Sociology Commons^™

Religious Homogamy And Marital Happiness, Suzanne T. Ortega, Hugh P. Whitt, J. Allen Williams Jr.

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Data from a representative sample of 1,070 married Protestants and Catholics were used to examine the relationship between religious homogamy and marital happiness. Although couples may vary in the extent to which they share religious views (e.g., beliefs, values), previous research has treated religious homogamy as a dichotomy; a couple is either homogamous or it is not. A partial explanation for this is that few studies have gone beyond the broad divisions of Protestant, Catholic, and Jew. In the present study religious bodies were classified on the basis of doctrine and ritual, yielding six categories: Baptist, Calvinist, Catholic, fundamentalist, Lutheran, …

Leadership And Nonverbal Behaviors Of Hispanic Females Across School Equity Environments, Helen A. Moore, Natalie K. Porter

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Nonverbal behaviors of Hispanic elementary school students and their peers were examined in a small-group cooperative task with a total of 202 subjects. Thirty-five randomly selected groups were videotaped in ten desegregated schools, each group was gender-homogeneous, with three Hispanic and three Anglo students. Analysis of the videotapes revealed that Hispanic females used less vertical and horizontal space than Anglo females, and were also less likely to verbally interrupt or physically intrude on other group members They had similar rates of handling the group resource cards and were given similar leadership scores by multi-ethnic trained observers. Among males, Hispanics are …

Framing ‘Bomb Talk’: The Macro Consequences Of The Microfoundations Of Social Interaction In A Goffmanian Nuclear World, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This paper, originating with issues generated in Professor Deegan’s seminar on contemporary sociological theory at the University of Nebraska, explores the “frames” or microfoundations of everyday interaction and their consequences for the ultimate macrosociological threat: global nuclear annihilation. The theoretical basis of this study is Erving Goffman’s Frame Analysis: An Essay on the Organization of Experience. The adequacy and comprehensiveness of Goffman’s major constructs are substantiated by data from the everyday world of newspapers and popular culture. “Keys” (or transformational conventions) are pivotal in this analysis. The central thesis of this paper holds that the keys used to transformationally …

We’Re Partners – Not Husband And Wife, Mary Jo Deegan, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

On May I, 1982- International Workers' Day-we celebrated and consecrated our relationship with friends and family. Our partnership ceremony included blessings by a Presbyterian minister, piano music played by a close friend, and readings by Frederick Engels on marriage as slavery for women and by Jane Addams on the right of all people to live in societies they created. We did not obtain a marriage license, we did not exchange "marriage vows," and we specifically chose to not be married. Our celebration cake was covered with white frosting and in red letters the slogan "Workers Should Unite-Not Marry" merrily conveyed …

Preface To The Special Issue, Mary Jo Deegan

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Nebraska was a tumultuous new state in 1869, the year its major University was founded. The early sociologists at Nebraska reflected this bumptious and daring spirit This special issue of the Mid-American Review of Sociology explores several facets of the intellectual heritage and institutional foundations of sociology at the University of Nebraska.

Editor’S Introduction: The Social Construction Of A Departmental Heritage, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

The creation, maintenance, and diffusion of each academic department's corporate identity is a social project. This is as true for departments of sociology as for any other academic organization. Numerous individuals and organizations -- within and outside a particular institute of higher learning -participate in the constructive, reconstructive, and deconstructive processes that shape the content and character of the institutional heritage passed from one generation of scholars in each department of sociology to the next.

Framing Falls: A Goffmanian Analysis Of Pedestrian Falls And Muffings, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Roscoe Pound And The Seminarium Botanicum At The University Of Nebraska, 1888-1889, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Roscoe Pound (1870-1964) became one of America's leading legal scholars, but few recall his rigorous training in botany. Those who do most often cite his 1898 joint doctoral thesis (The Phytogeography of Nebraska, co-authored with Frederic Clements), but fail to note his first graduate work of a decade earlier. Roscoe Pound's master's thesis, "The Imperfect Fungi of Nebraska," was researched and written during the 1888-1889 academic year. Although the thesis itself is now lost, its content and the circumstances under which it was written can be established by using archival materials. Pound's role in leading the student botanical club (the …

Empowering A Feminist Ethic For Social Science Research: Nebraska Sociological Feminist Collective, Beth Hartung, Jane C. Ollenburger, Helen A. Moore, Mary Jo Deegan

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

An ethic defines the general nature of the morals. rules and standards governing the conduct and choices of individuals as well as members of a profession (Oxford English Dictionary 1971). A feminist ethic for social science research specifically orders these general issues to recognize and account for wimmin's continued oppression within a patriarchal social system and academic disciplines. A feminist ethic identifies this continued oppression as a major contradiction of our research. work and social structure. Within social sciences generally, and sociology specifically. little attention is paid to the underlying patriarchal ethic which informs theory, method and substantive issues. …

Early Women Sociologists At The University Of Nebraska: A Selective Bibliography, Mary Jo Deegan

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This working bibliography provides a key to the large literature written by early women sociologists from the University of Nebraska for those who wish to know more about their writings.

MARY ADELL TREMAIN (1860-1921)

FRANCES BROWN TAYLOR (1861-1925)

LUCILLE EAVES (1869-1949)

EDITH ABBOTT (1876-1957)

LUCILLE EAVES (1869-1949)

HATTIE PLUM WILLIAMS (1878-1963)

ALICE MARIE LOOMIS (1880-1982)

LETA S. HOLLINGWORTH (1886-1939)

GWENDOLYN HUGHES (1895-1911)

Review Of Sociology: A Brief But Critical Introduction, 2nd Edition, By Anthony Giddens, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

As Giddens announces correctly in the preface, "This book differs from most other introductory texts in sociology in several ways" (p. vii). It concentrates on theory, "the core of theoretical concerns which sociology shares with all the social sciences" (p. vii). Giddens asserts, "I do not adopt the usual view that these issues are unimportant to those seeking to achieve an initial acquaintance with sociology. Neither do I accept the equally common idea that such matters are too complex to be grasped before the reader has a mastery of the more empirical content of the subject" (pp. vii-viii). On the …

Research By Bureaucracy: Hattie Plum Williams And The National Commission On Law Observance And Enforcement, 1929-1931, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This paper explores the bureaucratized research activities (1929-1931) of the National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement (NCLOE) from the perspective of Hattie Plum Williams' sociobiographical experience. Williams was a doctoral student of George E. Howard and earned her Ph.D. in 1915 -- the ftrst doctorate in sociology awarded by the University of Nebraska. That same year, she joined the Nebraska faculty and eventually became Chair of the Department (1922-1928).2 In 1931, at age 53, this full professor was called upon be an unpaid fieldworker, gathering data according to rigid protocols stipulated by the NCLOE. Archival reconstruction of Williams' "view …

The Intellectual Legacy Of Nebraska Sociology: A Bibliographical Chronology Of Separately Published Works, 1887-1989, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

The ftrst full century of sociological scholarship at the University of Nebraska rests solidly on numerous contributions to the acknowledged pinnacle of academic work: single-author monographs published by scholarly presses. Collaborative works, including jointly-authored monographs and scholarly editorial projects, round out the separately published volumes in the continually growing library of Nebraska sociology. Several works are recognized classics and have been revised and revived in various editions. The sociological work flowing from Nebraska roots is evidenced by inspection of the bibliography below.

If one wished to deftne a "Nebraska school of sociology," one could do worse than look to the …

Effects Of Gender, Ethnicity, And School Equity On Students' Leadership Behaviors In A Group Game, Helen A. Moore

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Leadership skills and the perception of leadership by students and classroom teachers are examined in 10 desegregated elementary schools. The 10 schools were first divided into "high-equity" and "low-equity" schools based on the extent to which they met "integrative" educational criteria, such as multicultural curricula, multiethnic staff, minority parent involvement, and other factors. A random sample of 202 Hispanic and Anglo students participated in a cooperative group task in gender-segregated groups composed of 3 students from each ethnic group. Results indicate that trained observers found gender differences in nonverbal and verbal leadership behaviors among students across the schools, including higher …

Women Sociologists In The Midwest: A Status Update, Mary Ann Lamanna, Baila Miller, Helen A. Moore

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

In this article, an earlier study of the status of academic women sociologists in the Midwest that was extended to 1984-1985 is discussed. Type of appointment, rank, and chairpersons, as well as position in a Ph.D. rather than an M.A. program were used in the study as indicators of employment status. Midwest Sociological Society (MSS) leadership positions and participation in the annual MSS meeting served as indicators of professional participation. The results show that gains in employment status for women slowed in the 1980s. Employment of women in sociology department positions, especially in full-time positions and higher ranks, continued to …

Sex Role Socialization In Picture Books: An Update, J. Allen Williams Jr., Joetta Vernon, Martha C. Williams, Karen Malecha

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

In a content analysis of children’s picture books, Weitzman et al, (1972) found females depicted far less often than males, and those females who were included tended to play traditional, stereotypical roles. The present study updates this research. Findings indicate that, while the ratio of females to males is now closer to parity, storybook characters continue to walk the well-worn paths of tradition.

'Asking Directions’ And Pedestrian Wayfinding, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This paper reports a study of the social ecology and systemic aspects of "asking for directions" in an urban area. Interviews were conducted with 100 randomly selected pedestrians at spatially stratified locations representing a variety of urban environments in Lincoln, Nebraska. The interviewer, posing as a "lost" pedestrian, asked respondents to give directions to local landmarks and then unobtrusively recorded their responses on a concealed tape recorder. Respondents generally provided accurate, distance-conserving directions with low levels of spatial complexity. Responses were friendly and often tailored to the unique environmental attributes characterizing each location. An outline of the process whereby a …

Novels, Thought Experiments, And Humanist Sociology In The Classroom: Mari Sandoz And Capital City, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Based upon teaching Mari Sandoz' allegorical novel, Capital City, as part of Introduction to Sociology for three semesters, this report outlines the characteristics of sociologically useful novels from a humanist perspective. A key characteristic is the extent to which novelists not only conduct thought experiments but also stimulate student thinking and research. The pedagogical dimensions of thought experiments are explicated and the positive outcomes of using a novel-and group study projects based on a novel-are reported.

Bomb Talk: Framing The Unthinkable, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Our cultural apparatus appears ill-equipped, if not unable, to conceptualize or frame the present nuclear reality in a way that lets us effectively come to grips with it as it really is: a deployed, targeted, industrialized capacity to instantaneously annihilate all human life. This paper demonstrates that we key or transform our nuclear reality in virtually every conceivable way, thus normalizing it and treating it culturally the same as any other phenomenon, including the most mundane. I argue therefore that we have before us the immense and challenging task of finding a way – working with flawed and inadequate intellectual …

Physically Disabled Women And New Directions In Public Policy, 1977-1987., Mary Jo Deegan

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Women with physical disabilities now demand new directions in public policy. Starting a mere decade ago, in 1977, a driving momentum redefined the self-concepts, expectations, and united actions of disabled women. This burgeoning social movement is documented here through the geometric growth of writings articulating the vision of a more active and independent group. An overview of this Iiterature and its policy implications is provided.

Preface, Mary Jo Deegan, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

To us, as feminist professors, the structural inequality of women is obvious. To our nonfeminist students, however, this inequality is often invisible. They believe, optimistically, that all women's problems have been solved or will be by the time they complete their undergraduate education. They are firm believers that American society is egalitarian and radically different from the world of ten or twenty years ago. This book is oriented toward our students and our vision. We, too, believe that people are flexible and can change, and that the United States Constitution guarantees equality for all citizens. We know, however, that women's …

The Sociology And Experiences Of Pedestrians, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This paper introduces the sociological and experiential studies included in this special issue of Man-Environment Systems. Sociological and experiential perspectives and their interconnections are briefly explored. A sociology of sociology perspective is adopted and argues that architects, planners, engineers and other managers of vested, status guo interests fail to systematically incorporate the burgeoning social scientific work on pedestrianism due to the inherent and unavoidable political character of walking.

A Cross-Cultural Analysis Of Several Forms Of Parenting: Mother, Genitrix, And Mater, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Melissa Stern was born March 27, 1986, in New Jersey. For one so young, she has experienced or been the subject of interstate flight and fugitive hegira, legal battles involving her own court-appointed attorney, social controversy, the voracious attention of an insensitive media industry, and a place in history as the famous Baby "M". Judge Sorkow (1987: 26-27), in his opinion awarding custody of Melissa to her genetic father and terminating all parental rights of her genetic mother, notes professional evaluations indicating Melissa to be a "a mellow, alert, easy-to-care-for child who is blessed with a 'sunniness of disposition that …

What Sex Is Your Parachute? Interest Inventory/Counseling Models And The Perpetuation Of The Sex/Wage Segregation Of The Labor Market, Helen A. Moore, Jane Ollenburger

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This article explores the “gender model” of job research instruments that are based on the Holland Occupational Classification scheme. The six Holland “environments” constitute a ubiquitous base for tests and measures in career counseling and research. Analysis of the 1973 Quality of Employment Survey provides evidence that the Holland Classification scheme replicates the segmentation of women into certain occupations that generate low pay, even after controlling for worker education, job tenure, and age. Comparable data for male wage earners show a significant segregation away from low-income, predominantly female occupations. Thus the Holland occupational scheme and the instruments based upon it …

"Martha's Rules": An Alternative To Robert's Rules Of Order, Anne Minahan

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

For several years I have been teaching a social work course on how social workers can make their employing organization more responsive to consumers. We study how decisions are made in organizations. The students and I have become intrigued with the use of consensus decision-making in some organizations. Many—but by no means all—of these organizations are feminist organizations that wish to put feminist beliefs and philosophy into practice within organizations and to avoid structured administrative hierarchies for decision making. In their study of consensus decision-making organizations, students have reported that some participants are impatient with the time required by the …

The Multidimensionality Of Joining, Suzanne T. Ortega, J. Allen Williams Jr.

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

By focusing on membership in voluntary associations in general, the question of whether correlates of affiliation vary by organizational type tends to have been neglected. This is a significant omission from the standpoint of describing the characteristics of “joiners.” Additionally, most of what we know about the reasons for belonging has been inferred from observations of who joins. In this study, nine frequently identified correlates of voluntary association membership were examined in relation to five different types of organizations. Only two, education and race, were found to be related to all types. Thus, results indicate that affiliation is not a …

Sexism In Space: The Freudian Formula In "Star Trek", Mary Jo Deegan

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

These words, spoken at the beginning of each televised "Star Trek" episode, set the stage for the fantastic future. Although the "Star Trek" series was cancelled in 1969 after only three years of production, it generated a large cult following that flourishes still today. One reason for the series' remarkable longevity is its depiction of the future as a Freudian fantasy. This Freudian vision draws on cultural myths embedded in the patriarchal dominance of men over women characteristic of Western civilization.

According to Freud, both sexes are driven by three instincts --- sex, aggression, and the death wish---but men have …

Spatial Structure In Pedestrian Route Choice, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Aggregated pedestrian trip lengths typically follow gravity model predictions. Given this, the present research asks which route will a pedestrian choose when confronted by two or more distance-minimizing routes of equal length. Ethological, questionnaire, and interview data reveal the spatial structure of pedestrian route choices in terms of spatial complexity measures. Route complexity is found to vary by age and gender. The study is based on data collected in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Review Of Accommodating The Pedestrian By Richard Untermann, Michael R. Hill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Untermann undertakes to provide design professionals and other decision makers with a down-to-earth, practical guide for converting existing automobile-dominated urban areas into bicycle and pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods and cities. Based primarily on his personal observation, experience, and professional predilections, Untermann lists the presumed "needs" of pedestrians/bicyclists and presents a brief, uneven description of the "characteristics" of walking. A separate chapter, not well-integrated with the rest of the book, focuses specifically on bicyclists and bikeways. The second half of the book addresses specific improvements-primarily for pedestrians suggested by the author for older neighborhoods, downtowns, and suburban communities respectively.

Multiple Dimensions Of The Moral Majority Platform: Shifting Interest Group Coalitions, Helen A. Moore, Hugh P. Whitt

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

The issues raised by the New Political Right and the Moral Majority have overlapped in recent political history. Researchers have assumed that a single additive scale across conservative issues can identify the base of support for the Moral Majority as an organization. We examine general support for the Moral Majority separately from support for six specific issues: teaching creationism, voluntary public school prayer, military defense spending, gun control, pornography and abortion. Data are from a 1982 random sample of adult respondents from Nebraska (N = 1907).

Overall, support for the Moral Majority organization is low. Discriminant analysis identifies fundamentalist and …