Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, December 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Feb. 18, 2010). "College of Education." Includes bibliographical references (p. 132-146).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-83).

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1974. / Typewritten.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 90 p. Includes abstract.

Several social forces shape and influence one’s identity. The interaction of race, ethnicity, gender, and social class creates lenses through which a person experiences life and reality. These variables must be understood as they relate to each other to gain a better understanding of an individual’s life experiences. This study aimed to expand research on identity development and contribute to research on intersecting identities among American women of Mexican descent. The first goal of the proposed study was understanding feminism among American women of Mexican descent. Gathering data on the feminist perspectives of these women assisted in dispelling stereotypes that exist regarding this population. The second goal centered on examining the salience of an ethnic and feminist identity within this population. The study explored conflicts related to holding these identities simultaneously. The proposed study also examined the relationship between an achieved identity (such as ethnicity and feminism) to self-esteem. Consistent with past research, using the label feminist was related to feminist beliefs. Findings further demonstrated that those women that simultaneously identify as feminists and of Mexican descent scored higher on measures of feminist and ethnic identity. Analyses showed that participants identified more with an ethnic identity than a feminist identity. In this study, women with higher levels of feminist identity were likely to have higher levels of ethnic identity. Furthermore, women that simultaneously identified as feminists and of Mexican descent experienced some conflict in relation to family relationships, spiritual life, employment or school life, and personal relationships. Participants’ responses to open-ended questions regarding conflict provide context to empirical findings; responses suggest different ways of managing conflicts regarding feminist identification in the areas of family relationships, employment, spiritual life, and personal relationships. This study provides relevant information for professionals working with women of Mexican descent. Understanding the interaction of salient identities, such as ethnicity and feminism, may result in improved counseling treatment models for women of Mexican descent. / text

The purpose of this study is to investigate the connection between people and the hill of Bennachie in the Garioch region of North-East Scotland. The scholarly aim is to complete an inter-disciplinary study in Folkloristics and Anthropology and to enhance ethnological method with landscape theory. The methodology for the fieldwork involved a mix of qualitative research carried out through participant observation and oral history interviews. Whilst the focus of the interviews was on a core group of community volunteers, fieldwork ranged from solitary walking to group participation. Midway through the fieldwork an archival survey was commissioned and this information was used to complement the fieldwork and introduce a collaborative perspective. With a dual methodological focus the thesis approached community relationships with landscape through diverse routes: personal narrative; poetry; the dynamics of community woodland groups, and the interpretation and management of a twentieth century farm ruin. These appear to be very different scales of analysis, yet each topic was heavily influenced by the legacy of land change and clearance in Scotland during the Agricultural Improvements. Each element is related to landscape physically, particularly through walking, and are individual and group performances that generate and reproduce moral values. The principal conclusion is that relationships between people and land in North-East Scotland have been misrepresented through a historic and scholarly legacy of dispossession. Coupled with this misrepresentation is the continuing belief in the North-East that farm lifestyles and dialect is dead or dying. This thesis underlines an alignment between Improvement and antifeudalistic discourse with walking and looking in Scotland. It demonstrates the continuing primacy of landscape and language through looking at, walking on and writing about Bennachie. Landscape attachment is exemplified in these performances and demonstrates a strong co-constitutive relationship between the ‘Lan and the Fowk'.

No description available.

This qualitative study aims to describe and understand the cultural identities of people of "mixed" backgrounds whose mother comes from one racial, ethnic or national background and whose father comes from another background. In-depth, individual interviews were conducted with nine people of "mixed" backgrounds in order to understand the meanings that particular racial, ethnic or national labels have for them and how those meanings are constructed. My analysis is shaped by the works of Hall (1996, 2003), Taylor (1989, 1992) and Bourdieu (1986, 1990) among others. The participants claimed multiple labels in ambivalent ways. They spoke about what they know or do not know about the culture, connections to people and places, languages and customs, physical features and values. They take on various positionings depending on the discourses that are available and the meanings that they negotiate in their daily encounters. I conclude with the implications the findings may have for policymakers, identity politics and educators and with future research directions.

The tattooing culture has been associated with negativity and danger for much of the Western culture’s history (Atkinson, 2003; Caplan, 2000; DeMello, 2000). Recently,a shift has occurred in which the practice of tattooing has become a method of expression and a tool in illustrating one’s identity. Despite this transition, there continues to be hesitation against the tattooing culture regarding acceptance in the collegiate and professional setting (Manuel & Sheehan, 2007). The strongest hesitation seems to be toward females with tattoos based on our society’s beauty ideals and expectations of feminine expression and behavior (Atkinson, 2002; Atkinson, 2003). Through means of qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven tattooed, female, undergraduate students. Their experiences were transcribed and the data were analyzed using coding (Strauss and Corbin, 1990) to identify prominent themes among the participants. The women shared their experiences of why they chose tattooing to express their ideas and shared the meaningful stories that inspired the art they have or will be getting. They also shared many stories of disapproval or mistreatment as a result of being a tattooed female. There was particular connection between disapproval and generational beliefs as well as religious beliefs. The college environment was an overall positive environment for the women to be, however stories were shared of mistreatment or judgment from the classroom or particular areas of study. Suggestions were presented for those who work in the college setting with students who might be of this sub-population. / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only. / Department of Educational Studies

Our everyday lives can be complex and fast paced. Places, people, sounds and memories all make lasting impressions. "Identity" is the title and basis for my creative project. My identity has been created though a series of memories or impressions. Songs, stories, the media, location and other people have had a great impact on my personal development.I have taken all these influences into account while creating my thesis works. I questioned myself in different ways. "Whom do I relate to? What songs describe me? Through these question, I found icons and images that formed my personal identity. The difference between what is and what appears to be.Is identity created or do we create identity? The question may seem philosophical, but I do not consider myself a philosopher. My series "Identity", documents my investigation of self, a deconstruction of society that has and has not formed my artistic identity. / Department of Art