4303 research outputs found
Sort by
From Polanyi to the Plow: Theorizing Market Struggles and Opportunities in the Rural Landscape
No full textThis paper examines the transformation of U.S. agriculture since World War II through the lens of Karl Polanyi’s theories, particularly the double movement. It explores the shift from traditional family farms to large agribusinesses, the impact of government regulations and environmental policies, and the rise of genetically modified crops. The study includes a detailed analysis of farming trends in Rice County, Minnesota, and Jefferson County, Wisconsin, to assess whether these changes align with Polanyi’s theories. Additionally, the role of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) as a potential counter-movement is investigated, highlighting its contribution to sustainable and community-oriented farming practices. The paper concludes with a discussion on the broader societal and environmental implications of these agricultural transformations and proposes potential solutions for mitigating the adverse effects of current farming practices
Sacred Storefronts: Responses to the Questions of the American City
No full textThis paper investigates the extent to which storefront religious spaces (churches and mosques) in the United States constitute a distinctive religious phenomenon, working to elucidate the capacity in which the novel storefront form of sacred space have affected and continue to affect the religious experience of worshippers. I begin by analyzing the failings of existing scholarship surrounding storefront churches and storefront mosques, problematizing their conception of these spaces as necessary replacements for religious practice within purpose-built edifices. Through this work, I will begin to expose the distinctive nature of storefront religious spaces. I will then engage in close analysis of the orientations of pre-existing city spaces within storefront religious communities, examining the methods and strategies through which these communities create sacred space out of places intended for secular activity. I will finish by employing Robert Orsi’s conception of “urban religion” in order to define the unique religious identity of storefront religious spaces and how the city plays a role in its adjustments to religious practice. Although they literally function as mosques and churches, the task of carving sacred space out of the secular place of the city causes storefront religious spaces to expand beyond their original purpose as replacements for the mosques and churches back home to include a newfound emphasis on placemaking and community building
Filipino American Food Persists: The Power of Food Traditions and Identity in the Filipino American Diaspora
No full textThe smells, flavors, and textures of food hold the power to unlock strong memories and emotions. Food-centered nostalgia, food traditions, and attitudes around food can tell us about cultural beliefs and identity. This paper explores the construction and practice of Filipino American foodways in second-generation-plus immigrants through content analysis of eight cookbooks, written and developed by Filipino American cooks, as well as two interviews. By addressing issues of identity, belonging, and community formation, this research outlines ways in which food and power are deeply intertwined with one another while contributing a narrative of self-determination and diasporic empowerment through food
The Impact of Obstetric Periodontal Therapy and Interactions on Preterm Birth: A Survival Analysis
No full textMaternal periodontal disease has been observed in association with adverse pregnancy outcomes, specifically preterm birth, the leading cause of neonatal mortality. The Obstetrics and Periodontal Therapy study—a multi-center randomized trial—sought to evaluate the effect of nonsurgical periodontal treatment on these outcomes by comparing women treated before 21 weeks gestation with those treated post-delivery. The study enrolled 823 participants, with follow-up visits observing clinical measures. While periodontal health improved, the study did not find a discernible reduction in preterm birth risk. This paper re-examines the data using survival analysis methods, analyzing the effect of interacting demographics on preterm-delivery with a focus on gestational age as a metric for pregnancy duration, underscored by survival analysis mathematic
“Escaping the Prison of the Brain:” The Value of Subjectivity and Objectivity in The Varieties of Religious Experience and Neurotheology
No full textThis paper examines different approaches to the scientific study of religion in order to better understand the conflict between subjectivity and objectivity. Through a noncomprehensive outline of William James’ famous psychological study of religion, The Varieties of Religious Experience, I articulate how James’ awareness of the limitations of a psychological approach made the work particularly successful. Keeping in mind his radical empiricist critique of the dualistic thinking and exclusionary tendencies in the field of psychology, I argue that his understanding of the complex, entangled nature of the world is at the root of the success of his approach. I turn, then, towards understanding how more recent scientific studies of religion grapple with the conflict between subjectivity and objectivity. I offer a description of the mainstream theory in cognitive science of religion and conclude this approach, and those like it, to be unavoidably reductionistic. I then turn towards the emerging field of neurotheology as described by Andrew Newberg in Neurotheology: How Science Can Enlighten Us About Spirituality. I describe his attempt to overcome the seemingly unavoidable reductionism of a scientific study of religion by developing an entirely new multidisciplinary field. I summarize what he considers to be the goals, purposes, and potential of this field. Finally, I compare the neurotheological approach to that taken by James, arguing that neurotheology remains committed to the finding of rational, objective truth in a way that James is not. It is this commitment that ultimately causes neurotheology to miss the potential insight a scientific study of religion has to offer into the nature of the self and consciousness. James’ recognition of the simultaneous subjective and objective nature and experience enables him to not be distracted by the chasing of objective truth. It is this aspect of his approach that I believe modern scientific studies of religion could benefit from revisiting
An Exploration of Risk Factors for Alcohol Use Disorder Among Sexual Minority Communities
No full textExisting evidence in the literature indicates that sexual minority (SM) individuals face elevated risks of developing alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and tend to experience more severe manifestations of the disorder compared to heterosexuals. The current review enriches the discourse on the topic by bringing together disparate bodies of evidence on AUD risk factors to provide a broader explanation of why this disparity may persist. Sources were identified using SM– and AUD–related keywords in Google Scholar, Ex Libris Catalyst, and APA PsycInfo. Historical context is provided with descriptions of past psychological perspectives on the perceived link between homosexuality and alcohol abuse. The body of the paper is divided into two main sections: first, a list of various “universal” AUD risk factors, i.e., risk factors that have the potential to affect both SMs and heterosexuals but disproportionately affect SMs; and second, an exploration of anti-SM enacted stigma events as a potential “SM–specific” AUD risk factor category, i.e., a risk factor category which does not affect heterosexuals. Limitations of current studies and avenues of future research are discussed
Evaluating Measurement Practices in the Literature on Adverse Childhood Experiences
No full textAn influential study by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente found a clear dose-response relationship between ten domains of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and a range of negative life outcomes (Felitti et al., 1998). As just one example, ACEs such as psychological or physical abuse were linked to increased health risks for alcoholism or suicide later in life (Felitti et al., 1998). Since this original study, both the number of ACE domains and correlating negative life outcomes have expanded (Kalmakis & Chandler, 2013). Beyond outlining the existing literature on ACEs, this paper examines the measurement practices that have existed since its inception. Using the measurement questions offered by Flake and Fried (2020), this paper examines issues with construct definition, scale validation, and measure modification in ACEs literature. This paper will offer researchers specific recommendations for improving measurement practices with the ultimate goal of reinforcing confidence in findings and proposed solutions regarding ACEs