So far, my research project will revolve around analyzing how people view modernization within San Francisco, focusing on its effects on infrastructure, cultural identity, gentrification, employment, and opportunity. I want to understand and gauge how the modernization and urbanization of the city relate to how people identify themselves: how they see their lives improving/worsening because of modernization, how they feel they connect/no longer connect to the city, how their opportunities are elevated/how obtaining these opportunities become more difficult, etc. I am still debating as to whether I will focus on a specific group, however, if I do, I may perhaps focus on the Latinx population, as that is what is most personal to me. However, I am open to altering my topic, as I acknowledge that what I want to discuss may not be easily measurable.
Sunday, September 13, 2020
Module 2
Activities for Chapter 2
4.)
Locate your library’s online database Subject Guides for your field of study. Create a list of databases that you will need to search once you have identified your topic.
My topic will most likely revolve around gentrification, specifically gauging public perception on the subject.
1.) https://library.ndnu.edu/databasesbysubject
2.) https://library.ndnu.edu/c.php?g=686942&p=4854697
4.) https://www-jstor-org.webinfo.ndnu.edu:8080/
Activities for Chapter 3
For my topic, I intend on analyzing public opinion on gentrification (specifically regarding employment, cultural identity and connection, and urbanization)
2.) For my search, I typed in "bay area gentrification", the search bringing up 38 results.
3.) I chose the descriptors "San Francisco", "employment". I believe those descriptors narrowed down my search, as they are more geared toward what I am intending to research.
Stehlin, John. “The Post-Industrial ‘Shop Floor’: Emerging Forms of Gentrification in San Francisco’s Innovation Economy.” Antipode 48, no. 2 (March 2016): 474–93. doi:10.1111/anti.12199.
The San Francisco Bay Area in California is undergoing a technology-driven wave of growth arguably more thoroughgoing than the first 'dot-com' bubble, fueling hypertrophic gentrification and tales of a deeply class-divided, 'Blade Runner kind of society'. While Silicon Valley is still the industry's employment center, San Francisco is seeing faster tech firm growth, and is transforming its downtown to become more 'livable' and promoting public space as key to innovation. In this context, this paper offers a reading of urban public space not just as a consumption amenity but also as the 'shop floor' of a labor process that goes beyond the walls of the firm to mobilize the social itself in the production of privately appropriated value. With innovation now the watchword of gentrification, the stakes of this shift oscillate between the total commodification of urban vitality and the recognition of the social process of value production itself.
Baltodano, Joshua. “Lessons from the Mission District to Combat Housing Displacement in San Francisco and Beyond.” Harvard Kennedy School Review20 (January 2020): 113–16. https://search-ebscohost-com.webinfo.ndnu.edu:8080/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=144556021&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
The article explores the reasons behind the success of Mission District in San Francisco, California in combating housing displacement. Topics covered include the pioneering practices and policies it has implemented to combat gentrification, how the expansion of nonprofit development has helped in stabilizing affordable housing in the district, and community efforts to preserve the district's cultural identity.
Project conversation:
With my topic, I plan to discuss and analyze the public opinion on gentrification, specifically regarding employment, cultural identity, and urbanization. Personally, I feel quite passionate about the subject, having grown up in San Francisco, in the Sunset District. In regards to the subject, my friend and I found it slightly too broad, however, further research can hopefully allow me to condense the subject further. To remedy this, I suggested that I can focus my topic on a specific demographic, making sure my variables are as simple as possible. He agreed, mentioning I can find substantial evidence to supplement my topic.
Activities for Chapter 1
Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault in Native American Communities
1.
A. While the article itself presents substantial amounts of data and evidence, the samples discussed are rather outdated (primarily taken between the years 1995-1996). Although the studies conducted spanned across many varied Native American communities, it is nearly impossible to analyze the Native American population in its entirety, let alone take into account the "cultural, geographic, and environmental diversity" of the Native American population. However, they address this problem later in the article, acknowledging that "Because the evaluations of the programs referenced in this article are either nonexistent or unavailable, we recommend that researchers evaluate current, existing programs. Future research and service efforts may also explore variables such as cultural differences and similarities in language, values, and traditions, across tribes..." (361).
B. Measurement similarly seems a bit vague, as the measurements and studies they give are outdated, but again, they acknowledge that studying sexual assault is difficult, as the means to receive information are usually "anecdotal and/or experiential" (362), limiting their statistics and how accurately they can display data and analytics. They mention how "the NVAWS (National Violence Against Women Survey), similar to many surveys, relies on a random digit-dial method from households with a telephone; yet on many reservations, as many as 60% of households do not have telephones", addressing that the data reflects likely only represents those women who live in urban areas.
C. I don't believe Wahab and Olson examined a narrowly defined problem, as they discuss the varied places they extracted their data from. They also address where and how this data may have flaws or inconsistencies.
D. I think all the flaws I found were addressed in sections A and B.
E. Yes, I do feel as though the research makes an important contribution, as the article not only confirms that Native American women comparatively face more IPV and sexual assault than other women, but also addresses the historical context of said violence, and what can be done to prevent it. However, they acknowledge that this would take years and years of dismantling structures that are the products of colonization and attempted genocide.
2.
A. No. While the study discusses the demand and withdrawal behaviors in couples with a history of infidelity, they speak on it very generally. They present evidence and studies that could be conclusive, but they do not end up yielding any meaningful results. Aside from stating that results of demand and withdrawal behaviors within couples depend on the individuals and their situation (slightly deviating from previous studies that mentioned that women are more likely to develop demanding behaviors while men are more likely to develop withdrawal behaviors as a result of relationship dissatisfaction). While they mention the study is on couples in general, they only focus on heterosexual couples who are married or dating, going through the demographics of those surveyed (while they are fairly concrete statistics, they have no real correlation with the study). During the last section of the literature review
B. The literature has no cohesive structure. The review is not divided up by headings and subheadings, aside from the "Method" heading and the "Participants" subheading, making it rather challenging to determine where one section ends or begins. In addition to the review's lack of organization, its analysis is rather circumlocutory. It mentions statistics regarding infidelity rates, how bad communication between couples can lead to more infidelity, the demographics of those studied, the differences between individual behaviors depending on gender, and yet comes to no conclusion regarding the subject at hand.
C. I feel as though they have simply summarized the literature. The information and statistics are clearly delineated, and yet there is no conclusive reason as to why this review was presented other than to state "demanding and withdrawal behaviors within heterosexual couples exist". They simply state facts, and formulate no hypothesis, nothing of real benefit other than statements. Within their "Participants" section, in particular, they extensively go through demographics regarding age, race, education, even income, and yet this information is essentially irrelevant to the study at hand. This information does not provide anything substantial other than informing the reader of the participants of the study.
D. I do not believe the reviewers make an important contribution to knowledge. While a study does not necessarily need to be entirely conclusive in order to be useful, this review seems to provide nothing of real substance other than to inform readers that demanding and withdrawal behaviors are often present within relationships where an individual has had an affair.
Sunday, September 6, 2020
Introduction
Hello all,
My name is Karla Polanco, and I am an English and History double major here at NDNU. I was born in San Francisco, but moved to South San Francisco when I was eight years old. My parents were born in El Salvador, and I am the youngest of three siblings. Being the only child to go to college, I often feel a bit of pressure to do well and to make sure I succeed in all that I do. But even so, I try to not let those pressures get to me. I absolutely love studying literature and history, often just for fun, but when I'm not reading or studying, I enjoy writing fiction and drawing. As of late, I have not worked on anything personal of mine (perhaps it is a quarantine slump), but I intend to work on things for myself once I get back into the swing of things. I also enjoy studying languages and playing video games, though I'm not very good at either of those things.
I am very much looking forward to increasing my analytical and researching skills in this class. While I do well on my essays for English classes, I am certainly less confident writing essays and reports for my history and political science classes. I hope to elevate my skills, especially with gathering qualitative and quantitative information that I can use as evidence. I want to be comfortable using charts, graphs, statistics, etc. within my writing to supplement my claims in future essays. As I want to continue on to graduate school, and I am certain this class will help better prepare me for the work I will need to do there. For my career, I hope to become a writer or an editor for a historical or scientific magazine/publication (while I love English and History, I would have also loved to pursue something relating to environmental biology). Again, I'm certain this class will enhance my writing skills, and add on to what I already know about writing argumentative and analytical papers. I was initially a bit apprehensive when reading the description of this class, but now I find myself excited about the work and challenges ahead.