Bourdieu's social theory offers a way of understanding some of the most important features of the field of educational research, while also providing educational researchers with a rich conceptual apparatus for their practice. This article addresses both of these methodological themes and the connections between them. We begin by outlining some…

Reviews anthropological thinking on ethnic and racial prejudice. Provides examples of discrimination and cites the major theorists who have played a part in developing anti-racist views of society. Concludes that racism has no scientific or legal justification, that racism is a crime against humanity, and that it is the enemy of peace, culture,…

Argues that to understand the changing social characteristics of Cuban exiles over 20 years of migration, one must understand the changing phases of the Cuban revolution. Explores Egon F. Kunz's theoretical framework for refugee migration in relation to Cuban exodus data. (GC)

Examines the black female's role in U.S. society, particularly with regard to working outside the home, and argues that one cannot understand what African American women are today without having a historical perspective for what their ancestors and their ancestors' roles, functions, and responsibilities were. An Afrocentric perspective is…

The article considers the contributions of Gee's Discourse theory to the study of multiethnic identity among mixed heritage students. By framing experience within social context, activity, and interaction, I argue that Discourse theory facilitates a conceptualization of ethnic identity as a situated phenomenon emerging at the intersection of the…

A conceptual framework for studying the role of social support in explaining family caregivers' psychological well-being is developed in this paper. In particular, the framework presented emphasizes the importance of conceptualizing caregiving as a social status, and drawing upon the broader literature on status acquisitions, social support, and…

Examines the following theories proposed by social psychologists to explain popular resistance to affirmative action strategies: (1) the naivete explanation; (2) the symbolic racism theory; and (3) the "realistic" group-conflict theory. Argues that social psychology ignores the public's perception of Blacks as members of a social underclass. (FMW)

Discusses effects on graduate sociology education of trends emphasizing quantitative methods and the positivist tradition at the expense of social theory and interpretive sociology. Argues that failure to develop sociology's interpretive tradition has allowed the style and intellectual creativity of sociological work to suffer. Urges greater…

Theorist William J. Wilson proposes that the increasing problems of inner-city minority groups stem not from a ghetto culture of poverty, as some contend, but from growing social isolation of poor Blacks and Hispanics and from changes in the economy. (MSE)

Presents some of the concepts being developed by evolutionary thinkers to explain how animals deal with varying conditions in their environments. Discusses the environmental perspective. Explains why it involves more than predetermined behavior and that evolutionary theories now include developmental and environmental variables. (Author/JS)

This study explores the relationship between economic events which occurred during the 1970s and 1980s and the development of a proletarian class structure in the United States. Contrary to theoretical expectations, the data show a decisive acceleration in the growth of the managerial class. Internationalization of business and technological and…

One particular death and the rituals, funeral ceremony, and mourning which followed it are used to explore the relationship of the living to death. The particular death described was one which occurred during a year of fieldwork among urban Punjabis. By examining the category of mourners, it was possible to discern a structure within which grief…

The application of a social theory perspective to an analysis of the concept of restructuring is the purpose of this report. Restructuring is a conjunctive concept that involves changes in a school district's pattern of rules, roles, relationships, and results. A systemic viewpoint examines the reciprocal interactions between structure and process…

Analyzes trends in the social function of children's institutions of Israel (where 20% of youth are educated in residential settings) from the pre-statehood period to the present. Argues that the study of the way a society uses its institutions for children is a good measure of long-range national goals. (KH)

Introduces a three-stage historical model of female education in Africa during and since the colonial period. Suggests an historical tendency to educate only males, then an attempt to educate a limited number of females for "modern" roles. Contemporary situation presents educational opportunities for more women, but with subtle sexism…