Browsing by Subject "Discrimination in employment--United States"
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Item Differences in the vocational rehabilitation process between African Americans and European Americans with specific learning disabilities on acceptance, services, and reasons for closure(2008-05) Elmore Williams, Precious Denise, 1979-; Sorrells, Audrey McCrayThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between consumer race and vocational rehabilitation acceptance, services, and reason for closure through the state/federal vocational rehabilitation system for in individuals with specific learning disabilities. The consumers who participated in the study were individuals who applied for services during the 2006 fiscal year with specific learning disabilities (SLD). The study included two different stratified samples of 400 African Americans with SLD and 400 European Americans with SLD. Several variables were held constant in this study. These variables included: (a) gender, (b) age at application, (c) level of education at application, (d) primary source of support at application, participation in special education (as evidenced by an individualized education program), and (e) presence of a significant disability. Related to acceptance, results from the logistic regression indicated that the presence of a significant disability was positively correlated with acceptance for services in both samples. That is individuals with a significant disability were more likely to be accepted for services than were individuals without a significant disability. There were no statistically significant differences found between African Americans with SLD and European Americans with SLD in Sample A. Conversely, statistically significant differences were found in Sample B. In Sample B African Americans with SLD were less likely than European Americans with SLD to be accepted for services. In addition, under the category of educational level at application, individuals with a special education certificate of completion/diploma in attendance were less likely to be accepted for services than other educational categories. Related to services, in Sample A, African Americans with SLD were less likely to receive college training than European Americans with SLD. In Sample B, African Americans with SLD were more likely to receive job readiness and transportation services. On-the-job training was provided more frequently for European Americans with SLD than African Americans with SLD. Related to reasons for closure, the chi-square was not significant in Sample A. However in Sample B statistically significant findings were revealed. African Americans with SLD were found more likely to be closed as 'unable to locate or contact' and 'failure to cooperate'. In addition, Sample African Americans with SLD were more likely to be closed 'other reasons'. By contrast, European Americans with SLD were found to be closed due to either refusal of services or further services and to achieve an employment outcome. Limitations of the study and implications for future research and practice were also discussed.Item The effects of race and gender on the superintendency: voices of African American female superintendents(2006) Johnson, Willie Yvonne; Cantu, Norma; Scheurich, James Joseph, 1944-Women continue to be underrepresented among American public school superintendents (Skrla, Reyes, & Scheurich, 2000), although they hold the majority of teaching positions and are the majority in administrative preparation courses. The situation is even worse for those who are female and African American. In contrast, White males represent 87% of superintendents (Bell & Chase, 1993). This qualitative study examined the effects of race and gender (the “double whammy”) on four African American female superintendents (two current and two former). This multiple case study presents the perceptions and stories of the intersectionality of race and gender within the superintendency for these four African American female superintendents. The study used critical race theory, Black feminist thought, and constructivist epistemologies and data-gathering techniques of participant observation, interviewing, and document collection. This study reveals ways African American female superintendents, in their own narrative voice, juggle their personal and professional lives as they struggle to be accepted as equals in their profession. By gaining a greater understanding of the race and gender inequity within the superintendency, educational communities have the opportunity to eliminate such inequities in the United States public school superintendency. Ultimately, this study contributes to a richer understanding of the context within which African American female superintendents work, which may improve their access to and retention in the superintendency.Item Inequality in housing and labor markets: three essays(2005) Myers, Caitlin K.; Hamermesh, Daniel S.; Wilson, Paul W.This dissertation is made up of three essays that examine racial and gender differentials in labor and housing markets. The first essay uses unique data on local television news to examine how firms may compete via employee differentiation in response to customer prejudice. The results indicate that there is a negative correlation between the racial, gender, and age composition of competing stations. Moreover, the ratings data suggest that the stations with relatively few blacks on-air are catering to the more discriminatory customers. While a similar result is found for age and gender, the reverse holds for other groups, suggesting possible tastes for diversity for Hispanics and Asians. Taken as a whole, the evidence supports a new theoretical model in which firms differentiate via the characteristics of their employees in response to customer prejudice. The second essay disentagles the relationship between race, neighborhood characteristics, and housing prices. Because race and neighborhood characteristics are strongly correlated, studies of racial housing price differentials have yielded results that vary widely depending on the types of neighborhood controls used. This paper shows that even with relatively thorough neighborhood controls, there is still evidence that correlation between the error term and regressors is a source of bias. While recent studies have tended to find evidence of a negative premium for blacks, fixed effects estimates in this paper indicate that black owners pay premiums of around 10 percent for housing. Moreover, house values decline in neighborhoods as the percentage of blacks increases, suggesting prejudicial attitudes. The third essay examines the labor market effects of Proposition 209, which ended state affirmative action programs in California. I use Current Population Survey (CPS) data and triple difference techniques to take advantage of the natural experiment presented by this change in state law to gauge the labor market impacts of ending affirmative action programs. There appears to have been little change in the relative unemployment rates of women and minorities, but labor force participation declined sharply. This decline suggests that either affirmative action programs in California had been inefficient or that they failed to create lasting change in prejudicial attitudes.Item A study of the career paths and patterns of African American superintendents(1997-08) Dunlop, Howard Kevan, 1954-; Estes, NolanThe purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate the professional experiences of African American superintendents. The research questions focused on: (1) career path and career patterns; (2) the extent of selected characteristics of their school districts prior and during their tenure as superintendents; and (3) the perceived racial barriers facing African American superintendents seeking the superintendency. A descriptive survey questionnaire was mailed to 202 African American superintendents. Frequency distribution and means were used to provide descriptive findings about career paths and career patterns. Correlations were used to identify the significance of relationships between prior and current selected school district characteristics. Perceived racial barriers were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis format. The findings of the study provided noteworthy information regarding biographical data, career paths to the superintendency, and career patterns of African American superintendents. This study offers concrete substantiation of the differences and similarities between African American superintendents and the general population of superintendents in the areas of age, gender, marital status, salary, highest degree held, positions prior to the superintendency, process for selection, and other professionally related variables. The findings further revealed that African American superintendents are associated with primarily two career path groups: traditional intermediate route and traditional long route in their path to the superintendency. Additionally, data from the study revealed numerous perceived racial barriers facing African Americans seeking superintendency positions. These barriers include: mobility, networking, boards of education, preparation and competence, opportunities, unrealistic expectations, lack of support, and discrimination. Furthermore, the findings indicated several significant correlations between prior and current school district characteristics. These findings include an increase in the following: current operating expense per-pupil, number of African American teachers, African American population, and African American female school board members in school districts where African Americans were superintendents. The findings of the study also indicate a decrease in White student enrollment and number of White teachers in school districts where African Americans were superintendents.