Thesis (PH.D.) -- Syracuse University, 2006 / "Publication number AAT 3251805."

Thesis (PH.D.) -- Syracuse University, 2007. / "Publication number AAT 3266320"

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toronto, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

<p> This thesis uses a specific domestic violence case (<i> Town of Castle Rock v Gonzales</i>) to examine how domestic violence is currently constructed and addressed in the American legal system. In <i> Town of Castle Rock v Gonzales</i> (2005) the Supreme Court denied a domestic violence victim the opportunity to sue a police department for failure to enforce a restraining order. The Supreme Court&rsquo;s decision, which was based on a problematic notion of property, as well as the nature of mandatory arrest statutes, has had lasting implications for domestic violence victims and advocacy. </p><p> This thesis examines the continuing impact of <i>Castle Rock</i>, and argues that this ruling reveals profound inadequacies in the ways that domestic violence is handled by the American legal system. <i>Castle Rock</i>&rsquo;s ruling shows the challenges, limits and constraints of the current legal and criminal framework for grappling with domestic violence. Additionally, beyond just implications for domestic violence victims and advocacy, this case also illuminates troubling underlying conception of women as citizens, and their relationship with property. Property, and what constitutes a property interest, formed the core of the Supreme Court&rsquo;s ruling, and due to the long history of property and gender, and property and citizenship, the inability of the Court to find a property interest in a restraining order raises troubling ideas regarding women as citizens. Finally, <i>Castle Rock</i>&rsquo;s impact extends beyond just domestic violence, as the Court&rsquo;s unwillingness to hold police departments accountable underlines the importance of appropriate ways to limit state power, or hold state actors responsible for their actions (or lack thereof). </p><p> <i>Castle Rock</i> was a disturbing holding that ignored the context of gender inequality and other structural inequalities that influenced the case. More than a dozen years later, the problem of the state&rsquo;s duty to protect, and lack of options to seek redress when the state fails to do so, remains. Even though protective orders and criminal prosecution are flawed approaches to solving the problem of domestic violence, a reversal of <i>Castle Rock</i> would not only provide the promise of justice for domestic violence victims, but would represent a demonstrated interest in holding state actors responsible for their actions against citizens.</p><p>

<p> This dissertation includes three essays that present a quantitative analysis of the policy implications of gender equality and religious attitudes as predictors of terrorism at the state level using a broad dataset. Essay one focuses on impact of gender equality, especially women's political empowerment on terrorism, both domestic and transnational. The second essay examines both gender equality attitudes and actual outcomes in social, economic and political spheres, to measure their effect on terrorism. The third essay analyzes the relation of religiousness in a society with incidents and lethality of terrorism. The overall findings of this thesis suggest that attitudes and norms of gender equality matter with regard to terrorism, but practices and outcomes matter more. Results also indicate that religious attitudes of a society are associated with lethality of terror attack. These findings have important policy implications for rethinking prevention of terrorism in an effective and innovative manner. The results strongly support investment in women's rights programs, promotion of religious tolerance and provision of social services as indirect policy solutions to curb the conditions that foster terrorism.</p>

<p> From the beginning of women&rsquo;s entry into government and politics, namely the suffrage movement, the male lead political system did not embrace women&rsquo;s involvement. While women have played an influential role in the political system, they were largely relegated to supporting roles. However, within the past century, women have become a stronger force in policy making and continue to shatter the stereotypes that has persisted through the years. </p><p> The purpose of this study was to examine how specific leadership traits and characteristics have contributed to the career progress of 6 elected women who represent California constituents within the local, state, and federal levels of the U.S. legislative system. By exploring the leadership traits and characteristics of women political leaders, this research can (a) contribute to the scholarly studies of women political leaders, (b) provide information for women who aspire to serve in a political office, (c) offer an oral history and a rare personal perspective of current-day women political leaders, and (d) further the dialog regarding women&rsquo;s participation in the political arena. </p><p> This study used a qualitative design and an ethnographic research methodology to evaluate and elicit information on the shared experience of the elected women. The researcher used a purposive sampling strategy to select the participants who were women currently seated in elected positions at the local, state, and federal level of California government. </p><p> Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Each participant was videotaped and the transcripts of the videotape, along with the notes were the data source for the study. The information was analyzed and grouped by themes. The data yielded 7 themes the participants self reported as the key traits, skills, and characteristics that are important to their political success: (a) responsibility, (b) sociability, (c) relationships, (d) consensus building, (e) self-confidence, (f) cooperativeness, and (g) persistence. The video analysis produced results that showed participants&rsquo; nonverbal mannerisms were consistent with the themes they identified as important in their success.</p>

<p> As nations have become far more interconnected by means of globalization in the 21st century, the issues that affect one nation often have affects upon others. As India is a nation with a population of more than 1.2 billion, the issues that affect the nation also affect others. As an assault in Delhi, India made international news on December 16, 2012, the international community has become more aware of the incidents of gender-based violence that exist within the country. The ramifications of the international community's knowledge of the assault included a drastic decrease in both its international reputation and its tourism industry. As tourism provided 6.6% of its total GDP in 2012, it is an industry that is integral to the development of the nation. In order for India to increase its reputation and its tourism industry, gender-based violence in the form of assault and trafficking must be eradicated. This thesis will discuss the roots of gender-based violence specifically in India, and a case study of India's fight against colonialism will be used as an example of how a sense of nationalism was essential in meeting the goal of the nation at that time. As colonialism and gender-based violence are both 'enemies' to a nation's autonomy and reputation, this thesis will analyze the fact that the nation's ability to form a cohesive national identity, as it did during British rule, is essential for it to achieve its 2013 goals.</p>