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This dissertation examines the overlap of the racial composition of a neighborhood and the existence of a dual mortgage market in which prime and subprime lenders serve different neighborhoods and borrowers. Does subprime lending represent the democratization of credit or does it serve to track people by race? This dissertation employs Home Mortgage Disclosure Act Data, U.S. Census Data and the HUD Subprime Lender List to identify subprime loans. I use Hierarchical Linear Modeling to predict the likelihood of subprime for a borrower in Philadelphia, Baltimore, San Francisco and Alameda County California. The findings demonstrate that blacks and borrowers in black neighborhoods have a higher likelihood of originating a subprime loan than whites or borrowers in white neighborhoods. Further, blacks borrowing in largely white neighborhoods have an even higher likelihood of originating a subprime loan compared to their white neighbors than do blacks borrowing in largely black neighborhoods. These findings indicate that subprime lenders not only serve different neighborhoods, but also different borrowers regardless of the neighborhood in which they are borrowing and support the existence of a dual mortgage market that is defined by race. The results from the analysis examining the consequences of subprime lending for neighborhoods indicate that after controlling for neighborhood characteristics, the positive relationship between earlier and later rates of subprime lending disappears. Also, while higher rates of subprime refinance lending were associated with a decrease in neighborhood median income in 2000, subprime lending was associated with positive changes in median house value and percent of homeowners that are black in the neighborhood, although the effects of subprime on median house value disappeared after controlling for neighborhood conditions. The study points to the continued difficulties that black borrowers and borrowers in black neighborhoods face in obtaining a fair loan. As lending practices are reformed, it is important to keep in mind the need to ensure that minority borrowers who are in the position to afford a home loan maintain the ability to get a loan, but increased care must be taken to ensure that they obtain the ability to do so on fair terms. / Sociology

This ethnography explores the interracial encounters between individuals in a biracial old-line Protestant congregation. Using the theoretical framework of aversive racism, this dissertation suggests that an individual's racial paranoia and racial identity attitude helps to explain the way that white members interact with black members and the way they perceive these encounters. This dissertation addresses the questions: How do members of a biracial congregation interact across race? How do they engage in discussions about race? How does racial identity attitude inform their perspectives? It draws upon data collected over two periods: a two-month pilot study and a nine-month dissertation study. Data include field notes from more than 240 hours of observations during 80 visits, and transcripts of interviews with 17 people (nine black, eight white; two pastors, two staff, 13 members; ages 21 to 76) which averaged 2½-hours each. This dissertation describes three findings. (1) White members have learned to comfortably co-exist with black members in worship but have not developed deep enough relationships to learn from them the extent of racism that survives in the post Civil Rights era. (2) Misconceptions among white members about what is "politically correct" stifle constructive interracial dialogue about race issues and lead to aversive behaviors that have a racist effect for African American members. (3) With only modest social interaction across race and little dialogue about race, white members of the congregation hold markedly different perceptions than black members about the interracial life of this church and the problem with racism there. These findings are significant because they help us to understand the obstacles which this nation must address in order to respond to the complexities of race in urban America, of which this congregation offers a microcosm. / Urban Education

The purpose of this study was to generate substantive theory on the bereavement process. A qualitative research design, grounded theory, was used to analyze the experience of bereavement for Mexican American widows. Research questions addressed were: What is the process of bereavement for Mexican American widows? What factors are associated with the bereavement process for Mexican American widows? Theory discovery was accomplished using the grounded theory methodology. Interviews were conducted with nineteen Mexican American widows who had been bereaved for approximately 18 months. Theoretical sampling involved the use of interviews and observations triangulated with scientific and popular literature. The constant comparative method of analytic induction was used for the analysis of data, in order to identify the elements and structure of the theory. A basic social process, Reorganizing a New Me, was identified as the core category of the theory. Reorganizing a New Me is the continuous process used by Mexican American widows in order to adjust and adapt to widowhood. The process includes four subcategories: (a) Feeling the Void is defined as the efforts of monitoring or becoming aware of the loss and highlighted the uncertainty that accompanied the experience, (b) My Mind and Body explains the Mexican American widow's work of resolving her grief in the form of culturally sanctioned idioms and emotional expressions, (c) Confronting the Paradox is defined as the centralization of the thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that represented the concerns and compensations of being a widow, and (d) Tempering explains the work of adapting to the process of becoming a widow. Coping strategies that Mexican American widows utilized during this process were also identified. The significance of the study for nursing is that it (a) sensitizes nurses and other health professionals to the bereavement process and coping strategies for Mexican American widows, (b) provides a map which can guide the assessment of the bereaved Mexican American widow, and (c) identifies a substantive theory on the bereavement process, which, through further study, can be raised to a formal theory on this transitional phase for women.

Cette thèse invite à reconceptualiser le récit dominant quant au parcours d’hommes immigrants de sexualités non normatives. Loin d’être une migration de la tradition vers la modernité, de l’oppression vers la libération, leur parcours est davantage un récit complexe de mobilité et de visibilité inscrit dans des rapports sociaux inégaux. Loin d’être un déchirement entre une «communauté ethnique» homophobe et la «communauté gaie» raciste, leur récit en est un de liens affectifs (r)établis au fil d’interactions sociales significatives. À l’intersection de normes multiples et contradictoires, on constate un processus de (re)formation de subjectivités, à la fois contraintes et habilités par ces normes. Deux corpus sont conjugués, soit l’analyse critique des représentations visuelles et textuelles de la différence ethnique et religieuse dans trois principaux magazines gais québécois et l’analyse par théorisation ancrée d’entretiens semi-dirigés. Ces entretiens ont été menés à Montréal auprès de trente hommes immigrants ayant des relations amoureuses et/ou sexuelles avec d’autres hommes. Les images analysées montrent une tendance à réduire le corps d’hommes de couleur à des objets érotiques et exotiques sur les couvertures des magazines. De plus, les textes avancent un récit de libération sexuelle par la migration qui reproduit les dichotomies dominantes. Un récit beaucoup plus complexe émerge toutefois de l’analyse des entretiens. D’une part, l’expérience de la migration est modulée par divers phénomènes sociaux au-delà de la seule libération sexuelle et l’homophobie se révèle insuffisante pour comprendre le statut des sexualités non normatives, tant dans les pays d’origine que dans les «communautés ethniques» : c’est davantage l’hétéronormativité qui a pour effet de rendre inférieures certaines pratiques de genre et de sexualités. D’autre part, l’expérience de cette visibilité contrainte ne s’exprime que très partiellement par l’idée du «placard» : ces hommes expriment plutôt le vaste potentiel d’expérience d’un espace «tacite» permettant, pour plusieurs, de vivre leur sexualité non normative sans la dire explicitement. Au contraire du rejet des accommodements religieux exprimé dans les magazines gais, les entretiens montrent finalement un réel potentiel d’accommodation du religieux et du sexuel qui, en dépit de tensions, préserve la foi religieuse ou spiritualité tout en vivant la sexualité. / This thesis calls for reconceptualising the dominant narrative about the life course of immigrant men with non-normative sexualities. Far from being a migration from tradition to modernity, from oppression to liberation, their life course is a more complex story of mobility and visibility inscribed in unequal social relations. Far from being torn between a homophobic "ethnic community" and a racist "gay community", their story is one of (re)established bonds over significant social interactions. At the intersection of multiple and conflicting norms, there is a process of (re)formation of subjectivities, both constrained and empowered by these norms. Two corpuses are combined: a critical discourse analysis of visual and textual representations of ethnic and religious difference in three major gay magazines in Québec and a grounded theory analysis of semi-structured interviews. These interviews were conducted in Montréal with thirty immigrant men who have love and/or sexual relationships with other men. The images show a tendency to reduce the body of men of color to exotic and erotic objects on magazines’ covers. In addition, the texts bring forward a narrative of sexual liberation by migration which reproduces the dominant dichotomies. A much more complex story emerges, however, from the interviews’ analysis. On the one hand, the experience of migration is modulated by various social phenomena beyond the single sexual liberation and homophobia is insufficient to understand the status of non-normative sexualities both in countries of origin and "ethnic communities": it is rather heteronormativity that renders inferior some sexual and gender practices. On the other hand, the experience of visibility constraints is only very partially signified by the idea of a "closet": these men rather express the vast potential for experiences in a "tacit" space, allowing many to live their non-normative sexuality without telling it explicitly. Finally, contrary to the rejection of religious accommodations expressed in gay magazines, interviews show a real potential for accommodation of religion and sexuality that, despite tensions, maintains religious faith or spirituality while living sexuality.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between cognitive style, ethnicity, and level of educational attainment for women on welfare as they compared with women employed by agencies receiving government funding. / Theories of cognitive style and moral development reviewed included those of Perry (1970), Belenky, Clinchy, Goldberger and Tarule (1986), Kohlberg (1968), Gilligan (1982), Shade (1991), and Dixon (1976). / The sample was comprised of one hundred Project Independence participants who attended the Career Quest Workshop at Florida State University. Additional data were collected from a comparison group of one hundred women employed by agencies receiving government funding. / The S-N and J-P factors of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (1992) were used to measure cognitive style. No statistically significant differences were found between the cognitive styles of women on welfare and employed women. Both groups tended to score toward the S and J ends of the continuum. Although both African-Americans and Euro- Americans scored predominantly at the S and J ends of the scales, contrary to theory, Euro-Americans tended to score significantly farther toward the N. / Although differences in cognitive style were not apparent between women on welfare and employed women, there were other notable differences between the groups which carry implications for welfare reform. Women on welfare had twice as many children as employed women, had their first child at an earlier age, and completed less years of education. Education on the far-reaching effects of early childbirth is vital to prevent teenage pregnancy, which interrupts the educational process and leaves these women with limited ability to support their children. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-08, Section: A, page: 3058. / Major Professor: James P. Sampson, Jr. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.

Statement of problem. The role of mother as caregiver and its influences on health and survival of children has been widely studied. Reports in the literature suggest that positive paternal involvement in woman care and child care is correlated with the positive developmental status of children. The current study was designed to identify which factors are associated with fathers' involvement in housework, and in child care. Furthermore, the research sought to identify associations between specific aspects of fathers' involvement and nutritional status and development of children Methods. This was a cross-sectional study based on a random sample of 547 children less than three years of age and their biological parents from intact families. The main outcome variables were child nutritional and developmental status. Predictor variables represented two domains of father's involvement. Other independent/control variables included factors related to the household, parent and child. Multivariable linear modeling and multivariable logistic regression modeling were conducted using a combination of stepwise and hierarchical approaches in data analysis Result. Results from the analyses indicated that fathers having a later born child were about 6 times more likely to be involved in housework. Fathers who express positive attitudes toward involvement in housework were 2.61 times more likely to be involved in housework. Early paternal involvement, urban residence and high economic status of the household were associated with father's involvement in daily child care. Fathers who were involved early in the child's life were about 1.9 times more likely to be involved in sleeping with children and about 3 times more likely to bring the child to medical facilities for immunizations. Children whose fathers did not bring them to the medical facilities for immunizations were about 1.7 times more likely to be malnourished. Children who did not sleep with their fathers are about 1.5 times more likely to be categorized as having suspected developmental delay Conclusion. The involvement of fathers may strengthen the contributions women can make to the health and development of their children. Early involvement of fathers and paternal involvement in bringing the children for immunizations should be encouraged by health care providers / acase@tulane.edu

The purpose of this study was to clarify what particular types of parental involvement (Achievement Values, Home-Based, School-Based, & Intellectual) were most important in predicting achievement outcomes in high school African American adolescents. In doing so, the current study also examined how perceived teacher support and family contextual variables influenced parents' level of involvement with their high school adolescents. The participants were 145 African American parents/guardians of high school students from two large urban southern and southwestern cities. Results indicated that home-based involvement was the most important involvement measure for predicting school achievement. However, actual adolescent school achievement was dependent on perceived teacher support above and beyond that of the parental involvement measures. Also, parental education was the most important family contextual variable in determining if parents engaged in behaviors that promoted student learning. Implications for how school psychologists can help improve parental involvement and the school achievement of African American adolescents are discussed / acase@tulane.edu

The primary aim of this dissertation is to examine the origins and nature of Somali nationalism. Studies on the subject are limited in terms of volume and scope of reach. Virtually all the current studies on Somali nationalism have approached the subject from an ethnicist/organic perspective, and, as such, treat Somali nationalism as an ethno-cultural movement. This dissertation seeks (a) to test the validity of the ethnicist/organic hypothesis; and (b) to expand the purview of the study on the subject In the first case, the aim is to see whether or not Somali nationalism was inspired by the ethno-cultural characteristics of the nation. Contrary to the findings of the previous studies, this research found out that such objective characteristics as race, religion, language, history, etc. had little or no effect on the development of Somali nationalism. True these issues were sometimes raised by Somali leaders during the nationalist struggle, but they were expressed as political grievances against the colonial administrations rather than as sources of nationalist inspirations In the second, this dissertation seeks to expand the scope of the study on Somali nationalism and also to contribute to the literature on the subject. To this end, it offers a rival hypothesis to the ethnicist/organic explanations of the past, namely anti-colonial nationalism. Accordingly, it focuses on the character of the colonial administrations as the primary causes of Somali nationalism rather than on the natural qualities of the Somali nation. By doing so, this dissertation places the study of Somali nationalism in its proper regional, historical, and socio-political context / acase@tulane.edu

Violence against women is prevalent around the world, and takes place most often in intimate relationships. Given the link between physical and sexual violence and the risk of HIV infection, the issue of intimate partner violence (IPV) is of concern particularly in Africa where the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is high. Yet, few studies have examined the prevalence of IPV in Africa using population-based survey data. Drawing on the 2003 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey data, this study attempted to identify factors associated with (1) women's experience of IPV in the last 12 months by type of violence and (2) their zero-tolerance of wife beating, among 4091 ever-married women aged 15-49. Logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with each of the outcome. The risk of IPV was consistently high, across all three types of violence, among women of Luhya or Luo ethnic background, among women with four or more sons and daughters living at home, and among women, whose partners misused substance frequently. Residing in areas with a high concentration of men who agreed that a husband had the right to express anger if she refused to have sex with him had a significant and positive association with women's risk of physical violence in the last 12 months. On the other hand, having attained secondary or higher education protected women from the experience of both emotional and physical IPV. Women's zero-tolerance of wife beating saw positive associations with their achievement of secondary or higher education and with engaging in paid work in the last 12 months. Violence prevention programs may be more effective by empowering women through promoting higher education, collaborating with substance abuse prevention programs, and discouraging norms that justify husbands' right to express anger to control women / acase@tulane.edu