8411 research outputs found
Sort by
Hidden and Expressed Instructor Power in the Adult Classroom
No full textHow does an adult student know when their instructor is acting as an authority figure, a colleague or a friend? The presenter will examine this question and explore the differences between hidden and expressed power
Marginality: Non Native English Speakers in Academia
No full textJean-Pierre Vargas will present a paper exploring the challenges and issues of marginality that non-native English speakers experience while studying abroad or in Academia. He will present the material by comparing the current extant research while comparing it to his own personal narrative
The Autonomy of Chinese Migrants Despite Structural and Social Determinants
Get PDFChina is currently undergoing one of the largest domestic migration movements in its history, as hundreds of millions of its citizens move out of their countryside homes into urban areas to seek work in the wake of the nation’s rapid globalization. This paper examines the lives of these migrants – how much agency they have over their decisions and their destinies while simultaneously subject to overarching controls set onto them by economic circumstance, government laws, and cultural traditions. It explores how they subvert tradition and former government policies by leaving home, and how they respond when confronted with discrimination in the cities. It also examines how migrant workers of the Banli Electrical Appliance Factory in Yuyao, Zhejiang find ways to reconstruct their human identities and exercise independent decision-making despite being valued solely for their labor, using research conducted at this factory through guided conversation from six key informants and participative observation living in the factory and working on the assembly line from May 4 to May 20. Finally, it explores the connection that migrants have to their homes, through memories and money, and their decisions about returning
Tools and Methods for Zika Prevention in Cachoeira, Bahia
Get PDFZika virus, which is mainly transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, has become a major health threat in Brazil and other Latin American countries. Brazil is the country that is being most impacted with zika virus in addition to the existing mosquito-borne diseases of dengue and chikungunya. With the increase in zika virus infections, there have also been increasing numbers of infant brain abnormalities such as microcephaly associated to zika. International and local health institutions are working together to control and prevent zika transmission. This project aimed to investigate the various tools and methods employed by the Center for Endemic Diseases health institution and USF Justiniano de Jesus clinic in Alecrim - North Eastern part of Brazil, to control and prevent zika in the community. Data was collected through observation, informal interviews and questionnaires. The results show that education and house visits by community health workers are the main tools used by these health centers and education was ranked to be the most effective tool. Most healthcare workers perceive zika to be very dangerous and more efforts need to be made by the government to fight against the infection. Rural health centers are also not as equipped as urban centers in the fight against zika and as the virus evolves genetically and habitually, rural areas are at a high stake of future outbreaks.
Vírus Zika, que é transmitida principalmente pelo Aedes aegypti e Aedes albopictus, tornou-se uma grande ameaça à saúde no Brasil e em outros países latino-americanos. Brasil é o país que está a ser mais afetados com o vírus zika além das doenças transmitidas por mosquitos existentes da dengue e chikungunya. Com o aumento de infecções Vírus Zika, também tem havido número de anormalidades cerebrais infantis tais como microcefalia associada a Zika crescente. As instituições internacionais e locais de saúde estão trabalhando juntos para controlar e prevenir a transmissão zika. Este projecto teve como objetivo investigar as várias ferramentas e métodos empregados pelo Centro de instituição de saúde as doenças endémicas e USF Justiniano de Jesus clínica em Alecrim - zona nordeste do Brasil, para controlar e prevenir zika na comunidade. Os dados foram coletados através de observação, entrevistas informais e questionários. Os resultados mostram que educação e de visitas domiciliares por agentes comunitários de saúde são as principais ferramentas utilizadas por esses centros de saúde e educação foi classificada para ser a ferramenta mais eficaz. A maioria dos profissionais de saúde percebem zika ser muito perigoso e mais esforços devem ser feitos pelo governo para lutar contra a infecção. centros de saúde rurais também não são tão equipado como centros urbanos na luta contra zika e como o vírus evolui geneticamente e habitualmente, as zonas rurais estão em uma alta participação de futuros surtos
La Visibilización: El Desarrollo del Femicidio como un Problema Social en Argentina Según el Estado y las Organizaciones Civiles
No full textFemicide is the ultimate display of gendered violence in which a man kills a woman for being a woman. Femicide is made possible by the patriarchal system that ascribes power and control to men, systematically positioning women as a vulnerable population. Every year, more than two hundred women die of femicide in Argentina, resulting in the death of a woman approximately every thirty hours. Femicide has only been recognized by the international community within the last forty years, making it a newly-recognized phenomenon, although it has existed for centuries. This investigation seeks to further our knowledge of femicide and its role within the context of gender relations in Argentina as according to both the State and non-governmental organizations.
Until recently, femicide in Argentina was included in conceptualizations of domestic violence within the private sphere. The change from the private to public sphere is described in this investigation through the theory of social problems. To examine this change, though, one must also examine the word itself and how “femicidio” (femicide) emerged in Argentina to become a more recognized concept. Although Argentina has named femicide as a social problem, it has yet to be made visible in ways that guarantee resources to fight it for years to come, as well as in ways that address its role within the larger context of gender inequalities between men and women. Therefore, this investigation uses the accounts of the Argentine State and civil organizations to show the implementation of the word “femicidio” in Argentina, how femicide came to be considered a social problem, as well as the ongoing process of visibilization of femicide by both civil and government offices. Notably, this investigation does not utilize the accounts of neither social media nor major media, as there has already been ample research conducted on the general changes in perspective to include femicide as a result of gender inequality rather than simply marital disharmony.
This research will play a role in analyzing how different institutions approach the issue of femicide through comparing and contrasting. As the investigation revealed, there are not adequate resources dedicated to stopping femicide in Argentina, even though thousands of women have died as the result of of gendered violence. Although data collection has not been in effect for many years, the statistics show no sign of a decrease in rates of femicide for future years. Therefore, an analysis of the effectiveness of the State’s efforts, as well as the contributions of social organizations, will provide a synthesis of both governmental and non-governmental strategies in this field.
I utilized websites and other online publications to access a large quantity of my information regarding institutionalized and third-sector efforts against femicide, although there was substantially more information by the State than the NGOs. To increase my knowledge of the State and the civil organizations, my advisor, Soledad Vallejos, put me in contact with three women with social organizations and one women who works for the Argentine State. After the interviews, I transcribed the conversations to use in an analysis of central themes discussed. The categories by which I organized my information is as follows: the word femicide, the role of the State, the role of social organizations, laws about femicide, the process of becoming a social problem, and visibilization. From this codification, I was able to detect sub-themes, as well as commonalities and differences from the accounts, such as lack of recognition of women’s diverse identities in the national laws.
Furthermore, this project describes how the word femicide was first used by social organizations before the State began to utilize the term in the context of gendered violence. Although the State and social organizations contributed to the conceptualization of femicide in Argentina, there remains to be seen a discourse in which femicide is considered within the larger context of gendered violence and structural inequality by both society and within the justice system.
Laws in Argentina do not name femicide specifically, although it is now included within the National Criminal Code as a crime for which a man could earn lifetime imprisonment. Historically, gendered violence has been considered as domestic violence, and this conceptualization is still perpetuated within the justice system today through sentences based on domestic violence rather than utilizing the Criminal Code modifications regarding femicide in sentencing. All of the interviewees testified to the breach between the careful wording of the laws and the reality of the enactment of said laws in the lives of Argentine women. Another common theme emerged of the lack of resources and coordinating power of governmental offices for women’s issues, speaking to its place in the hierarchy of state affairs.
Argentina, following the theory of social problems outlined in this paper, has completed the theoretical process of considering femicide to be a social problem. The process involved efforts by the third sector to convince others of the problem, legitimation of these actors, bureaucratization by the State, and an ongoing process of visibilization femicide in its evolution as a social problem. This investigation suggests that in the coming years, the State and social organizations will continue to visibilize femicide as a social problem but in different ways. Based on the aforementioned research, this investigation projects that the government will continue to issue structural reform, while social organizations will push for changes at the municipal level while working directly with women. For the Argentine State, the challenge is to allocate enough resources to prioritize this issue within the judicial system, as well as to enact concrete change in the lives of its citizens. The challenges facing social organizations in this theme will be form a unified front against this issue while facing limited resources
Reconciliation as a form of Cultural Catharsis: The Role of Theater in Revitalizing Kosovo-Serbian Relations
Get PDFThe current state of Kosovo-Serbian relations is one of frozen conflict; Serbia does not recognize Kosovo independence and relations between the two communities are relatively stagnant in spite of the ongoing EU mediated political dialogue in Brussels. Thus, this paper aims to re-imagine traditional processes of reconciliation and conflict transformation between the two entities by situating it within the cultural realm of society and viewing theater as a transformative practice. In doing this, I ask in what ways theater can effectively engage with and foster processes of reconciliation between Kosovo and Serbia, while specifically analyzing two joint productions between Prishtina and Belgrade - Encyclopedia of the Living and Romeo and Juliet. While both productions incorporated Serbian and Albanian collaborators, the messages conveyed have different implications for revitalizing relations between the communities. Encyclopedia of the Living deals with questions of political accountability and ethnic tensions, and Romeo and Juliet offers a much more general message contrasting love and hatred between peoples. These productions premiered in alternative and institutional spaces respectively, but nonetheless engaged with audience members in a way that began to open up possibilities for questioning. Therefore, the creative space that both alternative and institutional theater provides not only allows individuals to come together and negotiate different narratives, but ultimately provides a way to approach reconciliation processes through a gentler and less institutional lens. Theater is here understood as a creative response in a post-conflict environment, and the paper explores the ways in which it can develop relationships, stage encounters, and create spaces for acknowledgment
CHILOÉ ESTÁ PRIVADO: Una investigación como un movimiento social genera cambio en un sistema centralizado
No full textAfter the transition to democracy, Chileans have become increasingly frustrated with the centralization of the government. Local movements find it difficult to have a voice in the political process while the desires of the central government routinely trump the concerns of the people. Chiloé, an island in the south has experienced decades of Santiago-guided development. The salmon industry arrived in the 70s and now the government is building a bridge to connect the island with the mainland, without consulting the people. Many would prefer the money be spent on concerns more pressing to the people living their, like a hospital. In May 2016 the island and surrounding communities erupted into protest over the government\u27s management of a large red tide bloom and the lack of support for local fishermen. Without a credible way to pursue their grievances the fishermen took to the streets. This study aims to investigate how social movements like this function in a such a centralized system and to answer the question: can the Chilote social movements change policy in Santiago or are they powerless? This study uses observations of the protests, secondary sources, and two interviews with social movement members to answer the central question. By examining the tactics and strategies of the social movement the study shows the lengths the movements have to go to to receive attention from Santiago. The social movement did change the central government policy, but has not changed the model of development
Del Movimiento Estudiantil a Revolución Democrática: Esperanza está en la institución
No full textThe Chilean State is currently in a political era defined as the Crisis de Legitimidad (Crisis of Legitimacy) in result of extreme socioeconomic inequality and widespread political disillusionment. In 2011, a social movement led by university students became the most important movement since the democratic transition began in 1990, succeeding in re-politicizing the population. The movement started as a demand that the State offer free higher education and end various injustices in the entire education system, however, in time the movement and became a statewide expression of the frustration felt against the neo-liberal state. Over 80% of the Chilean population supported the movement, yet the student leaders faced several institutional barriers, which blocked many of their objectives. In 2012, a group led by many ex-student leaders, including well-known student leader and current Diputado Giorgio Jackson, established the political movement Revolución Democrática (Democratic Revolution). The leaders of Revolución Democrática (RD) realized the need for social platforms to transition and function within political institutions in order to achieve real, long term change. This investigation analyzes how the social movement was institutionalized into a political party in order to serve as the collective voice of the people within the government. This project recognizes the formation of RD within the framework of Chile’s recent political and economic historical context and evaluates interviews with academics and several national leaders and party militants of RD. The analysis serves as a living history of RD’s development as a political party. The project does not investigate RD’s political platform closely, but rather it considers the current state, and potential future of RD and Jackson. RD must overcome several institutional barriers and developmental challenges in the coming years. However, although RD is young and the future is unknown, Jackson and RD have emerged as a rare source of hope, with the capacity to become an important political force in a Chilean state in need of change
Exploring Social Cohesion in South Africa Within the Context of Post Apartheid Racial-Disparity
Get PDFThis study explores the state of social cohesion in South Africa amongst a small group of young people of different races. Social cohesion encompasses a variety of aspects, but this study focuses on racial social cohesion, which can also be thought of as racial integration. This study questions the importance of social cohesion in any society, examines the barriers to social cohesion in South Africa, explores potential solutions to those barriers. It also compares between racial disparity and economic inequality as potential causes of racial segregation. Social cohesion is a strong indicator of the general well being of a community and understanding the current perceptions of barriers is an essential step in improving social cohesion.
Information for this study was collected from open-ended interviews and conversations with young South Africans living around the Durban area. Each individual had unique responses and thoughts about the current state of social cohesion. However, a noticeable trend emerged of a need to become a more socially cohesive nation; although, individuals differed on what steps to take to improve racial integration. Since the study is primarily exploratory in nature, few conclusions were made. The one overarching theme that came up was the need to establish open and honest dialogue across race lines in order to start addressing some of the underlying issues that are stunting social cohesion
Food for Thought: Perceptions of Food Access and Heathful Eating in The Masxha Community
Get PDFThis study aims to begin to understand the perceptions of food access and healthful eating within the Masxha community, located in the Cato Manor Township. Food insecurity has recently been gaining attention as a problem in urban areas, however, there is still a lack of literature addressing specifically urban food insecurity.
Study data was collected through 10 interviews with participants in the Masxha community. Conversations focused on food habits, what participants consider healthy, food buying habits, food access, and potential solutions to food insecurity. Interviews intended to learn whether food insecurity is experienced among participants in Masxha, as well as how community members thought about healthy foods, with the aim that this information would help fill gaps in existing literature to approach the broader goal of finding solutions to the issue of urban food insecurity.
Very few participants seemed to be experiencing or at risk of experiencing food insecurity. More research is needed, however, to fill gaps in the literature on urban food insecurity in South Africa and potential solutions. Community gardens could present a reasonable response to urban food insecurity, however, more research is also needed to determine whether community gardens are helpful in improving both nutrition and food access