Bibliography: leaves 286-301. / Most of what little research has been done on South African lesbians has been based on a clinical perspective. This study is based on Kitzinger's (1987) British research on the social construction of lesbianism, which includes an analysis of seven accounts of lesbian identities elicited using Q methodology. The major aim of this research was to find the accounts of lesbian identities presented by some South African lesbians, as the first stage in examining the ways in which these identities are constructed. Auxiliary aims were to examine the accounts of the natures and roles of women and men in society (rather than having the women identify their feminist and non-feminist orientations) and to attempt to link these two sets of accounts. One hundred and six self-identified lesbians, located largely in the major urban areas, volunteered, and sixty participated fully in the research. The participants ranged in age from 17 to 58, with a mean of 30.4 years. The majority were in managerial and professional positions (50%) or students (23.3%); and roost had completed a minimum of Standard 10. Fifty-five are classified "white", three "black African", one "Asian" and one "coloured". A Q-sample (1) of 65 statements, using Kitzinger's broad definition of lesbianism as a guideline, was developed from various sources including correspondence with participants. A second Q-sample (2) was developed from feminist and non-feminist perspectives on women, men and society presented in this thesis. Volunteers were sent a demographic questionnaire, and all those who returned this were sent the Q-samples and a standard set of instructions for completing the Q-sorts. The principal components factor analytic technique, with varimax rotation, was used to analyse the completed Q-sorts. Fourteen factors were extracted for Q-sample 1, and accounts were developed from the resulting factor Q-sorts. Two accounts were discarded. The following twelve accounts of lesbian identities are presented: "born lesbian; and happy"; "feminist and happy"; "woman-loving-woman"; woman-choosing-woman"; "definitely lesbian, but no different from heterosexuals"; "no strong sense of lesbian identity"; "certainly lesbian, but not really happy"; "lesbian as fairly happy gay person"; "wanting to be a man"; "bisexuality: lesbianism as sexual identity"; "lesbianism as sexual rejection of men"; and "sinful and sorry". Thirteen factors were extracted from the analysis of Q-sample 2, and one of the resulting accounts was discarded. These accounts can generally be characterised as moderate, with some support for feminist propositions and a strong rejection of both conservative views about women and controversial feminist propositions. Attempts to link the two sets of accounts were unsuccessful for a number of reasons which are discussed. The research fulfils one criterion for feminist research in that many participants found the process of completing the Q-sorts valuable. The need for a post Q-sort interview to clarify accounts is stressed. Suggestions are made for research into the way these identities are constructed; and for investigations into the experiences of "black" lesbians.

No description available.

No description available.

This qualitative research study explores how racial identity and racial trauma impacts a chaplain's clinical work. In the study, I interviewed eleven professional chaplains who have experienced racial situations either in their past or in their work or both and how those experiences have influenced their professional growth. After evaluating the responses of the interview, I was able to determine a number of findings that I believe would be helpful as chaplains continue to provide spiritual support in the culturally diverse hospice and hospital settings.

For many individuals, their religious identity has played a very important role in the formation of their sense of self and identity. However, very little research has been conducted that examines what type of role religiosity may play in the formation of one's identity and sense of self. The purpose of this study is to examine the specific influences, and the degree of influence religiosity has on the commitment domain of identity. In this study, four measures of religiosity, and two measures of identity were combined into one survey, and then distributed to 65 participants. The results of the religiosity measures were compared with the scores form the identity measures. From there, the data was evaluated to identify any relationships between religiosity and identity commitment. Based on the results produced by this study, existential well-being and quest religious orientation yielded the highest correlations to identity commitment. In addition, existential well-being was related to identity diffusion. However, other dimensions of religiosity bore no significant relationships with identity.

Leung Po Cheung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-136). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgments --- p.iii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Research Questions / Background to the research / Research site / Methodology / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review and Theoretical Framework --- p.15 / Cultural identity and its relation to the past / The museum as a place for the creation and representation of the past / The museum as a place of identity construction / Chapter Chapter 3 --- The Development of the Hong Kong Museum of History and Its Exhibitions --- p.26 / Historical development of the Museum / Structure / Missions / The permanent exhibitions / Chapter Chapter 4 --- "The Design and Construction of Identity in ""The Hong Kong Story""" --- p.47 / "Behind ""The Hong Kong Story""" / Designing the exhibition / The construction of identity in the exhibition / Conclusion / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Interpretations of the Museum Visitors --- p.68 / Visitors' general interpretations of the exhibition / Impacts of the exhibition on visitors' cultural identity / Conclusion / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Analysis: The Museum and the Construction of Identity --- p.96 / The interpretations and negotiations of identity among the Hong Kong people / The Hong Kong Museum of History as a locus of identity construction / The visitors' different museum experiences / The political nature of the exhibition / Conclusion / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Conclusion --- p.121 / Appendix --- p.130 / Bibliography --- p.131

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2000. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-135).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2003. / Advisor: Dr. Ronald L. Mullis, Florida State University, College of Human Sciences, Dept. of Family and Child Sciences. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Jan. 15, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Not available / text

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences