<p> By now scholars, practitioners, government officials and others in the global community have witnessed a number of countries and their populations going through extreme destruction and trying to rebuild in the aftermath. Country case studies are invaluable for their in-depth, continuous look at how a nation-state collective and the individuals who make up that collective recover, regroup, develop, but also remain very harmed for a long time. They must live among and beside their former enemies.</p><p> Studies of the resettlement of refugees in a third country offer a different view: there are varied populations arriving with different socio-cultural and economic histories and experiences, and different definitions of a normalcy to which they aspire. They are in a setting that is much different than what characterized their pre-war experiences, and they do not have to rebuild out of ashes in the place that they were born.</p><p> Refugees from various countries resettling in a third country have so much in common with each other from the experience of extreme violence and having to resettle in a foreign land that one key informant suggested that we think about a &ldquo;refugee ethnicity.&rdquo; Though they would not have wished for them, they have gained numerous new identification possibilities not available to those in the country of origin: U.S. citizen, hybrid, diaspora, cosmopolitan global citizen; refugee/former refugee survivors.</p><p> But the &ldquo;fit&rdquo; of these identities vary, because the receiving society may perceive individuals and families along a continuum of belonging vs. &ldquo;othering.&rdquo; In the post-9-11 era in the U.S., the &ldquo;belonging&rdquo; as a citizen and member of the imagined community of the nation that a refugee or former refugee is able to achieve may be precarious. Will refugees resettling turn out to be vectors of socio-political disease, infecting the new host? Or will they be vectors of development and agents of host revitalization as they realize adversity-activated development in a new environment?</p><p> The U.S. &ldquo;host environment&rdquo; has changed considerably since the modern era of resettlement began in the 1970s and then passed through the dramatic incidents of 9-11. The &ldquo;hosts&rdquo; have now also undergone an experience of extreme political violence. U.S. institutions are responding to the events and subsequent wars, and have themselves been changed as they adjust practices and policies in response to the trauma experienced by the people they are meant to serve.</p><p> Much is in play. The times beg for a better understanding of refugees&rsquo; social experiences of resettlement in a new country, the forms of suffering and marginalization they face, and the healing processes in which they engage. We need a far better understanding of what it takes to assist refugees as they work to re-constitute social networks, recover economically, find opportunity and meaning, pursue goals, and&mdash;with receiving communities--express solidarity across social dividing lines.</p><p> This dissertation calls out this problematic; and analyzes it at the multi-stakeholder site of refugee resettlement.</p>

<p>An exploratory, action research approach was used with adult Karen-Refugees (n = 26) separated by sex (male/female) in focus group sessions. The aim of the study was to explore a cultural-, context-specific definition of resilience and the factors that may contribute to resilience in resettlement using an ecological framework. In vivo coding techniques were used resulting in several themes. Results suggested a definition of resilience that encompassed a sense of gratitude, positive outlook, and resourcefulness; demonstrating a strong work ethic and perseverance, and moving towards a sense of community and belonging. Factors contributing to resilience in resettlement include language and availability of resources, the importance and value of education, the availability of other resources in the community (e.g., employment), a supportive civil society, special care for the elderly, and opportunities for the exhibition of cultural- pride, and preservation, which lead to a sense of community and belonging. Implications for prevention and intervention services are discussed along with contributions to literature pertaining to international psychology, resilience, and refugee research.

<p> The purpose of the grounded theory study was to understand and explain factors affecting the well-being of Korean MKs studying at universities in America. While various factors emerged from the data, three categories of factors dominated the three distinct stages of the MKs&rsquo; adjustment process: financial factors, social factors, and spiritual factors. Even though all three were present throughout the three stages, the factors manifested themselves differently in each of the stages. </p><p> In the early stage, a plethora of negative factors permeated the Korean MK&rsquo;s life. Negative factors outweighed positive factors all three main categories: financial, social, and spiritual. Additional negative factors also hindered Korean MKs&rsquo; adjustment in America. </p><p> In the middle stage, positive financial, social, and spiritual factors increased, and negative financial, social, and spiritual factors decreased. The financial, social, and spiritual factors interacted dynamically, resulting in a net gain in positive influences over negative ones. The major distinction at this stage was that social and spiritual factors have a greater impact on Korean MKs&rsquo; lives than did financial factors. </p><p> In the later stage, financial factors rarely affected Korean MKs deeply. Moreover, by this time they had cultivated continuous and mature social relationships, and their spirituality and faith continue to improve. Above all, most of the MKs testified that their relationship with God was the most important thing in their lives because it affected every part of their life (e.g., friendships, studies, physical and even mental health). Overall, most of the Korean MKs had entered a state of well-being.</p>

<p> This inquiry has engaged master dowsers in conversation about their lived experiences with the practice of dowsing, how it has affected and influenced their lives. The history of dowsing, including its folklore, master dowsers throughout history distributed across numerous countries, is offered as contextual background of the lineage to which these individuals belong. Controversies regarding the validity of dowsing and how it functions are discussed. The multitude of tests of dowsers and dowsing are described. Mindfulness practice is explored as a bridge to the dowsing mind state. It is hoped that the information and insight gleaned from this inquiry will support the hypothesis that students will benefit by learning dowsing skills to enhance and expand their mental and emotional capacities.</p>

<p> A qualitative methodology employing an auto-ethnography, face-to-face interviews, and an online survey investigates: 1) how American gondoliers experience, interact with, and fulfill romantic expectations of couples, 2) what couples experience when encountering gondola boats, gondoliers, and the landscape of Naples and Alamitos Bay, and 3) why gondola cruising is significant for the neighborhood of Naples, its adjacent communities, and the City of Long Beach. Results provide insight on the experience of romantic spaces, the relations, subjectivities, and dispositions of workers (gondoliers) and clientele (couples), issues of gender and ethnicity, the culture and performances of American gondoliers, and maritime landscapes as workplace. This study shows American gondola boats, gondoliers, and canals work together to socially construct, authenticate, and embody a romantic sense of place throughout the landscapes of Naples and Alamitos Bay, which benefits the tourism of Long Beach, California by attracting visitors wishing to experience romance in a special way.</p>

<p> Contemporary urban mothers experience many challenges, even those in the middle class. Many of the challenges they face stem from western socio-economic and political systems. The present study recognizes the modern complexities of urban parenting and examines how and why many women are coming together in what I call social support peer networks, in order to mediate the plethora of challenges mothers experience today. </p><p> This research explores the &ldquo;mommy group&rdquo; phenomenon, through the ethnographic study of one such Southern California group, the &ldquo;Family Cooperative,&rdquo; which has adopted the adage &ldquo;it takes a village to raise a child&rdquo; in response to mothers&rsquo; feelings that &ldquo;you can&rsquo;t do it alone.&rdquo; This mother-centered study recognizes the fact that urban residents of the U.S. no longer live in small, traditional villages, yet still need socio-emotional support while raising their children. As such this research examines the ways in which these urban mothers come together, and why they do so. </p><p> In this research I found that flexibility in participation allowed a variety of mothers to participate &ldquo;at will,&rdquo; and to have access to the type and amount of resources they required and desired. The close-knit core expressed the greatest appreciation and shared the most resources, such as material goods and child-sharing. Peripheral members, including some that only participate online, especially appreciated the sharing of vetted informational resources and the camaraderie found in the online forums. All of the participants expressed an appreciation for access to a community that helps alleviate the fears of motherhood. These fears stem from the confusing mothering ideologies in particular, and lead to uncertainty about being a &ldquo;good mother,&rdquo; and the subsequent fear of judgment that is pervasive in urban motherhood today.</p>

<p> The Occupy movement galvanized people from across the United States and around the world to stand up against corporate profiteering and political corruption. The revolutionary energy spread from community to community and Occupiers began to create a reality moving beyond racism, hierarchy, and patriarchy. Feminist activists, both women and men, had a major voice in Occupy. They called into question sexist behavior, unrecognized privilege and gender inequality in conjunction with other forms of oppression. Unfortunately the breakdown of the encampments and the backlash in the mainstream media led to a critical view of the movement. In reality, Occupiers formed networks of mutual aid which continue to expand and transform today. </p><p> Based on ethnographic research conducted at Occupy Los Angeles and Occupy Long Beach, this thesis project explores a feminist perspective of the Occupy movement. Inspired by applied visual anthropology and new media, Occupy Feminism is an interactive zine interspersed with writing, photographs and videos. This project is an educational resource for those who want to understand feminist theory, the Occupy movement and how they intersect.</p>

<p> First created in 1974, the largest table-top role-playing game (RPG) <i> Dungeons &amp; Dragons</i> (D&amp;D) started out as a war game where multiple players could join in and fight monsters. Grounded in fantasy conventions and as a way to explore fantasy genres, <i>Dungeons &amp; Dragons</i> popularity continued through new editions and add-ons. In addition, <i> Dungeons &amp; Dragons</i> legacy has lived on in the gaming world as the father of most RPGs and fantasy games with a large fan following across various editions and over multiple decades. The fan following is still evident today due to D&amp;D's foundations in high fantasy. An exploration of the ways in which fantasy narrative plays a role in the fan culture of D&amp;D is necessary to understand how the aspects of fantasy affect gameplay and how players view D&amp;D. By conducting a study of <i>Dungeons &amp; Dragons </i> players which focused on close game play, players' relationships to other fantasy genres, and how players interacted with game conventions, I explored the ways in which <i>Dungeons &amp; Dragons</i> introduced players to fantasy and how they participated in a fandom. This paper will present the findings of the study as well as situate <i>Dungeons &amp; Dragons</i> in relationship to other fantasy and gaming subcultures. </p><p>

<p> Over the past five years, American public opinion on homosexuality has rapidly shifted in a more positive direction. Its subjugation exemplifies how an intimate and singular topic can be used to ignite and potentially misguide the American people, resulting in violent demonstration and even death. Although public opinion has shifted towards a greater acceptance of homosexuality, viewpoints are still very polarized. In addition to the available literature, elements from the complete data set of the General Social Survey (1972&ndash;2014) were analyzed to better understand this polarization that persists. Subject-specific variables concerning homosexuality were extrapolated and simple Ordinary Least Squares regression models were tested using STATA version SE 12.1. The evidence gathered supports this thesis&rsquo; assertion that Snyder&rsquo;s theory of hope, when applied to the topic of homosexuality, provides a uniquely useful and alternative lens through which to explain the polarization of current public opinion about homosexuality in America.</p><p>

<p> This thesis examines how a nutrition transition effects identity, locality, and economy in a Q&rsquo;eqchi&rsquo; Maya <i>aldea</i> (hamlet) near Livingston, Guatemala, located along the Caribbean coast. The data collected explore community members&rsquo; attitudes and behaviors regarding food consumption, food sources, and health&mdash;both individual and familial. This thesis examines the structuralist categories community members created within a larger discussion of the effects of globalization and economic development on indigenous communities. Analysis explored how external processed food companies profit by hijacking internal cultural attributes. Findings indicate that, as community members have had consistent contact with external forces for at least 25 years, local notions of healthiness have accommodated processed foods into the diet. Based on these findings, this research enhances our understandings of how processed food companies have used marketing and branding to insert themselves into rural communities&mdash;what Thomas Leatherman calls &ldquo;Coca Colonization.&rdquo; </p><p>