Public school leaders routinely overlook the talents and contributions of blue-collar support staff that can and do play viable roles in the success of schools. Somewhat ironically, a common piece of advice given to first year teachers by more experienced mentors is, “Get to know the school secretary and custodian – everybody knows they really run the school.” Although this phrase is commonly bantered about by educators and informal school lore accords it the status of truth, the school leadership research literature is virtually silent about the contributions such workers can make. In Texas, where there are over one thousand school districts, many of which are rural and “stepping stones” for career track administrators, it is these community members who work as the secretaries, bus drivers, and custodians that many times serve as the cultural glue helping these districts survive. These invisible workers make important contributions to the coherency of the culture and mission of the school. My white maternal grandfather worked as a custodian in a rural school district for more than fifty-three years. Within the past five years, in the course of conversation, two casual acquaintances volunteered information regarding my grandfather’s contributions as a custodian in that school district that later I realized were instrumental in the sense of the project coming to me (Cole & Knowles, 2001). As a rural school custodian with a third grade education, my grandfather lived with multiple oppressive forces in his life. The lack of opportunity for education, the low socio-economic status of his rural family, the marginalization that society deals to those persons who choose dirty work (Meagher, 2002), and the sometimes overt, but often just an unintentional, power struggle with school leadership were all oppressive forces in his life. Whether he consciously realized it or not, my grandfather’s behavior (as evidenced by informant conversations) revealed this oppression. He survived, even thrived, and dealt with this oppression through the most effective means he knew of and obviously honed throughout his lifetime. My grandfather used humor as a means of survival. My grandfather was a master storyteller. This is his story.

Thesis advisor: Anderson J. Franklin / Referencing Ralph Waldo Ellison's 1952 novel Invisible Man, psychologist Anderson J. Franklin has proposed that the "invisibility" detailed in Ellison's work--the experience of having one's true sense of self rendered invisible by racial stereotypes--is not only a very real experience encountered by Black men in contemporary society, but one that can serve to confound their relationships and personal sense of agency. To better understand the experience of invisibility, the current study utilizes a multiple-case, case study approach to analyze several videotaped sessions of a therapeutic support group organized specifically to address race-related stressors in the lives of the Black male participants. The transcripts of each session are analyzed using Critical Discourse Analysis, an analytical approach that investigates actors' language, its implicit meanings and assumptions, and the manner in which it reflects power differentials operative in society. The findings of the study reveal the presence of an intra-racial, as well as an internalized form of invisibility not currently found in the literature pertaining to Franklin's theory of invisibility. Further, the current study expands our understanding of how invisibility is experienced by Black men by identifying a variety of strategies used by members of the support group to counter those experiences and become "seen." Finally, the fact that the group was largely comprised of college-educated, professional Black men yields valuable insights regarding the race-related, emotional functioning of an infrequently studied population. The study's findings are discussed in terms of their implications for group as well as individual mental health service delivery for Black men. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2015. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology.

No description available.

The refraction properties of photonic crystal lattices offers methods to control the beam steering of light through use of non-linear dispersion contours. In this thesis new photonic crystal structures, such as the square and triangular superlattices, that provide novel refractive properties are analyzed. The property difference between rows in these structures is the hole radius Δr. The difference in hole sizes leads to observation of the superlattice effect, that is, a change in the refractive index Δn between opposite rows of holes. The index difference becomes a function of the size of the smaller r2 hole area or volume due to the addition of the higher index background material compared to the larger r1 holes. The difference in hole radii Δr = r1 - r2 is referred to as the static superlattice strength and is designated by the ratio of r2/r1. The superlattice strength increases as the ratio of r2/r1 decreases. The hole size modulation creates modified dispersion contours that can be used to fabricate advanced beam steering devices through the introduction of electro-optical materials and a controlled bias. A discussion of these superlattice structures and their optical properties will be covered, followed by both static and dynamic tunable device constructions utilizing these designs. Also, static tuning of the devices through the use of atomic layer deposition, as well as active tuning methods utilizing liquid crystal (LC) infiltration, sealed LC cells, and the addition of electro-optic material will be discussed. Also in this thesis we present designs to implement a simpler demonstration of cloaking, the carpet cloak, in which a curved reflective surface is compressed into a flat reflective surface, effectively shielding objects behind the curve from view with respect to the incoming radiation source. This approach eliminates the need for metallic resonant elements. These structures can now be fabricated using only high index dielectric materials by the use of electron beam lithography and standard cleanroom technologies. The design method, simulation analysis, device fabrication, and near field optical microscopy (NSOM) characterization results are presented for devices designed to operate in the 1400-1600nm wavelength range. Improvements to device performance by the deposition/infiltration of linear, and potentially non-linear optical materials, were investigated.

Erroneous suggestions can add to or contradict people’s memories for previously witnessed event details. Researchers have also investigated a different kind of erroneous suggestion in which details from a target event that had actually been witnessed are erroneously suggested to not have transpired in the event. This phenomenon is referred to as the suggested invisibility effect. Previous research examining suggested invisibility has not thoroughly examined the mechanisms underlying the effect. That is, does not reporting previously witnessed event details reflect demand characteristics or genuine memory impairments? The current dissertation research was motivated by such questions. In a newly developed paradigm, 5 experiments examined suggested invisibility and its accompanying subjective memory. Subjects watched a crime video and 2 days later read three hand-written simulated witness testimonies. Each testimony (a) stated that two event details were not visible in the video (though they in fact were clearly displayed) and (b) mentioned two other details in broad generic terms. Subjects then completed a final memory test to assess their memory for the original crime video. Experiment 1 produced the basic effect, showing that subjects were significantly less likely to report witnessed details when they had been erroneously suggested to not have been visible compared to control details. Experiment 2A was conducted to further examine the basis of suggested invisibility, however, many subjects expressed disbelief in the testimonies and this resulted in null effects. Subsequent experiments enhanced the plausibility of the testimonies. Experiment 2B amended the rationale to subjects for reading the lengthy testimonies and replicated the suggested invisibility effect; Experiment 3 embedded suggestions of invisibility in response to cued-recall questions rather than in lengthy narratives; and, Experiment 4 presented subjects with a transcript of an interview between a witness and an experimenter. In both Experiments 3 and 4, robust effects of suggested invisibility were only attained with naïve subjects who claimed to not have been suspicious of the experimental manipulation. When suggested invisibility was observed subjects’ confidence levels were similar to that of control details, suggesting that sometimes subjects were genuinely confident in not having witnessed previously seen details. Collectively, these findings support the idea that memories can be swayed in the direction of erroneous suggestions that render false reports of not having seen previously witnessed details. / Graduate

[pt] Esta dissertação estuda e analisa a invisibilidade pública vivenciada por moradores de uma comunidade urbana denominada Água Mineral, localizada no município de São Gonçalo. Realizou-se uma intervenção utilizando a fotografia como recurso para conhecer o modo como os moradores percebem e vêem o lugar onde vivem. Considerando o lugar como produtor de identidade, esta dissertação questiona como o sujeito se constitui a partir do habitar em um lugar invisível, ou seja, que não existe no mapa da cidade. A partir dos ensinamentos da psicanálise, sociologia e antropologia, a presente dissertação destaca a invisibilidade como uma experiência subjetiva que deixa marcas no sujeito, cujos efeitos são sentidos e vivenciados no seu cotidiano, tais como: sentir-se estrangeiro no próprio lugar, vergonha, indiferença, humilhação e vazio subjetivo. O ato de fotografar é analisado como uma experiência capaz de instaurar a possibilidade de enunciação do sujeito que habita um lugar invisível e busca constituir um espaço possível de existência. / [en] This dissertation is dedicated to the study of the so- called public invisibility experienced by the members of the urban community Água Mineral, located in the district of São Gonçalo. By means of photography, an intervention was performed in order to grasp the way by which those members see and understand the place where they live. Considering place as an identity producer, the question was how does a subject constitute itself based on living in a place that doesn´t figure on the city map considered, therefore, invisible. Built on the concepts of psychoanalysis, sociology and anthropology, the present dissertation outlines invisibility as a subjective experience that leaves marks on the subject, of which impacts, such as alienation, shame, indifference, humiliation and subjective emptiness, are felt and experienced on a daily basis. The act of photographing was analyzed as the possibility of unveiling a subject who lives in a place, which, being invisible, struggles to constitute a feasible place of existence.

Thesis advisor: Kevin J. Mahoney / Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults in the U.S. face disproportionate risk of increased health and mental health problems as compared to their non-LGBT counterparts. Experiences of harassment, discrimination, and violence due to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) contribute to the chronic stresses associated with being a sexual and/or gender minority. LGBT older adults may avoid or delay needed services in later life, rendering them invisible to health care providers (HCPs) if they do not disclose SOGI and if providers do not ask. This three-paper dissertation explored LGBT older adults' invisibility and outness in aging services. Paper 1 investigated gerontological social workers' biopsychosocial assessment practices to understand how they became aware of clients' SOGI; assessment forms were analyzed and qualitative interviews with social workers were conducted, showing that social workers did not have a systematic way of learning about clients' SOGI. Paper 2 was a quantitative analysis of survey data from 129 LGBT older adults that showed an association between experiences of SOGI-based discrimination/violence after age 50 and not disclosing SOGI to HCPs and having avoided using aging services for fear of coming or being out. Paper 3 was a qualitative analysis of interviews with 22 LGBT older adults that sought to understand how they disclosed SOGI to HCPs. Those who disclosed did so without being asked, because of health conditions, after having sought out an LGBT /LGBT-friendly provider, or after being asked about their sex and/or love lives. Paper 3 findings offered practice and environmental changes that could increase LGBT older adults' SOGI disclosure to HCPs. This dissertation provides suggestions for social work policy, practice, and research aimed at supporting gerontological social workers in learning about their clients' SOGI in an effort to address health disparities among LGBT older adults / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2015. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

Esta pesquisa investigou histórias de vida e trabalho de costureiras autônomas das classes populares. O objetivo foi conhecer e analisar suas histórias de vida e trajetórias profissionais, em particular seus saberes do trabalho, na perspectiva de saber como se tornaram costureiras. Participaram da pesquisa quatro costureiras moradoras do município de Esteio, RS, com mais de 60 anos de idade, que trabalham há mais de quarenta anos com costura, confeccionando peças por encomenda, de forma autônoma e no espaço doméstico. Para tal, foi realizado um percurso metodológico inspirado nas histórias de vida e biografias formadoras, entrevista narrativa e entrevista reflexiva. Serviram de base, para este estudo os referenciais da ergologia sobre o debate de normas, os usos de si e os saberes Schwartz (2000, 2003), o conceito de artífice, Sennet (2013) e, sobre trajetórias profissionais, Franzoi (2006). Foram realizadas entrevistas narrativas com cada uma das costureiras. O estudo mostrou trajetórias profissionais marcadas por questões de classe e de gênero, pelo distanciamento da educação formal e do espaço industrial de produção e suas formas. A formação e o processo de se tornar uma profissional da costura - uma costureira - se deu através do aprendizado com outras mulheres e diretamente na atividade de trabalho. A curiosidade, a necessidade de subsistência e o reconhecimento do trabalho, pela outra pessoa e por si mesma, foram fundamentais no seu processo de profissionalização. A costura como autônoma, realizada no espaço doméstico, foi responsável por grande parte, senão toda, do orçamento familiar. As entrevistas demonstraram uma invisibilidade dos saberes do trabalho para as próprias trabalhadoras que, ao longo da sua vida de trabalho, convocaram e renormalizaram seus conhecimentos de forma inconsciente. Saberes tão complexos transmitidos pelas mulheres, aprendidos, produzidos e mobilizados na atividade de trabalho são naturalizados e pouco valorizados de forma explícita por elas. Percebeu-se uma relação muito íntima e indissociável entre a execução e a concepção na atividade de trabalho e muitas aproximações com o trabalho artesanal e com a ideia de artífice: “fazer é pensar”. A criatividade, as renormalizações, certa autonomia sobre o trabalho, estão muito presentes na atividade dessas costureiras autônomas, além de se verificar uma diversidade e quantidade de saberes que estão além daqueles que formalmente (CBO) identificam uma costureira. São histórias de vida duras e de muito trabalho. Dar voz a essas histórias de vida e trabalho, socializar estas experiências, significa visibilizar saberes do trabalho, a história de aprender o ofício da costura e outros saberes que fazem parte da vida de muitas mulheres no espaço privado. São saberes e potências que podem e devem ser compartilhados e visibilizados visando ampliar autorreconhecimento, emancipação e empoderamento das mulheres. / This study investigated story of life and work of independent seamstresses from popular classes. The objective was to understand and analyze their life stories and professional careers, particularly their work knowledge, trying to know how they become seamstresses. The participants were four seamstresses residents of Esteio, RS, with an average age of 62 years, acting as seamstresses for over forty years, working independently and from home. To achieve it, a methodological approach inspired by the stories of life and forming biographies, narrative interview and reflective interview was conducted. The basis for this study are the ergology’s references about the rules debate, uses of self and knowledge from Schwartz (2000, 2003), the concept of craftsman, Sennet (2013) and professional careers, Franzoi (2006). Narrative interviews were conducted with each of the seamstresses. The study found professional careers marked by class and gender issues and the distance from the formal education and from industrial production space. The formation and the process of becoming a sewing professional - a seamstress - was through learning from other women and directly in the work activity. Curiosity, the need for livelihoods and recognition of the work by others and for their self, were instrumental in their professionalization process. The sewing as an independent, held in the home, was responsible for much, if not all, of the family budget. Interviews demonstrated the invisibility of knowledge of work for the own workers who, throughout their working life, used and renormalized their knowledge unconsciously. So complex knowledge transmitted by women, learned, produced and mobilized in work activity are naturalized and undervalued. It was realized a very intimate and inseparable link between the implementation and design in the work activities and many approaches with craftsman and with the idea of architect: "make is think". Creativity, the renormalizations, certain autonomy on the job, are very present in the activity of these independent seamstresses, in addition to assessing a variety and quantity of knowledge that are beyond those formally (CBO) identify a seamstress. Are stories of hard living and a lot of work. Give voice to the stories of life and work, socialize these experiences means making visible that work knowledge, the history of learning the craft of sewing and other knowledge that are part of life for many women in the private space. Are knowledge and powers that can and should be shared aimed to increase the self-recognition, emancipation and empowerment of women.

Esta pesquisa investigou histórias de vida e trabalho de costureiras autônomas das classes populares. O objetivo foi conhecer e analisar suas histórias de vida e trajetórias profissionais, em particular seus saberes do trabalho, na perspectiva de saber como se tornaram costureiras. Participaram da pesquisa quatro costureiras moradoras do município de Esteio, RS, com mais de 60 anos de idade, que trabalham há mais de quarenta anos com costura, confeccionando peças por encomenda, de forma autônoma e no espaço doméstico. Para tal, foi realizado um percurso metodológico inspirado nas histórias de vida e biografias formadoras, entrevista narrativa e entrevista reflexiva. Serviram de base, para este estudo os referenciais da ergologia sobre o debate de normas, os usos de si e os saberes Schwartz (2000, 2003), o conceito de artífice, Sennet (2013) e, sobre trajetórias profissionais, Franzoi (2006). Foram realizadas entrevistas narrativas com cada uma das costureiras. O estudo mostrou trajetórias profissionais marcadas por questões de classe e de gênero, pelo distanciamento da educação formal e do espaço industrial de produção e suas formas. A formação e o processo de se tornar uma profissional da costura - uma costureira - se deu através do aprendizado com outras mulheres e diretamente na atividade de trabalho. A curiosidade, a necessidade de subsistência e o reconhecimento do trabalho, pela outra pessoa e por si mesma, foram fundamentais no seu processo de profissionalização. A costura como autônoma, realizada no espaço doméstico, foi responsável por grande parte, senão toda, do orçamento familiar. As entrevistas demonstraram uma invisibilidade dos saberes do trabalho para as próprias trabalhadoras que, ao longo da sua vida de trabalho, convocaram e renormalizaram seus conhecimentos de forma inconsciente. Saberes tão complexos transmitidos pelas mulheres, aprendidos, produzidos e mobilizados na atividade de trabalho são naturalizados e pouco valorizados de forma explícita por elas. Percebeu-se uma relação muito íntima e indissociável entre a execução e a concepção na atividade de trabalho e muitas aproximações com o trabalho artesanal e com a ideia de artífice: “fazer é pensar”. A criatividade, as renormalizações, certa autonomia sobre o trabalho, estão muito presentes na atividade dessas costureiras autônomas, além de se verificar uma diversidade e quantidade de saberes que estão além daqueles que formalmente (CBO) identificam uma costureira. São histórias de vida duras e de muito trabalho. Dar voz a essas histórias de vida e trabalho, socializar estas experiências, significa visibilizar saberes do trabalho, a história de aprender o ofício da costura e outros saberes que fazem parte da vida de muitas mulheres no espaço privado. São saberes e potências que podem e devem ser compartilhados e visibilizados visando ampliar autorreconhecimento, emancipação e empoderamento das mulheres. / This study investigated story of life and work of independent seamstresses from popular classes. The objective was to understand and analyze their life stories and professional careers, particularly their work knowledge, trying to know how they become seamstresses. The participants were four seamstresses residents of Esteio, RS, with an average age of 62 years, acting as seamstresses for over forty years, working independently and from home. To achieve it, a methodological approach inspired by the stories of life and forming biographies, narrative interview and reflective interview was conducted. The basis for this study are the ergology’s references about the rules debate, uses of self and knowledge from Schwartz (2000, 2003), the concept of craftsman, Sennet (2013) and professional careers, Franzoi (2006). Narrative interviews were conducted with each of the seamstresses. The study found professional careers marked by class and gender issues and the distance from the formal education and from industrial production space. The formation and the process of becoming a sewing professional - a seamstress - was through learning from other women and directly in the work activity. Curiosity, the need for livelihoods and recognition of the work by others and for their self, were instrumental in their professionalization process. The sewing as an independent, held in the home, was responsible for much, if not all, of the family budget. Interviews demonstrated the invisibility of knowledge of work for the own workers who, throughout their working life, used and renormalized their knowledge unconsciously. So complex knowledge transmitted by women, learned, produced and mobilized in work activity are naturalized and undervalued. It was realized a very intimate and inseparable link between the implementation and design in the work activities and many approaches with craftsman and with the idea of architect: "make is think". Creativity, the renormalizations, certain autonomy on the job, are very present in the activity of these independent seamstresses, in addition to assessing a variety and quantity of knowledge that are beyond those formally (CBO) identify a seamstress. Are stories of hard living and a lot of work. Give voice to the stories of life and work, socialize these experiences means making visible that work knowledge, the history of learning the craft of sewing and other knowledge that are part of life for many women in the private space. Are knowledge and powers that can and should be shared aimed to increase the self-recognition, emancipation and empowerment of women.

Esta pesquisa investigou histórias de vida e trabalho de costureiras autônomas das classes populares. O objetivo foi conhecer e analisar suas histórias de vida e trajetórias profissionais, em particular seus saberes do trabalho, na perspectiva de saber como se tornaram costureiras. Participaram da pesquisa quatro costureiras moradoras do município de Esteio, RS, com mais de 60 anos de idade, que trabalham há mais de quarenta anos com costura, confeccionando peças por encomenda, de forma autônoma e no espaço doméstico. Para tal, foi realizado um percurso metodológico inspirado nas histórias de vida e biografias formadoras, entrevista narrativa e entrevista reflexiva. Serviram de base, para este estudo os referenciais da ergologia sobre o debate de normas, os usos de si e os saberes Schwartz (2000, 2003), o conceito de artífice, Sennet (2013) e, sobre trajetórias profissionais, Franzoi (2006). Foram realizadas entrevistas narrativas com cada uma das costureiras. O estudo mostrou trajetórias profissionais marcadas por questões de classe e de gênero, pelo distanciamento da educação formal e do espaço industrial de produção e suas formas. A formação e o processo de se tornar uma profissional da costura - uma costureira - se deu através do aprendizado com outras mulheres e diretamente na atividade de trabalho. A curiosidade, a necessidade de subsistência e o reconhecimento do trabalho, pela outra pessoa e por si mesma, foram fundamentais no seu processo de profissionalização. A costura como autônoma, realizada no espaço doméstico, foi responsável por grande parte, senão toda, do orçamento familiar. As entrevistas demonstraram uma invisibilidade dos saberes do trabalho para as próprias trabalhadoras que, ao longo da sua vida de trabalho, convocaram e renormalizaram seus conhecimentos de forma inconsciente. Saberes tão complexos transmitidos pelas mulheres, aprendidos, produzidos e mobilizados na atividade de trabalho são naturalizados e pouco valorizados de forma explícita por elas. Percebeu-se uma relação muito íntima e indissociável entre a execução e a concepção na atividade de trabalho e muitas aproximações com o trabalho artesanal e com a ideia de artífice: “fazer é pensar”. A criatividade, as renormalizações, certa autonomia sobre o trabalho, estão muito presentes na atividade dessas costureiras autônomas, além de se verificar uma diversidade e quantidade de saberes que estão além daqueles que formalmente (CBO) identificam uma costureira. São histórias de vida duras e de muito trabalho. Dar voz a essas histórias de vida e trabalho, socializar estas experiências, significa visibilizar saberes do trabalho, a história de aprender o ofício da costura e outros saberes que fazem parte da vida de muitas mulheres no espaço privado. São saberes e potências que podem e devem ser compartilhados e visibilizados visando ampliar autorreconhecimento, emancipação e empoderamento das mulheres. / This study investigated story of life and work of independent seamstresses from popular classes. The objective was to understand and analyze their life stories and professional careers, particularly their work knowledge, trying to know how they become seamstresses. The participants were four seamstresses residents of Esteio, RS, with an average age of 62 years, acting as seamstresses for over forty years, working independently and from home. To achieve it, a methodological approach inspired by the stories of life and forming biographies, narrative interview and reflective interview was conducted. The basis for this study are the ergology’s references about the rules debate, uses of self and knowledge from Schwartz (2000, 2003), the concept of craftsman, Sennet (2013) and professional careers, Franzoi (2006). Narrative interviews were conducted with each of the seamstresses. The study found professional careers marked by class and gender issues and the distance from the formal education and from industrial production space. The formation and the process of becoming a sewing professional - a seamstress - was through learning from other women and directly in the work activity. Curiosity, the need for livelihoods and recognition of the work by others and for their self, were instrumental in their professionalization process. The sewing as an independent, held in the home, was responsible for much, if not all, of the family budget. Interviews demonstrated the invisibility of knowledge of work for the own workers who, throughout their working life, used and renormalized their knowledge unconsciously. So complex knowledge transmitted by women, learned, produced and mobilized in work activity are naturalized and undervalued. It was realized a very intimate and inseparable link between the implementation and design in the work activities and many approaches with craftsman and with the idea of architect: "make is think". Creativity, the renormalizations, certain autonomy on the job, are very present in the activity of these independent seamstresses, in addition to assessing a variety and quantity of knowledge that are beyond those formally (CBO) identify a seamstress. Are stories of hard living and a lot of work. Give voice to the stories of life and work, socialize these experiences means making visible that work knowledge, the history of learning the craft of sewing and other knowledge that are part of life for many women in the private space. Are knowledge and powers that can and should be shared aimed to increase the self-recognition, emancipation and empowerment of women.