Sociology Commons^™

American Indian Homicide; A County Level Analysis Utilizing Social Disorganization Theory Revisted, Kayla Ward

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lanier and Huff-Corzine's (2006) article "American Indian Homicide: A County-Level Analysis Utilizing Social Disorganization Theory" has been referred to as a highly influential piece of literature on American Indian homicide. The study looked at American Indian homicide victimization incidents by county between 1986 and 1992 in the continental United States using the framework of social disorganization theory. Despite the violent crime drop in the 1990s, little research exists that examines current dynamics of American Indian homicide. This study provides an updated replication of Lanier and Huff-Corzine (2006) by examining the impact of social disorganization on American Indian homicide victimization between …

Collegiate Concerted Cultivation: The Influence Of Class And Family On Higher Education, Meghan Weyant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The 1966 Coleman Report and subsequent research identifies social class as an important determinant of educational outcomes, but after decades of research it is still unclear exactly why. This study purports to explore one possible explanation, collegiate concerted cultivation. The focus of this study was to explore the existence of collegiate concerted cultivation as a sociological concept. Collegiate concerted cultivation provides a theoretical framework to more deeply explore the relationships between social class, family factors, and familial support of education in order to better understand differential outcomes in achievement in higher education. Using a mixed method approach, the study examined …

The Disobedient Prisoner: A Racial Comparison Of The Level Of Punishment Prescribed To Inmates For Rule Violations, Sarah King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the various studies that point to racial disparities at different levels of the United States' criminal justice system, it is necessary to uncover all places within the system where racial disparities might exist. Understanding that Black inmates are disproportionately represented within the prison system led to the hypothesis that Black inmates receive harsher punishments than White inmates when they violate a rule while in prison. A cross-sectional study, "Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 2004," which was available through ICPSR, was used in order to test the hypothesis. The data were collected from October 2003 through …

Report Construction When Domestic Violence Surrounds Or Involves Children, Chelsea Nordham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Household violence that involves children can be complicated situations to understand and describe for police responding to calls. Police reports are important in prosecuting cases by informing and reminding criminal justice personnel of what occurred in incidents, and inconsistencies between reports and accounts by involved persons can result in credibility loss and case dismissal (Gregory et al. 2011). Little research has been conducted on the construction of police reports, particularly in domestic violence cases involving children. This study uses three years of domestic violence police reports from a sheriff office*s database in Florida to distinguish information recorded for three types …

Seed To Sale: Boundary Work In Mississippi Agriculture, Caroline Canarios

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From production to sale, farm operations thrive on the demanding work of farm labor. However, social research on agriculture does not give adequate attention to issues of labor and work. Through participant observation, interviews, and content analysis, I analyze work from multiple perspectives within Mississippi agriculture. I focus on individuals involved in produce farming in two communities located in Northwest and Southeast Mississippi. I apply the boundary work theoretical framework to my findings, which reveals the complexities of the agriculture sector in Mississippi and illuminates the ways in which individuals not only define themselves but the work they do and …

Beautification Practices Among Asian And Asian American College Students, Itsuka Takamune

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The global beauty industry is prominent both in western and non-western nations. East Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and China are the biggest markets. Although each of these countries has local beauty standards, the global beauty industry imposes western beauty standards on individuals in those countries. This affects not only Asians in Asian countries, but also Asian Americans who are thought to be somehow foreign and, therefore, underrepresented in the U.S. media. Moreover, some Asians and Asian Americans take this for granted and unconsciously adopt western beauty standards into their routine beautification practices. Asians' and Asian Americans' beautification practices function …

Domestic Violence & No-Drop Policies: Doing More Harm Than Good?, Jolene Vincent

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past few years, much debate has been centered on domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence (IPV), and how it should be handled in our society and criminal justice system. In previous years, domestic violence has been seen not only as a private family matter, but a situation in which no outsiders should intrude. In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control stated that intimate partner violence is a public health problem with 27% of women and nearly 12% of men who have had some sort of experience with sexual or physical violence at the hands of an …

Women On The Line: A Qualitative Study Of Women's Experience Of Work In The Meat Industry, Jessica Jacques

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the experiences of women who work in the meat industry. Drawing from symbolic interaction and standpoint theory frameworks, this research focuses on how gender, race, and nationality influence work experiences and family life for women in comparison to men in the meat industry. This study is based on 15 in-depth interviews with men and women who work in management positions and in the processing rooms of meat companies where non-human animals are disassembled in the production of food. Data collection and analysis were performed using grounded theory methods of inquiry. Participants' stories highlight women's experience in adapting …

Millennials Making Meanings: Social Constructions Of Sexual Harassment Regarding Gender And Power By Generation Y, Nicole Stark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The term sexual harassment was brought to light by legal scholar Catharine MacKinnon during the second wave feminist movement in the 1970s, and has since changed in its meaning over the past four decades, influencing policy, legal action, and the way we, as a society, treat this social problem. Millennials, or those born between 1980 and 2000, will be the next generation of working adults that will influence the way sexual harassment is understood and defined both legally and socially. The Millennial generation is typically considered liberal and socially conscious, prompting the research question of “How do Millennials socially construct …

The Interspecies Family: Attitudes And Narratives, Nicole Owens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Families are conceptualized and accomplished in increasingly diverse ways in the 21st century. A constructionist framework was utilized to examine a widespread contemporary family form, the interspecies family. This mixed-method approach relied on both quantitative survey data and qualitative interview data. First, survey data from the 2006 Constructing the Family Survey were analyzed to understand who in America counts pets as family. Many social demographics were associated and predicted counting pets as family but gender was one of the strongest associations. However, marital status moderated the relationship between gender and counting pets as family at a statically significant level. Men …

Against The Grain : The Challenges Of Black Discourse Within Intercollegiate Policy Debate., Tiffany Yvonne Dillard-Knox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research uses the speech community model of analysis to illustrate how language is used to determine inclusion into and exclusion from Debate. This has been done by examining the use of four Black discourse types in Intercollegiate Policy Debate: signifying, call and response, tonal semantics, and narrative sequencing to show the ways in which current debate practices (un)intentionally exclude Blacks. Upon examination, one can see that there is educational value to the methods used by majority of the Black student population within Debate. In addition to being a tool of empowerment for this student population, these students can also …

Behind The Doors Of White Supremacy, Catlyn Kenna Keenan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

What is the relationship between religious belief and acts of violence and terrorism? The American white supremacy movements of the Ku Klux Klan and Christian Identity are deeply rooted in Protestant Christianity and are also responsible for some of the gravest acts of violence on American soil. The intersection between religious belief and terrorist action illuminates the interplay between religion and acts of violence.

This study firstly provides a history of the ideology of Christian Identity with specific attention to the ways in which committing violence is rationalized and understood as redemptive. Secondly, this study identifies six characteristics of a …

Social Identity And Social Learning Factors As Predictors Of Intergroup And Intragroup Social Aggressiveness In College Sororities, Bethany L. Doran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and social learning theory (Bandura, 1977) as theoretical guides, the main objective of the present study was to determine if individual and group identity factors--unstable self-esteem, narcissism, sorority member intragroup status, collective narcissism, sorority intergroup status, sorority intergroup social aggressiveness, and sorority intragroup social aggressiveness--were predictive of young adult females' intergroup and intragroup social aggressiveness in college sororities. Participants for the present study included (N= 222) young adult females who are current members of college sororities in the United States. Path analysis revealed that many individual identity and group identity factors predict …

Informal College Study Groups : Gender And Group Homophily., Brandon Scott Mcreynolds

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The examination of undergraduate informal college study groups offers not only the ability to better understand student culture, but also the ability to look further into the role that gender plays in a student’s college experience. Further, it is hypothesized that students form and maintain these groups based off homophily. This study uses a mixed methods approach to examine how males and females experience informal study groups differently, along with how a student’s gender informs his or her perception of the group’s purpose, formation and function. Themes such as trust, along with a student’s pre-college background and major, emerged in …

Down Comes The Mountain : Coal Mining And Health In Central Appalachia From 2000 To 2010., James Kent Pugh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Appalachia is one of the unhealthiest and most economically disadvantaged regions in America. It has higher rates of diseases (including heart disease and cancer) than the rest of the United States. Past research posits that low socioeconomic conditions in Appalachia are the main determinants of health disparities, and a burgeoning body of literature is examines the relationship between coal mining and health. The latter shows that, when controlling for socioeconomic status, health status remains significantly lower in coal-producing, Appalachian counties compared to non-coal producing Appalachian counties. While previous studies examine coal production over one or two years, they do not …

A Case Study Of The Early Institutionalization Process Of A Restorative Justice Social Movement Organization., Brittany Buttry-Watson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the early development process of a restorative justice social movement organization in Louisville, KY. Utilizing social movement and organizational frameworks, this case study seeks to expand knowledge on the early developmental period for small, locally founded social movement organizations. Results from this study confirm claims in the literature about the critical nature of an organization’s structure, networks, and strategy. The analysis also discovers an unexplored strategy for organizational development, i.e. preemptive co-optation. Restorative Justice Louisville deliberatively sought co-optation by the institution they were attempting to change, the juvenile justice system, from early in their development. Due to …

The Whore Paradox : "Rational" Condom Use Decisions Among Prostitutes In The Context Of Stigma And Patriarchal Bargaining., Maggie Mccandless Stone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High-risk sexual activity involved in prostitution is a criminal justice and public health issue heightened by the potential transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as a result of engaging in certain unprotected sex acts. This constitutes a significant health problem suitable for discourse on social policy. The work adds to the extant prostitution literature by providing an in-depth qualitative examination of female prostitutes resulting in the proposal of a new theoretical framework, the whore paradox. The theory provides explanatory insight into the sexual health decisions of prostitutes and has potential applications to other deviant and risk-taking populations. Policy implications include …

Butch, Femme, Or Neither? What Owning These Identities Means, Joey F. Cooter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite an increased awareness of the diversity of gender identities, butch and femme roles continue to be viewed as lesbian stereotypes that reinforce rather than challenge heteronormativity. This study explores how self-identified butch and femme lesbian women define themselves and how their identities influence their sexual/romantic relationships. Interviews were conducted with 20 lesbians who identified as butch, femme, or neither to learn what these identities meant to them. While the interviewees saw their identities as unique, a number of similarities emerged. This thesis analyzes the themes of conflict with a gender binary model, stereotypes of butch and femme, replication of …

Adolescent Religion And Parenthood Outcomes In Young Adulthood, Kelli K. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A multitude of research exists examining the relationship between religion and early marriage, yet little research has focused on the relationship between religion and early childbearing. Even less has examined the influence of adolescent religion on early parenthood. Using data from the National Study of Youth and Religion, I examined the relationship between religion in adolescence and parenthood outcomes in early adulthood. I focus on how religiosity in adolescence shapes whether an individual is more or less likely to be sexually active, become pregnant, and/or have and keep a child. Results suggest that those who are religious in adolescence are …

From Quackery To Control: Perceptions Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine From Users With Mental Health Disorders, Rachael Welsh Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is an investigation into why people with depression and anxiety use complementary and alternative medicines at higher rates than the general population. The study examines perceptions of mental illness and meanings assigned to depression and anxiety, others’ perceptions of mental illness, and experiences with conventional medicine. All participants were using complementary and alternative medicine at the time of the study; their reasons for CAM use as well as how CAM affected perceptions of their illness were main research questions. I conducted three focus groups with individuals diagnosed with depression who were using complementary and alternative medicine as forms …

Heavy Drinking Behaviors And Parental Influence Among Greek Affiliated College Students, Melodie Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Heavy drinking behaviors have been observed in relation to fraternity and sorority membership. Some have argued that this relationship persists as a result of the drinking-conducive social environments of Greek organizations, but others have suggested that this relationship may be spurious. Using data from The Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study (n = 10,904) the link between Greek affiliation, alcohol consumption, and parental influence was examined through the lens of social learning theory. It was hypothesized that members of Greek organizations would report higher levels of drinking compared to others and that the inclusion of the variable of …

Queering The Abcs: Lgbtq Characters In Children’S Books, Lindsay A. Toman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past 30 years, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) groups have called for children’s books to include LGBTQ characters and themes to help children understand our multifaceted social world. Few LGBTQ characters have appeared in children’s literature. This qualitative study analyzes the text and images of 29 children’s books published between 1972 and 2013 that have any LGBTQ characters. Books featuring lesbian and gay characters often presented them as conforming to heteronormative standards to find fulfillment. The majority of books with gender-deviant characters focused on boys harassed by other characters for their conventionally feminine behaviors. Surprisingly few …

Trust In Government Versus Fear Of Crime As Predictors Of Support For Authoritarian Policies In Ecuador: A Cross-Sectional Study, Clímaco David Cañarte Gutiérrez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individuals interacting in an environment that exacerbates fear of crime and general distrust may face erosion of democratic values and perceive authoritarian policies as a solution to restore order. In Latin America historical widespread distrust in the government apparatus as well as fear of crime, have always been a topic of interest, not only for sociologists but also for political scientists and lawmakers. This study uses the LAPOP wave 2012 (Latin American Public Opinion) survey to assess Ecuadorians’ perceptions about trust in the government and fear of crime as predictors of support for authoritarian policies (mano dura). Logistic regressions …

Single Mothers And Religiosity, Natalie J. Sheets

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines single mothers compared to coupled mothers and the differences in their public and private practices of religiosity. Data come from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 2007 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. The study explores the influence of marital status between single and coupled mothers by using regression models to control for income, age, education, and race. Findings suggest that, while there are differences in single and coupled mothers in both their public and private practices of religiosity, the cause of these differences is being driven by other social factors rather than marital status alone. Income, …

Bankruptcy Stigma: A Socio-Legal Study, Michael D. Sousa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For as long as the institution of bankruptcy has existed, legal commentators have debated whether it is appropriate for debtors to experience some social stigma upon filing for personal bankruptcy--that is, whether it serves the goals of bankruptcy law for debtors to feel shame. While this issue has been extensively discussed as a theoretical matter, to date no legal commentator or scholar has examined the question as an empirical matter: do debtors in fact associate feelings of shame with filing for bankruptcy, and, if so, why (or why not)? This article, for the first time, undertakes precisely this inquiry. Specifically, …

Frequency Of Communication On Facebook As A Factor In Four Dimensions Of Perceived Social Support, Granger E. Petersen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored relationships between the frequency of public communication on the social networking website Facebook and the level of social support an individual perceives. Students in the Graduate School of Social Work and the Emergent Digital Practices program were surveyed. Correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between the variables. Findings from the analysis indicated that the frequency of posting statuses on Facebook and the frequency of responding to other's status updates on Facebook was significantly and negatively associated with a perception of tangible social support. The frequency of these types of communication were not significantly …

Norm Articulation In International Organizations: Democracy, Governance, And Participation At The Undp And The World Bank, Roni Kay Marie O'Dell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Constructivist analyses of international norm articulation assume that norm articulation happens through the process of international discussion and agreement, yet such works lack a rigorous analysis of how international organizations articulate norms for the world internal to the organization. Further, analyses of international organization norm articulation almost completely ignore the important influence of leadership. This dissertation analyzes two distinct norms of gender equality and participation in two international organizations, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank. The theory developed here argues that the leader's ability to influence norm articulation is dependent on the organizational culture which reflexively impacts …

Who Am I? Who Am I Supposed To Be? First Generation Graduate Student Experiences Of Identity Negotiation, Nicole B. Lounsbery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine how the intersections of race, class, gender and place impact identity negotiation among first generation female graduate students and how these identities are influenced and shaped by the structures and role expectations of both home and academic environments. This research addresses the scarcity of literature on first generation graduate level students, as well as the lack of intersectional research in identity and student development studies. Additionally, there has been a dearth of literature focusing on class, race, and place, and how these identities influence women’s feelings of being academic imposters. Thus, the …

Pro-And-Anti Immigration Activities In Iowa's 4th Congressional District: A Community Capitals Framework Perspective, Anne Junod

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The foreign-born immigrant population in Iowa is increasing. Across Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, communities that have never had statistically significant populations of non-Anglos have in recent decades experienced dramatic influxes of predominantly Latino immigrants. Today, Latinos comprise upwards of 25 percent of the population of some counties and well over 35 percent of the population of many towns. At the same time, many other communities in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District remain almost exclusively white. How are communities responding? This research centers on the statements and activities of individual and group actors representing various market, state, and civil society sectors, examining …

The Social Ecology Of Men's Sexual Self-Efficacy In The Mississippi Delta, Vanessa Ann Parks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mississippi often has some of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and infections in the country. To combat this, the state uses abstinence-based sexual education in an attempt to discourage young people from having sex. I conducted 27 interviews and one focus group to talk with young men in the Mississippi Delta about their opinions on birth control. Using the social ecological model and self-efficacy framework, this thesis considers the influences on young men that shape their attitudes and behaviors regarding sexual health topics such as birth control. Primary findings include their learning from teachers, parents, …