Tag: Anthropology

Disagreement abounds about the best way to serve deaf children.

March 10, 2016

LAURA MAULDINAssistant professor of human development/family studies and women’s, gender and sexuality studies at the University of Connecticut A common argument for using sign language with hearing babies is that it would have benefits that are practical (less fussing), emotional (creates a closer parent bond), and cognitive (boosts brain development). “Fewer tantrums and more fun!” … More Disagreement abounds about the best way to serve deaf children.

What are the implications of philanthropic relationships in education?

February 1, 2016

BY AMY BROWNUniversity of Pennsylvania On a spring day in 2010, I interviewed Sebastian Thomas, head of the in-house nonprofit organization at the public New York City high school at which I taught for two years (referred to here as “College Prep”). Thomas was responsible for organizing the benefits, films, flyers, media, and other forms … More What are the implications of philanthropic relationships in education?

"Before the fence, before the checkpoints, before the border guards, there are the documents and the bureaucrats": On immigration and literacy.

December 10, 2015

BY CATHERINE VIEIRAAssistant professor of English at the University of Wisconsin, Madison The United States is a nation of immigrants. But immigrating here—or coming as a refugee—has never been easy. Refugees and immigrants take difficult, dangerous, and expensive journeys. And they also undertake paperwork. Lots of it. Potential immigrants and asylum seekers must present themselves … More "Before the fence, before the checkpoints, before the border guards, there are the documents and the bureaucrats": On immigration and literacy.

Fight for 15 shines spotlight on harsh daily realities for low-wage workers

October 28, 2015

Fast-food workers, university workers, students, janitors, retail workers, and airportworkers rally on April 15, 2015, near the University of Minnesota to demand a $15/hourminimum wage.Image via Wikimedia Commons. BY MARC DOUSSARDRecipient of the 2015 Paul Davidoff Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning for his book Degraded Work The list of cities and state … More Fight for 15 shines spotlight on harsh daily realities for low-wage workers

Homelessness and housing justice in gentrifying Brooklyn

October 9, 2015

A homeless man in New York. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has been interestedin East New York as a mass transit hub—but at what cost to the rest of the neighborhood?Image: Wikimedia Commons. BY CRAIG WILLSEAssistant professor of cultural studies, George Mason University A recent article in the Wall Street Journal publicized new … More Homelessness and housing justice in gentrifying Brooklyn

Defying Borders: Migration in the age of security

August 19, 2015

Global politics both shape and are shaped by borders and the differencesbetween those who have access to crossing them, and those who do not. BY CAWO ABDIAssociate professor of sociology, University of Minnesota Asad, a Somali merchant who runs a corner shop (spaza) in an informal settlement in South Africa, expresses the fear intrinsic in … More Defying Borders: Migration in the age of security

What is "Malian music"?

June 10, 2015

BY RYAN THOMAS SKINNERAssistant professor of ethnomusicology at The Ohio State University For many, to think of a place called “Mali” is to hear, first and foremost, its music. Mali may be a poor, landlocked, and sunbaked country in the West African Sahel, but its widely acclaimed music culture—with its bluesy resonances, danceable rhythms, and … More What is "Malian music"?

Introducing "Verge: Studies in Global Asias"

April 10, 2015

The history of scholarship on Asian America, when juxtaposed with the fieldsof Asian Studies, reminds us how much nations, national movements, andother forms of national development continue to exert influence on the worldin which we live.Image from Shutterstock. BY TINA CHEN AND ERIC HAYOT Now, more than ever, the singularities of world history—whether imagined as … More Introducing "Verge: Studies in Global Asias"

#INeedDiverseGames and why representation in games matters

January 21, 2015

Image copyright of Sylvie Reuter BY ADRIENNE SHAWAssistant professor of media studies and production at Temple University  After years of trying to explain my book, Gaming at the Edge, in a sound byte, I eventually boiled it down to the following: 1) players don’t care that much about representation in games, and 2) that’s a … More #INeedDiverseGames and why representation in games matters

#UPWeek: Writing the Continuous Book.

November 14, 2014

This post is published on the occasion of University Press Week, in which about 30 university presses have published posts on five significant topics: collaboration; your Press in pictures; connections with popular culture; a throwback look at an influential project or series; or #FollowFriday, today’s topic on university presses and social media. Find more details … More #UPWeek: Writing the Continuous Book.