Ghanaian Migrants in Germany and the Social Construction of Diaspora Les migrants ghanéens en Allemagne et la construction sociale de la diaspora

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 28-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Nieswand
Keyword(s):  
Social Construction ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Nation State ◽  
Hometown Associations ◽  
The Social ◽  
Bounded Group ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Newspaper Articles

Abstract This article explores diasporic discourses and practices among Ghanaian migrants in Germany. Instead of presuming that 'diaspora' is a stringent theoretical concept or refers to a bounded group in a sociological sense, it is argued that it provides migrants with a grammar of practice that allows for the situational and contextual construction of different types of 'diasporas'. Empirically, three social sites of construction are identified. Firstly, the Ghanaian nation-state and the reconfiguration of Ghanaian nationalism play an important role for promoting diasporic discourses. Secondly, the discourse of development and 'charity rituals' of ethnic and 'hometown' associations are of particular relevance for the proliferation of Ghanaian 'diasporas'. Thirdly, Ghanaian chieftaincies are involved in diasporic activities. The article is based on data collected in thirteen months of multi-sited ethnography conducted in Germany and Ghana between 2001 and 2003 and the analysis of video tapes, newspaper articles and web pages. Cet article explore les discours diasporiques et les pratiques trouvées parmi les migrants ghanéens en Allemagne. Plutôt que de présumer que la « diaspora » est un concept théorique strict ou fait référence à un groupe délimité dans un sens sociologique, il est soutenu qu'il fournit une grammaire de pratiques qui permet la construction situationnelle et contextuelle de différents types de « diasporas ». Empiriquement, trois lieux de construction sociale sont identifiés. Premièrement l'Etat-nation ghanéen et la reconfiguration du nationalisme ghanéen jour un rôle important pour promouvoir des discours diasporiques. Deuxièmement, le discours du développement et des « rituels de charité » des associations ethniques et des « villes natales » a une pertinence particulière pour la prolifération des « diasporas » ghanéennes. Troisièmement, les chefferies des tribus ghanéennes sont impliquées dans les activités de la diaspora. Empiriquement, cet article se base sur treize mois d'ethnographie, conduite en Allemagne et au Ghana entre 2001 et 2003, et sur l'analyse de bandes-vidéos, d'articles de journaux et de sites web.

Becoming a Super-Masculine “Cool Guy”

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 20-35
Author(s):  
James W. Messerschmidt
Keyword(s):  
Social Construction ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
School Bullying ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Seminal Work ◽  
The Social ◽  
Different Types

In this article the author builds on the arguments articulated by Raewyn Connell in her seminal work The Men and the Boys (2000) by summarizing and analyzing a case study of an adolescent boy who was identified at school as a “wimp” and who eventually engaged in sexual violence. Such subordinated boys rarely are—if at all—discussed in childhood education, sociology, and feminist literatures on violence. The synopsis reveals the interrelationship among in-school bullying, reflexivity, embodiment, and the social construction of dominant and hegemonic masculinities through the commission of adolescent sexual violence. The analysis demonstrates the continued relevance of Connell’s work, and the author builds on and expands on Connell’s formulation through, in particular, an examination of reflexivity, dominant masculinities, different types of hegemonic masculinities, and intersectionality.

Body branded

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Rosa Caldas-Coulthard
Keyword(s):  
Human Body ◽  
Gender Representation ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Branding Strategy ◽  
Tourism Advertising ◽  
The Social ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Global Discourse ◽  
Semiotic Perspective

Using a discursive/social semiotic perspective, tourism advertising is here investigated as a global discourse worth of critical investigation. Different identities are construed in texts for tourists and they are not purely reflections of personal identities. They are recontextualisations whose realisations and forms are conditioned by the social practices of the advertisers and by their stereotypical views of the countries being advertised. Gender representation is a key factor and the use of the human body, as a branding strategy, is an essential part in the construction of such identities. Exemplifying from tourism brochures and web pages, my aims are to discuss the different types of identities construed in the discourse, the way the representation of the human body is used as a semiotic resource and as a branding strategy, and the values which underlie the appeal to possible travellers and the implications of the branding strategies for gender representation.

scholarly journals The social construction of masculinity and boys' struggles in school: a content analysis of children's TV shows

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Grzeslo
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Social Construction ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Direct Relationship ◽  
Gender Identities ◽  
Television Shows ◽  
The Social ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Tv Shows

The gender gap in education has been widening over the years as girls push ahead, and boys lag behind. Various factors are considered when attempting to explain this trend as well as how it can be addressed. This study focuses on the role of media, specifically children’s TV shows, how they portray masculinity and how those portrayals may shape boys’ identities and behaviour in school. A content analysis of six boys’ television shows has been conducted to document some of these messages. With the exception of one show, overall findings illustrate that the television shows included in this study do not represent a range of masculinities, providing limited messages to young viewers. This study does not assess the direct relationship between these messages and behaviour in the classroom but considers one possible explanation for the gender gap, and makes suggestions aimed at transforming practices in the classroom. Even with research suggesting the need for exposure to different types of masculinities, such issues cannot be addressed until society believes that young boys need encouragement and support in forming their own individual gender identities. Keywords: boys; education; gender; gender gap; masculinity; television.

Constructing Organizations: The Example of Public Sector Reform

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Brunsson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Great Britain ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Social Construction ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Abstract Concept ◽  
Sector Reform ◽  
The Social ◽  
Key Aspects

This chapter discusses the social construction of organizations and the way in which this is influenced by the theoretical concept of organization. It considers examples from recent publicsector reforms in several European countries, including Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Sweden, as well as in Australia and New Zealand. Constructing organizations involves the setting up or changing of entities in such a way that they come to resemble the general and abstract concept of organization. It is argued that traditional public services in many countries have lacked some of the key aspects of organization. They can be described, at the most, as conspicuously ‘incomplete’ organizations.

scholarly journals Where Does Competition Come From? The role of organization

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 263178771988997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Arora-Jonsson ◽  
Nils Brunsson ◽  
Raimund Hasse
Keyword(s):  
Social Construction ◽  
Organization Theory ◽  
Unintended Consequence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Social ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Normative Implications

Although an ever-increasing number and types of organizations are expected to compete, the origins of competition have been a neglected topic. By assuming that competition simply emerges, organization theory currently lacks an understanding of when and why organizations compete. In this article we critically review and extend existing literatures on competition to offer an organizational theorization of the origins of competition. We argue that competition is the social construction of its four constitutive elements: actors, relationships, scarcity and desire. Furthermore, we show that three types of actors – those who compete, those who adjudicate the competition, and those who have an interest in creating competition – can construct competition independently or in concert. We also discuss different types of organized competition; the role of rankers, prize givers and other actors interested in creating competition; and competition as an unintended consequence of organization. Finally, we outline future research on competition and organization that follows from our conceptualization, along with some normative implications.

scholarly journals The social construction of masculinity and boys' struggles in school: a content analysis of children's TV shows

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Grzeslo
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Social Construction ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Direct Relationship ◽  
Gender Identities ◽  
Television Shows ◽  
The Social ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Tv Shows

The gender gap in education has been widening over the years as girls push ahead, and boys lag behind. Various factors are considered when attempting to explain this trend as well as how it can be addressed. This study focuses on the role of media, specifically children’s TV shows, how they portray masculinity and how those portrayals may shape boys’ identities and behaviour in school. A content analysis of six boys’ television shows has been conducted to document some of these messages. With the exception of one show, overall findings illustrate that the television shows included in this study do not represent a range of masculinities, providing limited messages to young viewers. This study does not assess the direct relationship between these messages and behaviour in the classroom but considers one possible explanation for the gender gap, and makes suggestions aimed at transforming practices in the classroom. Even with research suggesting the need for exposure to different types of masculinities, such issues cannot be addressed until society believes that young boys need encouragement and support in forming their own individual gender identities. Keywords: boys; education; gender; gender gap; masculinity; television.

Impact of the Locus of Causality and Internal Control on the Social Utility of Causal Explanations

2010 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Perrin ◽  
Benoît Testé
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Social Utility ◽  
External Control ◽  
Job Interview ◽  
Locus Of Causality ◽  
Causal Explanations ◽  
Professional Success ◽  
The Social ◽  
Different Types

Research into the norm of internality ( Beauvois & Dubois, 1988 ) has shown that the expression of internal causal explanations is socially valued in social judgment. However, the value attributed to different types of internal explanations (e.g., efforts vs. traits) is far from homogeneous. This study used the Weiner (1979 ) tridimensional model to clarify the factors explaining the social utility attached to internal versus external explanations. Three dimensions were manipulated: locus of causality, controllability, and stability. Participants (N = 180 students) read the explanations expressed by appliants during a job interview. They then described the applicants on the French version of the revised causal dimension scale and rated their future professional success. Results indicated that internal-controllable explanations were the most valued. In addition, perceived internal and external control of explanations were significant predictors of judgments.

The Social Construction of Our Bodies

1992 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1186-1186
Author(s):  
Garth J. O. Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Social Construction ◽  
The Social
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