published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

The overarching question of this dissertation is do Latinos prefer co-ethnic candidates and if so, to what degree? I examine how Latinos evaluate co-ethnic candidates—both those who share one’s partisanship and who do not. In addressing the former, is the evaluation higher of a candidate who not only shares one’s partisanship but also ethnicity or is the double in-group status redundant? I then address a more complex question, how do Latinos evaluate Latino candidates who do not share their partisan identity. The dilemma of having contradictory social group identities places a voter at an electoral fork in the road. To understand which road the voter ultimately takes I consider individual ethnic social group identification and the substantive meanings of ethnic group categories. I look at how different dimensions of Latino group identity influence the ultimate evaluation of a coethnic candidate. More specifically, I consider how and when a Latino social group identity influences political choice. I begin addressing the questions of when and how a Latino ethnic group identity can influence a political choice through an analysis of extant survey data. I also make use of original survey experiments that allow me to determine if there is a causal relationship and to probe the dimensions of Latino group identity. The results indicate that there is an in-group candidate preference. In some instances, an ethnic in-group match by itself predicts political choice, but not for all Latinos and not all the time. More substantive measures of Latino group identity serve to differentiate who among Latinos are most likely to prefer an ethnic in-group candidate. I find that substantive measures moderate a preference and in some instances a distancing from the Latino candidate. In general, Latinos with higher levels of Latino group identification are those most likely to support a Latino candidate. However, the preference for a Latino candidate depends on whom that Latino candidate is—Republican or Democrat. In short, Latino preferences for co-ethnic candidates are variegated, but significantly and substantively influenced by the individual’s level of ethnic identification and the type of Latino candidate choice at hand. / Dissertation

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1984.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1988.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985.

This thesis research is an ethnographic account of how identity and a sense of community are discursively constructed and managed among participants in mutual aid groups. Research findings are based upon interview and observational data collected from two support groups located in a Canadian city. While members' accounts provide a basis for interpreting the meaning of support as experienced, researcher observations focus on discursive identification practices. My interpretation sheds light on the dynamic interplay between notions of community, symbolic boundary and identity. Participant stories grounded in experiential knowledge, serve as critical connecting nodes in the construction and reproduction of community and as legitimate leverage to resist denied agency. These case study findings suggest how support, community and identity are collectively accomplished, in part, by managing symbolic boundaries through positioning practices. An understanding of these micro-processes has practical implications for the development of mutual aid groups to meet health and social needs. / xiv, 310 leaves ; 29 cm.

The HIV and Aids pandemic not only has an impact on women but also on men. Young people in their early and late adolescent years, between the ages 12 and 24 years of age, find themselves in a period of exploration and experimentation that can enhance high-risk sexual behaviour. In research done in South Africa it was estimated that half of all young men and woman are sexually active by the age of 16. Unfortunately, we in South Africa live in an era where HIV and AIDS do not allow such behaviours and this situation makes male youths one of the most vulnerable groups in our society to be infected by the HI-virus. This study focused on male youths on ARV therapy (ART). The antiretroviral therapy requires maximum adherence from the people living with HIV and AIDS. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy poses a great challenge to the youth, especially if they are unemployed and have families who depend on them for financial as well as emotional support. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a social group work empowerment programme on male youths undergoing ARV therapy. To achieve the aim of this study the following objectives were set: • To investigate the needs of male youths on ARV therapy in a rural area. This objective was achieved by obtaining a theoretical perspective from the literature as well as undertaking empirical research by means of the interviewing process. According to these findings male youths on ARV therapy have many needs, such as the need for more information on ARV therapy, the role of the Departments of Health and Social Development, the role of social workers, and how to disclose their HIV status to people other than their family members. •To determine the role of social group work in empowering male youths who are on antiretroviral therapy to cope with the illness and ARV therapy by means of a literature study. It was important for the researcher to do a literature study on social group work to enhance her knowledge and skills, because this is a method of social work that she not often implemented in practice. • To develop and implement a social group work programme for male youths on ARV therapy. The social group work empowerment programme for male youth on ARV therapy was implemented over nine group work sessions and tested on 10 respondents who were part of the needs assessment and were willing to be part of the group work programme in the rural area of the Motheo District. The programme consisted of nine group sessions with different topics discussed in each session for the empowerment of the target group. According to the group members, they acquired adequate skills to enable them to act properly in solving their problems. The programme impacted a lot on how they felt about themselves and the circumstances around them. • To evaluate the effectiveness of the social group work empowerment programme on male youths on ARV therapy. This objective was achieved in the sense that the general satisfaction of the young men had increased according to the Generalized Contentment Scale (GCS) of Perspective Training College. The measuring scale was utilized before the first session started, at the end of the fifth session (in the middle measurement phase), and at the end of the last session. The findings from the research indicated that significant personal growth had taken place among the male youth on ARV therapy in a rural area. Scientifically proven research emerged from this study and proved that a well-designed social group work empowerment programme can enhance the social functioning and general contentment of the male youths on ARV therapy. / Thesis (PhD (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The HIV and Aids pandemic not only has an impact on women but also on men. Young people in their early and late adolescent years, between the ages 12 and 24 years of age, find themselves in a period of exploration and experimentation that can enhance high-risk sexual behaviour. In research done in South Africa it was estimated that half of all young men and woman are sexually active by the age of 16. Unfortunately, we in South Africa live in an era where HIV and AIDS do not allow such behaviours and this situation makes male youths one of the most vulnerable groups in our society to be infected by the HI-virus. This study focused on male youths on ARV therapy (ART). The antiretroviral therapy requires maximum adherence from the people living with HIV and AIDS. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy poses a great challenge to the youth, especially if they are unemployed and have families who depend on them for financial as well as emotional support. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a social group work empowerment programme on male youths undergoing ARV therapy. To achieve the aim of this study the following objectives were set: • To investigate the needs of male youths on ARV therapy in a rural area. This objective was achieved by obtaining a theoretical perspective from the literature as well as undertaking empirical research by means of the interviewing process. According to these findings male youths on ARV therapy have many needs, such as the need for more information on ARV therapy, the role of the Departments of Health and Social Development, the role of social workers, and how to disclose their HIV status to people other than their family members. •To determine the role of social group work in empowering male youths who are on antiretroviral therapy to cope with the illness and ARV therapy by means of a literature study. It was important for the researcher to do a literature study on social group work to enhance her knowledge and skills, because this is a method of social work that she not often implemented in practice. • To develop and implement a social group work programme for male youths on ARV therapy. The social group work empowerment programme for male youth on ARV therapy was implemented over nine group work sessions and tested on 10 respondents who were part of the needs assessment and were willing to be part of the group work programme in the rural area of the Motheo District. The programme consisted of nine group sessions with different topics discussed in each session for the empowerment of the target group. According to the group members, they acquired adequate skills to enable them to act properly in solving their problems. The programme impacted a lot on how they felt about themselves and the circumstances around them. • To evaluate the effectiveness of the social group work empowerment programme on male youths on ARV therapy. This objective was achieved in the sense that the general satisfaction of the young men had increased according to the Generalized Contentment Scale (GCS) of Perspective Training College. The measuring scale was utilized before the first session started, at the end of the fifth session (in the middle measurement phase), and at the end of the last session. The findings from the research indicated that significant personal growth had taken place among the male youth on ARV therapy in a rural area. Scientifically proven research emerged from this study and proved that a well-designed social group work empowerment programme can enhance the social functioning and general contentment of the male youths on ARV therapy. / Thesis (PhD (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013