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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Toward A Rural Critical Criminology, Joseph F. Donnermeyer, Walter Dekeseredy
Toward A Rural Critical Criminology, Joseph F. Donnermeyer, Walter Dekeseredy
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
A review of the extant literature reveals a recent growth in critical criminological analyses of rural crime and societal reactions to it. Nevertheless, rural critical criminology is still in a state of infancy and requires much more development. Thus, heavily influenced by Taylor, Walton, and Young’s(1973) path-breaking book The New Criminology and by research on woman abuse in rural communities, the main objective of this article, then, is twofold: (1) to describe the key reasons for a more fully developed rural critical criminology and (2) to outline some of its key elements. Also included in this article is a brief …
Illegal Dumping: Large And Small Scale Littering In Rural Kentucky, Kenneth D. Tunnell
Illegal Dumping: Large And Small Scale Littering In Rural Kentucky, Kenneth D. Tunnell
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
Illegal dumping, a social problem greatly affecting some rural states, occurs at both the large and small scale as open dump sites and roadside trash. Focusing on Kentucky, a rural state without mandatory trash pickup and a per capita income below and a poverty rate above the national average, this photo essay describes the dumping and littering problem. As is shown, legislative and executive initiatives have made some inroads in large-scale clean up. Some local governments, however, appear apathetic about addressing illegal dumping in their own communities. Kentucky’s litter problem is showing few signs of improvement and roadside littering seemingly …
Making Methamphetamine, Ralph Weisheit
Making Methamphetamine, Ralph Weisheit
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
In many parts of the U.S. methamphetamine production remains a serious problem despite efforts to restrict access to precursor chemicals. Methamphetamine laboratories are a particular issue in rural areas, where many essential chemicals are available and where a lower population density means that noxious fumes are less likely to be noticed. This paper shows how the problem emerged and changed over time and includes: Early production in the U.S., the spread of meth production, the process of making meth, precursor control efforts, superlabs versus small local operations, health risks, contaminated lab sites, and children found in methamphetamine lab sites.
Violent And Criminal Behaviors In Rural And Non-Rural African American Youth: A Risk-Protective Factor Approach, Elizabeth Trejos-Castillo, Alexander T. Vazsonyi, Dusty D. Jenkins
Violent And Criminal Behaviors In Rural And Non-Rural African American Youth: A Risk-Protective Factor Approach, Elizabeth Trejos-Castillo, Alexander T. Vazsonyi, Dusty D. Jenkins
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
Once believed to be a poor inner city neighborhood characteristic, youth violence and crime are now recognized as problems in rural areas as well (Osgood and Chambers 2000). Studies on their etiology remain scarce, particularly with a focus on minority youth. Given the importance of individual characteristics and a positive future orientation (educational aspirations) during adolescence, the current study tested a riskprotective factor approach with measures of risk proneness, self-esteem, educational commitment, and educational expectations to predict both direct and “indirect” measures of violence and criminal behaviors (assault, encounters with law enforcement, and court appearances) in samples of rural (n=687) …
Special Issue Editors' Notes, Daniel W. Phillips Iii, Steven F. Hundersmarck
Special Issue Editors' Notes, Daniel W. Phillips Iii, Steven F. Hundersmarck
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
Special Issue Editors' Notes
The Game Of Wardens And Poachers, Craig J. Forsyth
The Game Of Wardens And Poachers, Craig J. Forsyth
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
This paper is a descriptive analysis of the main aspect of the job of game wardens, the apprehension of poachers. Based on data from interviews with 62 game wardens the author describes the actions of game wardens in attempting to enforce wildlife conservation laws. Extensive quotations from interviews with game wardens are presented. The analysis is focused around their responses to guiding questions regarding the probability of apprehension of poachers. These include: (1) poaching alone, (2) very experienced at poaching, (3) nevertalks about their poaching activities, (4) the use of informants, (5) remaining mobile, (6) being familiar with the geographic …
Commercial And Farm Vehicle Theft In Urban And Rural Australia, Hedyeh Hedayati
Commercial And Farm Vehicle Theft In Urban And Rural Australia, Hedyeh Hedayati
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
The aim of this research was to identify the extent of commercial and farm vehicle theft in Australia and to explore the theft profile of these vehicles in urban and rural areas. The research was conducted using data from the National ComprehensiveAuto-theft Research System (CARS) database. The database holds police data on all motor vehicle thefts and vehicle registration data from all Australian states and territories. While passenger vehicle and light commercial vehicle (PLC) theft in Australia has decreased significantly since 2001, theft of commercial and farm vehicles has remained constant. Nonetheless, theft of commercial and farm vehicles in rural …
Theoretical Predictors Of Delinquency In And Out Of School Among A Sample Of Rural Public School Youth, Preston Elrod, Irina R. Soderstrom, David C. May
Theoretical Predictors Of Delinquency In And Out Of School Among A Sample Of Rural Public School Youth, Preston Elrod, Irina R. Soderstrom, David C. May
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
This paper compares predictors of in-school and out-of-school delinquency and is based on data collected from 2,011 subjects at two elementary, one middle, and one high school in a rural school district. Predictors were derived from a variety of theoretical perspectives including social organization and social control; interactionist theory; differential association and social learning; strain, culture conflict, and critical theory. In addition, several demographic variables were included in the analysis. Regression results revealed that negative peer influence, victimization experience, attachment to school, gender, general strain, alienation, and the student’s self-reported response to a weapon at school were significant predictors of …
2009 Srsa Presidential Address: Modification And Adaptation In Rural Sociology: Part I, Gene L. Theodori
2009 Srsa Presidential Address: Modification And Adaptation In Rural Sociology: Part I, Gene L. Theodori
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
The 2009 Southern Rural Sociological Association Presidential Address
Agribusiness Concentration, Intellectual Property, And The Prospects For Rural Economic Benefits From The Emerging Biofuel Economy, Leland L. Glenna, Daniel R. Cahoy
Agribusiness Concentration, Intellectual Property, And The Prospects For Rural Economic Benefits From The Emerging Biofuel Economy, Leland L. Glenna, Daniel R. Cahoy
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
United States policy makers are promoting bio-fuels as an economic development opportunity, especially for rural America. A USDA study claims that developments in energy production from biomass could increase profits for agricultural commodity producers. However, as William Heffernan and his colleagues have demonstrated, concentration in the agrifood sector limits the economic benefits going to the commodity producers. Relying on Heffernan’s framework, we compare the distribution of intellectual property of corn and other genetically modified crops with that of the emerging biomass technologies. We find that patent ownership in the emerging biofuel sector is not yet as concentrated as in the …
Escaping The Bondage Of The Dominant Agrifood System: Community-Based Cooperative Strategies, John J. Green, Anna M. Kleiner
Escaping The Bondage Of The Dominant Agrifood System: Community-Based Cooperative Strategies, John J. Green, Anna M. Kleiner
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
The “Missouri School” of critical agrifood studies has provided an effective framework for documenting and understanding the structural dimensions of the global agrifood system and locating important nodes of power.This has directed attention toward the negative impacts of industrialization and corporate concentration on agricultural producers, local communities and economies, and the environment. Using these criticalinsights, pressure on the dominant agrifood system by civil society organizations has resulted in important changes to production and marketing strategies and related public policies. We broaden this discussion by using social movement and livelihoods theory to explore the position of limited resource and minority producers …
The Contributions Of Dr. William Heffernan And The Missouri School Of Agrifood Studies, Anna M. Kleiner, John J. Green
The Contributions Of Dr. William Heffernan And The Missouri School Of Agrifood Studies, Anna M. Kleiner, John J. Green
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
“The Missouri School” refers to a collection of faculty and students studying agrifood systems who have been connected to the Department of Rural Sociology at the University of Missouri–Columbia. Heavily influenced by the populist pragmatist William “Bill” Heffernan, Missouri School analysts focus their attention on structural arrangements, power relationships, and spaces in which struggle for change might result in alternatives to the prevailing system. This article is an introduction to the special issue of Southern Rural Sociology devoted to research and theorizing done by students and faculty of the Missouri School. It includes an overview of the development of the …
Visualizing Food System Concentration And Consolidation, Philip H. Howard
Visualizing Food System Concentration And Consolidation, Philip H. Howard
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
Visualization of the changing structure of the food system has played an important role in the Missouri School of Agrifood Studies’ research and outreach. The analogies and diagrams Missouri researchers have used to describe concentration and consolidation have aided our understanding of the extent of these phenomena, as well as their social impacts. This article discusses why visualization is effective for analyzing and presenting data. Recent advances in visualizing concentration and consolidation are described—these methods include 1) treemaps, 2) cartographic maps, 3) cluster diagrams, 4) taxonomic tree/timelines, and 5) animations. Examples utilizing data from the North American organic food industry …
Contested Globalization Of The Agrifood System: A Missouri School Analysis Of Sanderson Farms And Seaboard Farms In Texas, Douglas H. Constance
Contested Globalization Of The Agrifood System: A Missouri School Analysis Of Sanderson Farms And Seaboard Farms In Texas, Douglas H. Constance
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
The Missouri School of Agrifood Studies began with a focus on the power of agribusiness corporations in relation to quality of life of farmers and their related communities. The poultry industry was the first commodity studied, with later research into other commodity sectors and then the global dimensions of this process. In this paper I continue the Missouri School agenda by focusing on the entry of the poultry firm Sanderson Farms and the hog firm Seaboard Farms into Texas. This paper combines a sociology of the agrifood system conceptual framework with two case studies of agribusiness expansion in Texas to …
Ownership Characteristics Of Heir Property In A Black Belt County: A Quantitative Approach, Janice F. Dyer, Conner Bailey, Nhuong Van Tran
Ownership Characteristics Of Heir Property In A Black Belt County: A Quantitative Approach, Janice F. Dyer, Conner Bailey, Nhuong Van Tran
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
The existing literature identifies heir property, land held communally by heirs of someone who has died without a will, as a primary cause of land loss among African Americans and a major factor contributing to persistent poverty in the South’s demographically-defined Black Belt. Despite the importance of this form of property, little systematic research has been done to quantify the extent of heir property or the potential wealth tied up in clouded titles. This study documents the presence of more than 1,500 heir property parcels in one Alabama Black Belt county (Macon) and describes the methodological challenges involved in such …
Masculine Identity Work Among Missouri Noodlers: Community Providers, Pleasure Seeking Comrades, Family Men, And Tough Courageous Men, Mary Grigsby
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
This qualitative research, based on interviews and participant observation conducted between 2005 and 2008, examines patterned variations in the masculine identity work of Missouri men noodlers between the ages of 18 and 90. Noodling or hand fishing is a folk tradition that involves submerging in lakes or rivers and feeling under the banks for holes where large catfish are spawning. The fingers are used as a lure to catch the catfish by hand. Noodling is contested terrain in which men with differing age cohort-based identity needs emphasize certain aspects from the tool kit of noodling culture over others. Cohort differences …
Bios Of Contributors To This Special Issue, Anna M. Kleiner, John J. Green
Bios Of Contributors To This Special Issue, Anna M. Kleiner, John J. Green
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
biographies of the contributors to this special issue of Southern Rural Sociology, in alphabetical order
Sociology Of Agriculture And Food Beginning And Maturity: The Contribution Of The Missouri School (1976-1994), Alessandro Bonanno
Sociology Of Agriculture And Food Beginning And Maturity: The Contribution Of The Missouri School (1976-1994), Alessandro Bonanno
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
Sociology of agriculture and food (SAF) is one of the most visible substantive subareas in Rural Sociology and a growing subarea in Sociology. While the studying of agriculture has always been a part of Rural Sociology, it was in the 1970s that the process that led to a clear and formal distinction between Rural Sociology and SAF began. SAF grew stronger in the 1980s and became established in the 1990s. This paper reviews salient theoretical and historical events that engendered the establishment and growth of SAF as a separate substantive area from Rural Sociology. Additionally, it reviews its development in …
World Trade, Farm Policy, And Agribusiness Accountability: The Role Of Reflexive Modernization In Constructing A Democratic Food System, Robert Gronski, Leland Glenna
World Trade, Farm Policy, And Agribusiness Accountability: The Role Of Reflexive Modernization In Constructing A Democratic Food System, Robert Gronski, Leland Glenna
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
The future of farm policy in the United States will be influenced by trends in economic and political globalization, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), due to the obligation of member nation-states to make domestic policies conform to international trade agreements. Commentators have noted that the WTO has been structured to favor transnational agribusiness at the expense of small farmers, food consumers, and the natural environment. However, the WTO contains contradictions that might be exploited by alternative agriculture advocates to influence Congressional interpretations of the trade agreement. This essay uses reflexive modernization theory to highlight efforts by alternative agriculture …
Creating Alternatives: A Participant Observer's Reflections On The Emerging Local Food System In Kansas City, Mary Hendrickson
Creating Alternatives: A Participant Observer's Reflections On The Emerging Local Food System In Kansas City, Mary Hendrickson
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
The Missouri School has been known for its study of the structure of agriculture and food, and what affects structural arrangements have on farmers, communities, and environments. A lesser known aspect of the Missouri School is its use of structural analyses to analyze and promote alternatives. As a participant observer of the Kansas City food system for more than 15 years, I highlight the continual evolution of alternatives in the region, documenting the long involvement of the Missouri School with the development of these alternatives, from providing structural analyses to extension programming. This case study shows the struggle that farmers, …
Produce Sections, Town Squares, And Farm Stands: Comparing Local Food Systems In Community Context, Stephen Gasteyer, Sarah A. Hultine, Leslie R. Cooperband, M. Patrick Curry
Produce Sections, Town Squares, And Farm Stands: Comparing Local Food Systems In Community Context, Stephen Gasteyer, Sarah A. Hultine, Leslie R. Cooperband, M. Patrick Curry
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
A growing literature has grappled with the emergence of local food systems as an alternative to the conventional agricultural model and assumes that the development of local food system venues, such as farmers’ markets, are positive community-building initiatives. Too often left out of this discourse are empirical assessments of the community characteristics that lend themselves to the success of farmers’ markets or similar initiatives. Further, when farmers’ markets are not significantly patronized by community members, does this necessarily mean that people do not value local produce? This article uses the results from surveys of farmers’ market consumers and case studies …
Lessons Learned From Advocating Csas For Low-Income And Food Insecure Households, Susan Andreatta, Misty Rhyne, Nicole Dery
Lessons Learned From Advocating Csas For Low-Income And Food Insecure Households, Susan Andreatta, Misty Rhyne, Nicole Dery
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
This paper reports on the lessons learned from a project designed to connect local small-scale farmers with low-income households in the Piedmont Region of central North Carolina. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) arrangements were used to assist farmers by prepaying for fresh farm products. Building community through alternative food systems and civic agriculture underlies the project design of this CSA project. Payments to farmers were made by North Carolina’s food policy council. Selected low-income households received CSA shares of farm fresh products. Results focus on access to local, farm fresh products, changes in cooking practices of the CSA participants, as well …
Attendance At Religious Meetings And Community Involvement, Gene L. Theodori, Chyrel A. Mayfield
Attendance At Religious Meetings And Community Involvement, Gene L. Theodori, Chyrel A. Mayfield
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
Data collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in two rural communities in Texas were used to examine the association between religious involvement and civic participation empirically. Support was found for the hypothesis that attendance at religious meetings is positively associated with community involvement. Results of the analysis of covariance also suggest that certain sociodemographic factors are significant predictors of community involvement. Possible implications of these findings for community developers, public leaders, Cooperative Extension Service personnel, and other practitioners are addressed. Recommendations for involving religious institutions in community development initiatives are also advanced.
On The Diversity Of Friendship And Network Ties: A Comparison Of Religious Versus Nonreligious Group Membership In The Rural American South, Jeremy Porter, Susannah M. Brown
On The Diversity Of Friendship And Network Ties: A Comparison Of Religious Versus Nonreligious Group Membership In The Rural American South, Jeremy Porter, Susannah M. Brown
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
Social science has long been interested in the effects and predictors of community participation, especially regarding voluntary membership or civic participation. Likewise, the role of social institutions has been given much attention in understanding their possible effect as an outlet for both individual desires to become civically engaged as well the institution’s ability to shelter an individual and surround them with others like themselves. We use data from the 2000 Social Capital Benchmark Survey to examine the effect of group membership on the overall diversity of friendships. The diversity of friendships gives us a good proxy to the degree of …
Sustainable Agriculture And The Social Sciences: Getting Beyond Best Management Practices And Into Food Systems, Jeffrey L. Jordan, Douglas H. Constance
Sustainable Agriculture And The Social Sciences: Getting Beyond Best Management Practices And Into Food Systems, Jeffrey L. Jordan, Douglas H. Constance
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
This paper introduces the special issue of Southern Rural Sociology and lays the groundwork for the rest of the papers. The genesis of this special issue flows from the efforts of the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (S-SARE) program to bring more social science research into its portfolio of projects. Our concern is that by providing best management practices (Band-Aids) to a fundamentally unsustainable agricultural system, the sustainable agriculture movement (and SARE’s granting program) favors the environmental component at the expense of economic and social “legs” of the sustainable stool. While focusing on the history and work of …
The Role Of Southern Sare Projects In Enhancing The Quality Of Life In Rural Communities In The South, Keiko Tanaka, Victoria Mundy Bhavsar
The Role Of Southern Sare Projects In Enhancing The Quality Of Life In Rural Communities In The South, Keiko Tanaka, Victoria Mundy Bhavsar
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
As an institutional mechanism, funding agencies play a key role in actualizing perspectives about sustainable agriculture by funding research, education, and outreach activities. This paper examines trends in sustainable agriculture research and education projects funded by the Southern SARE program in the last 15 years. First, it analyzes key trends in the research foci of 174 projects, which demonstrate two main threads of thought and research in sustainability: one oriented toward addressing production issues and the other toward community issues. The paper then examines projects that use “quality-of-life measures” to guide their research processes and discusses common challenges that these …
Slow Food Lessons In The Fast Food Midwest, Heather Mcilvaine-Newsad, Christopher D. Merrett, William Maakestad, Patrick Mclaughlin
Slow Food Lessons In The Fast Food Midwest, Heather Mcilvaine-Newsad, Christopher D. Merrett, William Maakestad, Patrick Mclaughlin
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
During the latter half of the twentieth century, the American food system was transformed by a technological revolution in American agriculture. While these changes provided benefits such as lower-cost food, it also generated concerns that the unconditional embrace of technology would harm rural communities and the environment. Additional concerns were raised about food quality and food safety. Through a case study of a rural Midwestern farming community, this paper examines how direct consumer to producer marketing strategies such as community supported agriculture (CSA) and the public’s current fascination with the heritage of farming may offer a subset of producers and …
Expanding The Marketing Opportunities And Sustainable Production Potential For Minority And Limited-Resource Agricultural Producers In Louisiana And Mississippi, Anna M. Kleiner, John J. Green
Expanding The Marketing Opportunities And Sustainable Production Potential For Minority And Limited-Resource Agricultural Producers In Louisiana And Mississippi, Anna M. Kleiner, John J. Green
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
The expansion of sustainable agriculture requires the development of alternative production techniques and marketing strategies. Unfortunately, just as with the dominant agrifood system, minority and limited resource producers are often not incorporated into planning processes. As an attempt to forge an alternative framework, this paper provides findings and recommendations from an exploratory planning project funded by the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture and Education (SARE) program designed to bring together traditionally-underserved producers, their membership organizations, regional nonprofit organizations and universities, and a variety of customer interests. Participants worked collaboratively to identify opportunities and challenges associated with expanding access to diverse agricultural …
Barriers To Entry Into The Specialty Red Meat Sector: The Role Of Food Safety Regulation, Michelle R. Worosz, Andrew J. Knight, Craig K. Harris, David S. Conner
Barriers To Entry Into The Specialty Red Meat Sector: The Role Of Food Safety Regulation, Michelle R. Worosz, Andrew J. Knight, Craig K. Harris, David S. Conner
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
Historically, the rules governing red meat food safety in the U.S. were driven as much by global trade and industry rationalization as by food safety. Contemporary and historical documents, statutes, and regulations; a survey of producer and farmers’ market representatives; and key informant interviews show that these rules, and their implementation, have affected the current development of niche marketing opportunities. Three significant issues arise from this research: a) the elimination of the state meat inspections limits producer access to slaughter; b) the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) rule limits producer access to processing; and c) uncertainty at the …
Conventionalization, Bifurcation, And Quality Of Life: Certified And Non-Certified Organic Farmers In Texas, Douglas H. Constance, Jin Young Choi, Holly Lyke-Ho-Gland
Conventionalization, Bifurcation, And Quality Of Life: Certified And Non-Certified Organic Farmers In Texas, Douglas H. Constance, Jin Young Choi, Holly Lyke-Ho-Gland
Journal of Rural Social Sciences
Organic agriculture has been advanced as a production system that improves environmental quality and supports rural community development. Recent developments in organics have called into question both assertions. Researchers have argued that the advent of national-level organic standards has contributed to the conventionalization and bifurcation of organics. Conventionalization refers to the process by which organic agriculture increasingly takes on the characteristics of mainstream industrial agriculture. Bifurcation refers to the process by which the organic agriculture adopts a dual-structure of smaller, lifestyle-oriented producers and larger, industrial-scale producers. This research examines the conventionalization and bifurcation theses through a comparison of certified organic …