Digital Commons Network^™

The Nebulous Binaries Of C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces, Amantia Menalla

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Much of C.S. Lewis’ novel Till We Have Faces can be examined through one of two binaries. The tension between rationality, or reason, and spirituality, or religion, is one of the core facets of both the text and its main character, Orual. Orual feels the pull of both ideas and thus spends most of the novel in a nebulous space between them. This tension is further complicated by the space between the feminine and the masculine which she also inhabits. By covering her face and body, Orual de-emphasizes her feminine identity and takes on a masculine role, dressing as a …

Misrepresentation Of The Archaeological Record And Identity In Italy, Julienne Zambri

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis examines the practice of the misrepresentation and manipulation of the archaeological record in Italy as it relates to identity formation through three main case studies. Moving chronologically, it begins by analyzing the Palermo National Exposition and the Mostra Etnografica Siciliana of Giuseppe Pitrè using Edward Said’s Orientalism to reveal the othering of Sicilians at this exposition. The second case study looks at the Mostra Augustea della Romanità of the Fascist era, building on the extensive scholarly discussion regarding Mussolini’s misrepresentation of ancient Roman archaeology to construct a fascist identity around the concept of romanità. Moving into the contemporary …

Children's Moments Of "Becoming" In Classrooms: Spatial Production And Multiliteracy Practices, Seongryeong Yu

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

While immigrant children’s identity negotiation and their sense of belonging are increasingly highlighted, existing literature remains largely focused on language abilities and identity struggles, often emphasizing rigid definitions of “identity” grounded in blood, language, and culture. Drawing on findings from my dissertation, this comparative ethnographic case study examines the fluidity of identity through literacy practices that help children construct meaning and foster belonging. By analyzing how 10-year-old students’ literacy practices interact with physical and social environments at school, I discuss shared expressions of emotions, power dynamics, the role of language, and variations in the use of cultural materials. These moments …

Niipáitapiiyssin: How Blackfeet Ways Of Knowing Impact Identity And Well-Being, Mikalen Running Fisher

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This thesis explores the vital role of history, traditional knowledge, traditional ecological knowledge, artifacts, and language in shaping the identity and well-being of Indigenous communities. It emphasizes how these components are vital for the survival and growth of Indigenous cultures. Using the Blackfoot Confederacy as a case study, the research highlights the significance of these elements in maintaining cultural continuity and resilience. The analysis is grounded in literature authored from an Indigenous perspective, ensuring an authentic representation of the values and insights inherent in these communities. This work aims to bridge existing gaps in the literature by demonstrating the profound …

Research Review: "The Military Separated Me; You Cannot Connect Me", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This research review covers a paper which critiques the term “military-connected” for inadequately representing veterans, survivors, and caregivers, and advocates for more precise terminology that reflects their distinct identities. By employing Veteran Critical Theory and Pragmatic Theory, the study highlights how current labels fail to capture the unique experiences and needs of these groups. The authors recommend refining language in both support services and policy to better address these individuals' specific challenges and suggest further research to explore the impact of accurate terminology.

Senegambia And The American South: Where Identity Belongs, Malika David

Master's Theses

When you think of identity, what is the first thing that comes to mind? While I knew the dictionary definition, the actual meaning of identity remained unclear to me. I couldn't quite grasp the concept or how it related to me. That changed when I visited my mother’s homeland of Senegambia in December 2022. There was always a hunch that identity was connected to a sense of belonging and self-discovery, and I was surprised to realize how similar Senegambian. culture. was to my own southern upbringing. Ultimately, that provided a lot of curiosity and shaped my perspective on identity and …

Ready Oer Not: Engaging Teachers With Student Identity Through Open Pedagogy, Emily Helton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research project centers on in-service K-12 teachers’ experiences of a continuing education course about open education resources (OER) and how to use them in ways that support students’ ability to use identity resources while engaging with disciplinary learning experiences. Using a qualitative design-based research approach, I sought to both improve the course and examine how teachers took up the ideas from the course in their planning and teaching. While OER are valuable resources for K-12 teachers in and of themselves because they are free and often available in easily adapted formats, their licensing typically allows edited versions to be …

Exploring Consciousness In Millennial African American Men: Using Video Ethnography To Convey Meaning Within The African American Male Experience, Mark L. Gumm

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this research dissertation was to investigate and explore consciousness in millennial African American men. This study defined consciousness in the form of self-concept or self-conceptualization, the image we have of ourselves (Carl, Rogers; Akbar, 1991). The research question under investigation is how do African American college men define identity, masculinity, and self-concept under the umbrella of consciousness? In addition the relation to environmental factors which include type of schooling, household dynamics, high-school mentorship, and college readiness. Investigative approaches also include asking questions regarding socio-economic status, academic achievement and success. Sub-questions included: “how do African American men explain …

How Can The Learning Environment Be Designed To Encourage Sense Of Belonging For Students In Higher Education?, Louisa Elizabeth Krause

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Loneliness was declared a national epidemic in May 2023 and an international global threat in November 2023. Sense of belonging, or lack thereof, can greatly contribute to loneliness. Students who feel a sense of belonging at their institution tend to be more engaged and experience higher success rates, which can lead to increased persistence and retention. The objective of this professional innovation dissertation was to investigate how inclusive and equitable teaching practices might increase sense of belonging for students in the learning environment. This study advocates for marginalized students, placing the responsibility for a change in learning environment back on …

“A Real Man . . .”: Deconstructing Machismo Heteronormative Standards With K–12 Latino Male Educators Through Dialogic Spaces, Mario Echeverria

Dissertations

In a K–12 educational landscape where 75% of educators are white women, recruitment of Latino male educators is crucial for diversification, yet these educators represent just 2% of the teaching workforce in the United States (NCES, 2020). These educators grapple with a layered sense of identity as they navigate expectations of hegemonic masculinity and machismo norms that dictate their roles as disciplinarians and saviors, especially for young boys of color (Brockenbrough, 2018; Lara & Fránquiz, 2015; Martino & Kehler, 2006; Mills et al., 2004; Singh, 2021). Unfortunately, Latino male educators leave the profession at twice the rate of their Latina …

Understanding Dyslexia In Secondary Schools: Perspectives Of Students (With And Without Confirmed Diagnosis) And Educators, Kerissa Nelson

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 seeks high quality education for all (UNSDG4). This requires classrooms to have improved access and opportunity for all students including those with dyslexia. Research regarding dyslexic students’ experiences and inclusive education have not yet been thoroughly investigated. This research specifically addressed the experiences that both shape and are shaped by one’s own perspectives and those of others in their environment. The study’s objectives were to create knowledge and promote understanding of the experiences of students with dyslexia and to gain educators’ perspectives on classroom practices. The study drew on these different perspectives using …

Book Review: Authenticity Across Languages And Cultures: Themes Of Identity In Foreign Language Teaching And Learning, Aselle Almuratova

Russian Language Journal

The word “authenticity” and its derivatives have become almost a catch-all in language pedagogy. While language teachers strive to use authentic materials in their teaching and attempt to prepare students for authentic communicative situations, few teachers of Russian are aware of the connection between personal and cultural authenticity, as the term itself is not clearly defined in the field of Russian as a Foreign Language (RFL) and is often seen as self-explanatory. The authors of the current volume explore the conceptualization of the word “authenticity” in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) more broadly, bringing together authors from different languages; however, this …

L2 Investment In The Transnational Context: A Case Study Of Prc Scholar Students In Singapore, Chang Liu, Guangxiang Liu

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

Despite growing research on mainland Chinese international students’ intercultural language learning and adjustment experiences in Anglophone countries, few studies have delved into these students’ socially constructed language learning practices as an essential component of their study-abroad journey, especially in Singapore which shares linguistic and cultural affinities with China. As such, building on Darvin and Norton’s (2015) theory of investment at the intersection of identity, capital, and ideology, this case study focuses on Chinese foreign talent students in Singapore and aims to understand how they invest in learning English as an additional language (L2) and assert their legitimate place in the …

Making Space For Adolescents Of Refugee Background In Public Libraries, Danielle S. Dejonge

Masters Projects

Refugee adolescents go through multiple transitions that affect identity while settling in their new country of relocation. The ability to recognize the complexity of identity in a healthy way is fostered by safe spaces of belonging that encourage agency. Libraries, as spaces already effectively serving diverse populations including refugee youth, have the resources to be a safe space for these adolescents. One resource that has been trending in libraries is a makerspace. Makerspaces offer multimodal activities, whether they be arts-based or STEM-based, that not only encourage critical thought, but also allow for development of belonging and agency for healthy dynamic …

Appearance Teasing And Identity Formation Amongst Young Adults: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Sneha Yadav, Shagun Shagun, Koko Veerning Moyon, Divya Bhanot

The Qualitative Report

Appearance teasing (AT) is such a widespread phenomenon that to discount its meaning, impact, and severity on the lives of those who are teased would be a mistake. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of Indian youths who have been appearance-teased by their close friends and family, how they perceive it has impacted their senses of self and identity and to understand their coping strategies that help them manage the negative effects of AT. Data was collected via semi structured interviews with six young adults and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Analysis of the transcripts reveals five master …

Youth Identity And Postsecondary Decision Making In A Rural State: Evidence Of A College For All Master Narrative, Jayson Seaman, Cindy L. Hartman, Andrew D. Coppens, Erin H. Sharp, Sarah Jusseaume, Molly Donovan

Faculty Publications

This study examined the normative messages that inform youth postsecondary decision making in a predominantly rural state in the northeastern U.S., focusing on the institutionalization and circulation of identity master narratives. Using a multilevel, ecological approach to sampling, the study interviewed 33 key informants in positions of influence in educational, workforce, and quality of life domains. Narrative analysis yielded evidence of a predominant master narrative – College for All – that participants described as a prescriptive expectation that youth and families orient their postsecondary planning toward four-year, residential baccalaureate degree programs. Both general and domain-specific aspects of this master narrative …

Inauthenticity, Delusion, And Victimization: Interrogating Affective Rhetoric Targeting Trans* Youth, Ben Bishop

Kaleidoscope: A Graduate Journal of Qualitative Communication Research

In this essay, I interrogate Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s KP-0401, a 2022 legal opinion letter that frames gender affirming healthcare as dangerous, sterilizing, and therefore, child abuse. Within this framing, trans* youth are presented as both delusional and deviant, written off as victims of abuse and social contagion. In analyzing KP-0401 through a critical perspective of affect and performativity, I demonstrate how particular affects have gained power through their circulation to reify feelings and performances of cisheteronormativity, often through establishing the trans* body as a source of negative affect, like fear or repulsion, and trans* youth as infantile and …

Moral Injury, Identity Dissonance, And Reintegration: A Compendium Of Reintegration And Survey Of United States Military Veterans, Thomas Hodges

Doctor of International Conflict Management Dissertations

How do military moral injuries affect reintegration? All service members leave the military eventually, but reintegration can be challenging, bringing changes in career, family life, and friendships, potentially prompting a loss of purpose, drive, and connection. Service members may also struggle with a crisis of identity upon separating from the military, feeling their military identity is incompatible with civilian life. While these difficulties are common for service members in reintegration, they may be worsened by moral injury, the adverse biological, social, psychological, and spiritual effects of experiencing an event that deeply offends a person’s sense of right and wrong. People …

Camouflaging And Identity Development Among Autistic Female And Gender Diverse Youth: A Qualitative Exploration, Krista Nicole Drapalik

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Adolescence is a vulnerable developmental period for autistic female and gender diverse youth. Many autistic youths use camouflaging to combat social challenges, perceived differences, and stigmatization. Although adolescence is an integral time for identity development, integration of these topics remains understudied among autistic female and gender diverse youth. The present study seeks to qualitatively explore first-person, youth-perspectives on the topics of camouflaging and identity formation. Ten autistic female and gender diverse youth aged 11 to 16 years (M = 13.1, SD = 1.52) and their caregivers were enrolled in the present study. Youths completed semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. …

(Mis)Aligned Investments: In-Service Ita’S Experience Within Their Ita Training Class

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

The Use And Importance Of Gaming And Roleplay In Identity Negotiation, Sam Weigel, Justin Rudnick

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

This paper presents roleplaying games as a safe and effective venue for self-expression that can help to mitigate the effect of societal pressures when exploring identity. Interviews with 11 participants from the roleplaying game community demonstrate how roleplay can help facilitate the creation of safe spaces and foster creativity and inclusivity. A thematic analysis revealed roleplaying games contribute to the creation of safe spaces, opportunities for self-expression and individual agency, and steps towards greater self-actualization. This study builds upon existing research into identity adaptation theory, queer theory, symbolic convergence theory, organizational communication theory, and the performance of identity.

Asset-Based Approaches To Multilingual Students’ Computer Science Identity Development, Sharin Rawhiya Jacob, Mark Warschauer

Journal of Computer Science Integration

While computer science identity development has been examined in several studies, there is much to learn about the development of multilingual students’ computer science (CS) identities. To develop strong CS identities, multilingual students must engage in culturally and linguistically sustaining curriculum, pedagogy, and interaction that draws from their rich and varied resources. This theoretical paper is grounded in a justice-centered, asset-based framework that views the traditions and practices in students’ cultures and communities as strong contributors to knowledge construction in STEM. We draw on multiple studies exploring multilingual student CS identity development to better understand how their personal, familial, community-based, …

Broadcasting La Presencia Latina: Tracing Identities Across Fields Of Interaction In Rural Minnesota, Anthony J. Harb

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation project traces the concerted efforts of an emergent Latinx immigrant community in Westplain, Minnesota to construct and assert their individual and collective identities within the public sphere through a range of multimodal and face-to-face communicative resources. I address enduring questions within the fields of linguistic anthropology, language education, and Latinx (media) studies through a multi-sited ethnography centered around three focal field sites: (1) a Spanish-language community radio program I call La Gran Comunidad Latina (LGCL); (2) a college-level civic engagement Spanish conversation course titled Noticias Comunitarias (NC) designed and taught in partnership with LGCL; and (3) an antiracist …

Code Switching Use, Attitudes, And Identity: Differences Among Spanish-English Bilinguals In Canada, Mexico, And The United States, Ana Sofia Rubalcava Karmanov

Theses and Dissertations

Code-switching (CS) has been extensively studied for a variety of purposes and under many contexts. In recent years there has been a shift in CS literature to better understand the sociological forces that affect speakers’ use of CS. While in earlier literature, CS was perceived negatively by both speakers and the general public (Milroy & Muysken, 1995; MacGregor-Mendoza, 2021; Anderson & Toribio, 2007; Fishman, 1967), it has since been shown that many bilinguals view CS positively. More recent research suggests that bilinguals perceive CS as an important part of their identity and use it to show they belong to particular …

The “Other” Nil And Sportcrit: Narrative Identity And Liminality Of Black Gendered Scholar-Athletes, Joseph L. Herman Ii

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The purpose of this conceptual manuscript is to advance a new integrated model: the Narrative Identity (NI), and Liminality Model (NILM). The NILM advances narrative as an intervention tool for Black gendered scholar-athletes (BGSAs) by integrating NI theory (Adler et al., 2017) with the Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) model (Yosso, 2005) for positive outcomes intra-intercollegiate career. The developmental characteristic of sense-making of one’s life via the life story model and life stage phases (McAdams, 1985, 2011) are paramount to BGSAs’ articulation and development during their liminal condition (Sutton, 2017) as athletes in their orientation to sport. More specifically, orienting the …

Crafting The Image Of Pelayo: Identity And State-Building In Early Medieval Asturian Chronicles, Erica Buchberger

History Faculty Publications

In the late ninth century, a series of chronicles from the Christian kingdom of Asturias staked a claim on Visigothic identity, and thus ancestral legitimacy to rule in Iberia, for Asturias and its kings. Connecting Pelayo, the first king of the Asturian kingdom, to the last Visigothic kings and crafting his image as an ideal Goth and Christian was essential to this process. Informed by scholarship on “borderlands” and boundary-making, this article demonstrates how the chroniclers renegotiated the parameters of Gothic identity to impose the idea of a strict border between legitimate and illegitimate, good Catholic and heretic, and loyalty …

"Where Is Your Accent From?": The Voice Of My Identity, Robert Northman

Amplify: A Journal of Writing-as-Activism

This essay probes the role of language in how it contributes to the construct of one's identity. The author discusses lived experiences centered on the the perceptions of accented English that is actually African American Vernacular English. The essay explores how these experiences were formed and how they developed over the course of the author's lifetime. The author also discusses ways in which language has caused both comfort and conflict, and provides a glimpse into a unique perspective that can contribute to a greater understanding of the power and importance of language.

Language And Economic Behavior Among Filipino Bilinguals: Two Studies In Honor Of Tereso S. Tullao, Jr., Gerardo L. Largoza, Emmanuel M. Garcia

DLSU Business & Economics Review

We report the results of two studies motivated by Tereso S. Tullao, Jr.’s conviction, first articulated nearly four

decades ago, that language matters in economic decision-making. In Study 1, following Chen (2013), we estimate a fixed- effects logit model on Wave 6 of the World Values Survey, and find that speakers of Cebuano (a “tenseless” language that only weakly distinguishes between present and future), are more likely to save than speakers of Tagalog (whose grammar clearly distinguishes between present and future). In Study 2, we conduct a large-scale dictator game experiment among 480 low- income students and find an unusual …

Zarzuela: Musical Theater Expresses The True Spanish Identity, Rachel Anne Heikkinen

Music: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

This essay will examine the history and traditions behind zarzuela which contribute to how composers portray the real Spanish identity in their works. Through the analysis of El barberillo de Lavapiés by Francisco Asenjo Barbieri and La Gran Vía by Federico Chueca, I note the value placed on the working-class people in Madrid and the abomination of Spanish authority and the elite. Zarzuelas show the stories, customs, and values of the everyday people which these composers argue are the true values of Spain. Through the laughter of this humorous medium, zarzuelas reveal the truth about the importance of the lower …

Exploring The Motivations And Therapeutic Benefits Of Fandom And Fanart Online Communities: A Literature Review, Miriam Kilian

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Participation in Online Fandom culture has become a highly valued aspect of many individuals' self-expression and how they seek to build social connections with others. Furthermore, within the Fandom community, the phenomenon of creating and sharing fan-based work also plays a significant role in the interactions between group members. These factors are important to acknowledge in a therapeutic context as future practitioners can choose to utilize a client's pre-established fandom involvement to explore their identity and social connections with other fans. This thesis is a literature review that examines the academic journals and individual interviews of Fanart Creators. The topics …