Discusses "World of Our Fathers," Howe (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1976), asserting that Howe's description of acculturation "does not convey the full character and strength of the often chauvinistic pressure upon the immigrant toward cultural conformity with Anglo-Saxon mores." Howe purportedly "has tended to soften or mute social clashes."…

Makes a case for the formulation of models of status attainment processes that not only model the outcomes of such processes, but also attempt to directly mirror the mechanisms that produce observed outcomes. Presents an evaluation of Boudon's contribution toward constructing such a model of the attainment processes. (Author/JM)

Two studies examined middle- and lower-class Brazilian children's concepts of personal choice and social regulation. Found that subjects maintained a heterogeneous orientation to rules and authority which includes personal choice. Class differences indicated that hierarchical social structures affect children's sense of autonomy. However,…

Challenges social workers to understand the nature of privilege as it relates to oppression and to develop a profound multicultural literacy that is carefully translated into practice imperatives. Africentric theory provides a framework within which social workers can challenge the invisible hegemony of privilege. (FC)

The implications for Soviet education of "glasnost,""perestroika," and the other interrelated concepts of Gorbachev's reform program are examined. The manner in which Gorbachev's concept of restructuring has shaped the efforts of schools to promote communist ethics, the human factor, and independent thinking is considered. (SLD)

Explores the cultural legacy of the United States. Characterizes the society as one which promotes cohesiveness and political unity, yet emphasizes individual initiative. Provides a number of salient historical examples in making this point. (KO)

Describes the evolution of feminist critical theory from a study of individuals' roles to the study of the interplay between gender relations and the institutional contexts within which they take shape. Surveys the writing of feminist theorists covering institutions, decision-making processes, cultural symbols, and everyday practices. (DK)

Challenges recent portrayals of the demonic character of female gang members by examining the life histories and social organizations of several different female gangs. Interviews with 65 female gang members from seven groups show that these young women experience potential and actual violence in different violence prone situations. (SLD)

Social network analysis (SNA) uses indices of relatedness among individuals to produce representations of social structures and positions inherent in dyads or groups. SNA methods provide quantitative representations of ongoing transactional patterns in a given social environment. Methodological issues, applications and resources are discussed…

Addresses the limitations of previous research by providing a model of social capital at the national level that makes explicit links to theory and analyzes multiple indicators of social capital. Results indicate some decline in a general measure of social capital, a decline in trust in individuals, no general decline in trust in institutions, and…

A model of the impact of structural advantage and disadvantage on infant mortality rates was developed and fitted to county-level data. Advantage and disadvantage had significant direct effects on infant mortality in urban areas but had smaller indirect effects in rural areas, being mediated by rates of teenage childbearing and low birth weight.…

Highlights the social construction of scale on the Internet and how some scale relationships are represented in web-based visual images. Maintains that web sites contain story lines that can act as guides through these scale representations. Shows the need for a "visual grammar" that will enable people to understand the logic behind the Internet.…

Discusses a way to enhance the teaching of critical social analyses with explicit attention to experiential and somatic learning modalities. Indicates main learning objectives adapted from a course called "Power, Conflict, and Change in Social Interaction: What's a Body to Do?" Concludes with discussion of several exercises. (CMK)

This essay recreates the exciting Latin music and dance scenes of post-World War II Southern California, showing how Mexican Americans produced and consumed a range of styles and, in the process, articulated their complex cultural sensibilities. By participating in a Spanish-language expressive culture that was sophisticated and cosmopolitan,…

In much educational literature it is recognised that the broader social conditions in which teachers live and work, and the personal and professional elements of teachers' lives, experiences, beliefs and practices are integral to one another, and that there are often tensions between these which impact to a greater or lesser extent upon teachers'…