Sociology Dissertations and Theses
https://hdl.handle.net/1808/14224
2024-03-28T15:45:21ZCooptation: Analysis of a neglected social process
https://hdl.handle.net/1808/30584
Cooptation: Analysis of a neglected social process
Lacy, Michael G.
The concept of cooptation is at the same time very popular and quite neglected. One frequently reads or hears the phrase mentioned in passing, as though there were agreement as to what it meant, but there is a dearth of work on the subject. In one of the few works focusing directly on the subject, Karl Loewenstein (1973:21) decries the 11 complete lack of systematic research on cooptation11 and notes that the standard references in sociology and political science either mention it not at all or contain only a few sentences on the subject. There exist only two books, to the current author's knowledge, in which cooptation is a major concept: Loewenstein's work in German, which is an attempt to develop a model of cooptation, and one work in English, Selznick's TVA and the Grass Roots (1949), a case study of the TVA using cooptation as a basic concept.
The neglect of the concept, coupled with the varieties of its use, as will be documented below, would be enough to justify the current investigation. Additional justification rests on two bases: 1) insofar as power is a basic process in all societies, organizations, and groups, and since cooptation is a part of the power process, it has import; and 2) hopefully, the reader will agree that cooptation is a ubiquitous phenomenon, occurring just as ordinarily as other recognized social processes, such as assimilation, accommodation, or revolution.
The intent of this investigation is to clarify the concept of cooptation and show its use as an analytic and explanatory device, and to formulate some notions about typical patterns and outcomes of the cooptation process. To begin, my working definition of a threat model of cooptation will be presented along with a model of a power system which, as will be seen, is the locus for the occurrence of cooptation. Then, several other models of cooptation will be examined with critiques indicating the need for the new conceptualization represented by the threat model.
M.A. University of Kansas, Sociology. 1978
1978-12-31T00:00:00ZWomen’s Hypertension in Indonesia: The Role of Religion, Trust, and Community Involvement
https://hdl.handle.net/1808/30217
Women’s Hypertension in Indonesia: The Role of Religion, Trust, and Community Involvement
Jansen, Natalie Anne
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the leading cause of death worldwide and is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Approximately three quarters of individuals living with hypertension reside in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In Indonesia – one of the largest LMICs – women’s hypertension rates exceed men’s despite less engagement in risky health behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption. In this dissertation, I explore the relationship between women’s social factors and hypertension because women’s social determinants of health are often overlooked in hypertension research. Specifically, I examine women’s religious involvement, feelings of trust, safety, and reciprocity, and involvement in community groups as potential social factors associated with hypertension. Using data from Wave 5 of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS), I found religious differences in the likelihood of hypertension. Muslim women – and particularly Muslim women who pray daily but do not engage in salat prayer – had the highest likelihood of hypertension overall, while Hindu women – and particularly women who either participate in daily yoga/meditation or refrain from red meat consumption – had the lowest likelihood of hypertension. I also found that women needing to be alert in the community was associated with lower likelihoods of hypertension compared to women who did not report a need to be alert. Measures of both individual- and community-level thick and thin trust were associated uniquely with likelihoods of hypertension. Finally, I found that women largely did not vary in likelihoods of hypertension by participation in community programs, and there were no significant differences in the relationship between participation and hypertension for mothers and non-mothers.
2019-05-31T00:00:00ZA Genetic Point of View: The Effects of Ancestry Testing on Racial and Ethnic Identities
https://hdl.handle.net/1808/30209
A Genetic Point of View: The Effects of Ancestry Testing on Racial and Ethnic Identities
Kaiser, John W
The purpose of this research is to investigate how genetic ancestry tests can affect personal identity. Forty individuals from the cities of Topeka, Kansas City, and Lawrence who identified as primarily Black, White, or Hispanic were interviewed before and after taking a commercially-available ancestry test. The findings of this study suggest that participants selectively chose certain results to incorporate into their identity rather than accepting the entire test. Group membership strongly indicated the reasons for why participants took the test and how they reacted to the results. White participants took these tests seeking new racial labels to differentiate themselves from simply being “White”. Black participants took these tests seeking to identify ancestral genetic narratives to better inform their Black identity. Hispanic individuals had more ambiguous reasons for taking the test, as some approached the test seeking new identities while others did so to acquire ancestral genetic narratives. White individuals incorporated certain test results into their identity to make them appear more diverse while Hispanics and Blacks subsumed certain results into their identity to better inform it.
2019-08-31T00:00:00ZThe Self-Protective Properties of Stigma within the Fat Admirer Community
https://hdl.handle.net/1808/30109
The Self-Protective Properties of Stigma within the Fat Admirer Community
Neumann, Elyse
Due to their seemingly abnormal sexual preferences, Fat Admirers represent a group of stigmatized individuals who challenge Western ideals of beauty. This research investigates the self-protective strategies of Fat Admirers. I show how the sharing of stigmatizing experiences in a Fat Admirer online community helps structure an individual’s understanding of their identity that acts as a fourth self-protective strategy. The Fat Admirer identity consists of a stigmatized self in which individuals implement strategies that buffer against stigma in an online community setting. This research uses Crocker and Major’s (1989) conception of self-protective strategies that include 1. Attributing negative feedback to prejudice about their in-group 2. Comparing outcomes with in-group members 3. Devaluing negative attributes of the in-group. I argue that a fourth strategy (dialogic essentialism) is employed in which FAs converse with similar others in attempts to normalize their essentialist beliefs about their sexual preferences that in turn protects against possible stigmatization. Instead of interviewing participants to find out what their FA identity entails, this research uses an internet ethnographical approach to study the natural flow of conversation between members, which offers a new perspective into this community-the interaction among self-identified Fat Admirers. This research is important as it illustrates how members combat stigma through interactions that delineate acceptable membership practices. These interactions promote increased importance, validation, and protection of a stigmatized identity.
2019-05-31T00:00:00Z