"What were the backgrounds of the people who enrolled in clothing construction classes in the adult home economics program in Pinellas County, Florida, in 1974-75? In more detail, what was their marital status? What were their age ranges? How many children under 18 did they have living at home? What was their employment status? What were their educational and economic levels? Were they United States citizens? How long had they lived in the State of Florida and in Pinellas County? Were they year-round residents? How did they learn about the clothing construction class?"--Introduction. / Typescript. / "August, 1975." / "Submitted to the Department of Home Economics Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science." / Advisor: Mary Lee Hurt, Professor Directing Paper. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 31-32).

Refugee resettlement agencies provide services to help new refugees develop skills that will allow them to achieve self-sufficiency. Prior research has indicated that leveraging skills and talents is not an easy process for refugee women, who face barriers and difficulties in the transition to a new culture. Researchers have found that financial stability, English comprehension skills, and ability to adopt a new work system are important factors that affect this process. The experiences of Kurdish refugee women with finding employment in the United States have not been explored in past research. Using empowerment theory, this qualitative case study describes the experiences of Kurdish/Middle Eastern refugee women with employment in the Southwestern United States. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 8 Kurdish refugee women who lived in Southwest, used resettlement services; and were employed at the time of the study. Participants were voluntarily recruited with the help of 2 resettlement agencies in North Texas. An inductive analysis method was used to analyze the interview data. Employment services are available to all refugee women as part of the services provided by resettlement agencies; however, only those who are ready to enter the workforce can benefit from these services. Participants described their experience of being refugee women seeking employment as difficult and scary. However, participants also expressed that this experience had allowed them to become women with voices, rights, options, and opportunities. The outcomes of this study support the development of culturally relevant programs to serve and empower refugee women to receive quality employment services and bring attention to employment services for refugee women.

"This study was conceived, developed and carried out in order to: (1) determine whether or not there was any difference in reasons given for enrolling in adult clothing construction classes by participants who were enrolled in first semester classes and those who were enrolled in second semester classes; (2) identify reasons why women in Pinellas County enrolled in adult clothing construction classes; and (3) relate the reasons for enrolling in adult clothing construction classes to (a) marital status, (b) age of participant, (c) educational level, and (d) annual family income to participation in adult clothing construction classes"--Introduction. / Typescript. / "August, 1975." / "Submitted to the Department of Home Economics Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science." / Advisor: Mary Lee Hurt, Professor Directing Paper. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-49).