The vicious circle: effects of race and class on university entrance in Brazil

Brazil has high levels of socio-economic inequality and an inequitable distribution of access to higher education. How much of this inequality is associated with race or class is an important question in light of the current debate over affirmative action and the suitability of race and social targeted policies. There are those who claim that racial disparities in the educational system are a result of students’ social status and not a result of racism, while others believe race is an important factor that superposes the effect of class. This study uses national survey data from Brazil’s Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (National Secondary Education Exam [ENEM]) to examine the relationship between race and access to higher education of high school students between 2004 and 2008. The results document a vicious circle which connects the schooling of the young with their race, socio-economic status, and university attendance.     

A study of significance of racial and athletic identification on educational perceptions among African American male college athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the racial and athletic identities of African American male college athletes to determine how the identities might impact the athletic and educational potential and performance of this specific group of college athletes. The study revealed that participants who responded negatively to a poor athletic performance were more likely to have lower levels of academic self-concept. In contrast, college athletes who highly identified with their racial group were more likely to have higher levels of academic self-concept. Overall, the findings reveal the intricacies and complexities of being an African American college student and athlete at predominantly white institutions (PWIs) in the US. As such, the article details the implications of the findings as they relate to African American culture, American sports culture, and higher education realities.     

"A 20% income increase for everyone?": The effect of relative increases in income on perceived income inequality

Most research on income inequality implicitly assumes that a fixed percentage increase in income across all income levels does not alter income inequality. In contrast with this assumption, we show that relative increases in income lead to increased perceptions of inequality, even when buying power is held constant. In a second experiment, we extended these findings using a fictitious currency, thereby eliminating effects of using a familiar currency. In study 3, we demonstrate that feelings of envy and fairness are affected by a fixed percentage income increase.     

漫谈中美电影中消费文化的差异

本文结合几部影片浅析中美消费文化的差异。     

Workplace racial composition, perceived discrimination, and organizational attachment

Prior research has devoted considerable attention to the relationship between the racial and ethnic composition of jobs and various indicators of organizational attachment. Fewer studies, however, examine how workplace racial composition affects individuals’ experiences of racial discrimination or how these experiences impact workers’ organizational attachment. To address this lacuna, we first examine the effects of workplace racial composition on perceived racial and ethnic discrimination. Next, we examine whether perceived racial discrimination mediates the association between racial composition and organizational attachment observed in prior studies. Finally, we explore whether these relationships are similar (symmetric) or different (non-symmetric) for non-Whites and Whites. The analyses indicate: (1) working with predominately same-race coworkers tends to diminish perceptions of racial discrimination, (2) perceived racial discrimination mediates some of the effects of racial/ethnic composition on organizational attachment, and (3) some non-symmetric effects between non-Whites and Whites are found. We conclude with implications for future research.     

Texting among United States young adults: An exploratory study on texting and its use within families

The current study examines general text messaging tendencies, patterns of and reasons for texting family members, and the impact of texting on familial relationships among a young U.S. adult sample. Participants were recruited through Facebook; they then completed an online questionnaire. Data from 127 young adults (men: 38; women: 87; unidentified: 2) are analyzed and compared by gender. Findings suggest that young adults text at high rates per month. Participants generally report a prompt response to texts and their ability to honestly express feelings within these messages. Results also suggest participants text family members for a variety of reasons, such as to convey information, plan activities, and engage in general conversation. Distinct gender differences, however, are evident regarding who men and women text as well as texting's effects on familial relationships. Overall, these findings expand researchers’ understanding of texting in general and its impact within the family.     

互动在认知建构中的定位

认知在互动过程中不断趋同,又不断分化与超越。互动使各种不同表征的认知系统相互作用,联结建构成具有差异的统一体。在互动过程中,互动个体的认知状态经历了＂初始建构者＂＂孤独建构者＂和＂社会建构者＂三个不同阶段。互动建构的知识并非都是真理。互动所形成的稳定语境,即具有排他性,也具有保护性。权力强加于社会,迫使个体参与权力规训的社会互动,使社会语境发生了根本性的改变,但有时权力无法抗拒原有社会语境从而默认原有社会语境的存在。     

美中西部大开发的异同

美中西部开发有很多不同之处 ,表现在内涵与性质、地理与历史条件、经济发展状况与经济背景、政治与文化传统、国际国内形势与时代背景等方面。两者的相似之处也有 ,却不是很多。     

英语学习中的英汉语言差异研究*

语言是文化的载体。每种语言都有其独特的表现形式，反映出不同的社会文化。外语学习者只有通晓所学语言的特殊性，并与自己的母语进行对比分析与研究，掌握两种语言的共通性和差异性，才能最大限度的摆脱母语影响，减少语用失误，从而在语言的学习和应用过程中做到得心应手。立足于对英汉语言的结构意识、外部形态、词性对照、表达习惯以及标点符号的功能分析，剖解其差异性，以期更好地指导英语教学和提高学生的学习效果。     

英汉礼貌用语的语用差异

受中西方文化差异的影响及不同的礼貌原则的指导，英汉两种语言虽有相对应的礼貌用语，包括招呼语、称谓语、请求语、谦语和敬语，但却在实际的语用中存在着较大的差异，这些差异的存在往往会导致跨文化交际的中断或失败。因此在跨文化交际中，交际双方要排除母语文化的干扰，正确把握和准确使用礼貌用语，从而达到理想的交际效果。