Sociology of Culture Commons^™

Introductory Essay: Traditional Knowledge, Spirituality And Lands, Marc Fonda

Marc V. Fonda Ph.D.

In times like ours, when people are inundated with notions of consumerist identities, culture is often seen mainly as a resource to be tapped into for economic development. This certainly is true of blatant consumerist culture produced by such economic behemoths as Hollywood, but it is a narrow view on the importance and functions of culture. The objective of this issue of the International Indigenous Policy Journal is to demonstrate the radical importance of culture and spirituality in not only defining a people and their society but also in affecting their well-being and how these things are all interrelated.

Socially Constructed Teen Motherhood: A Review, Marc Fonda, Rachel Eni, Eric Guimond

Marc V. Fonda Ph.D.

This article reviews literature on the gradual construction of teenage pregnancy as a social issue in North America. It shows how teen motherhood emerged not as an issue unto itself, but as a microcosm of numerous, closely intertwined phenomena including: the evolution of Western views on human sexuality and gender roles; the place of religious values in society; and the emergence of various modern technologies, the social and medical sciences, and how such disciplines view childhood, motherhood, and women in society. In particular, it shows that even as teen pregnancy is today viewed primarily through public health and/or socioeconomic lenses, …

Testing Theories Of Doctoral Student Persistence At A Hispanic Serving Institution, Gloria Vaquera

Gloria S. Vaquera

Little empirical work exists which tests theories of doctoral student persistence. Among these studies, there is limited representation of minority students. To counter this state of affairs, this study uses a sample of four doctoral cohorts enrolled at a Hispanic Serving Institution. Focusing on the earlier stages of graduate study, I adapt theories of persistence previously employed for undergraduate students (Hurtado, 1992; Hurtado & Carter, 1997; Tinto, 1993). Testing the impact of student background characteristics, departmental context, and student social and academic integration on persistence, findings are mixed. Strongest support is found for the effect of academic integration, father's education, …

Pre-College Factors Impacting Persistence In A Diverse University: An Exploration Of High School Racial Composition And Experiences With Diversity, Gloria Vaquera

Gloria S. Vaquera

No abstract provided.

Moscatel Morisco: The Role Of Wine In The Formation Of Morisco Identity, Carolyn Nadeau

Carolyn A Nadeau