l) rewarding experience: instilling pride, hope, and inspiration, and (m) recognition of clinical growth areas. Minor themes included: (a) feeling helpless and overwhelmed, (b) feeling angry, (c) empathy fatigue in outside relationships, (d) enhanced motivation and passion for helping, (e) pull to help and be perfect, (f) increased confidence in clinical abilities, (g) prompted personal reflection and insights, and (h) reevaluating and reflecting on personal relationships. Limitations of the study, suggestions for future research, and clinical implications are discussed
Teacher Inquiry Cycles Promoting Science Vocabulary Acquisition for Arabic-Speaking English Language Learners
No full textResearch suggests teacher professional learning and collaboration are essential to support student achievement. However, our Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) English Language Learners (ELL) have lower academic achievement and our teachers are limited with professional learning inquiry cycle opportunities. Research also suggests vocabulary techniques that promote scientific discourse as a method to support Arabic speaking students. The convergent mixed methods descriptive case study, engaged in improvement science to better understand the disproportionate lower academic achievement for MENA ELL students. Two primary drivers were identified. First, the use of vocabulary techniques to support scientific discourse and second, the use of the Japanese lesson study (JLS) to engage in professional learning and teacher-led inquiry. One Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle occurred to enact the change ideas. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from students and teachers through pre/post inquiry cycle surveys, pre/post inquiry cycle vocabulary assessments, checklists, and reflections. Findings yielded several themes around teacher efficacy because of collaborative professional learning and increased averages for MENA ELL and non-MENA ELL student outcomes