Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Although numerous studies have demonstrated that political knowledge levels among men generally exceed political knowledge levels for women, the magnitude of such gender disparities varies widely cross nationally. A modest gender gap exists in the United States, for example, versus much larger gaps in Central and Eastern Europe, and quite small gaps in Scandinavia.
In this paper, we examine possible determinants of the gender disparity in knowledge. Three explanations are considered: 1) that the gap in knowledge arises because political socialization encourages men to be more politically attentive and active than women; 2) that the gap stems from structural factors that impede political activity by women; and 3) that cultural norms in some nations discourage women from answering knowledge items in a manner that accurately reflects how much they do, in fact, know about politics.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The necessity to understand health disparities among ethnically diverse populations has increased significantly over the past few years. This movement is found in all levels of government, Federal, State and Local, as well as in health plans and ethnic communities. This paper reports on a study conducted for the Department of Health Services in the state of Minnesota by researchers at the University of Minnesota with the collaboration of Community Leaders from each of the targeted ethnic populations. The study was conducted in the medical assistance population in Minnesota. The intent of this research was to look at disparities in health status, access to health services and utilization of health services in six different ethnic populations: white, African American, American Indian, Somali Origin and Hmong. The study was conducted in the summer/fall of 2003 (RR1 54 percent, n=4919). This paper will report on a number of different items associated with self-reported health status: overall health status, health compared to others, physical activity limitation, days poor physical health, and days poor mental health. Analysis indicates that there are significant differences among the ethnic populations in each of these areas. The paper will have a detailed analysis of these differences by key variables (such as: age [adult/child], sex, perceived discrimination, etc.). The study will also look at how factors associated with survey administration (mode, mail v. telephone), language (English v. native language) influences the results. Analysis conducted to date suggests that there are significant differences in the areas of health status due to mode and language used to conduct the survey. Overall, these findings support the need to conduct more research on health disparities.

Publication Type: Proceeding

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Concomitant with growing recognition of racial and ethnic disparities in health care, there is growing appreciation of the digital divide, which may lead to inequities in the use of online health resources. Given the absence of studies examining the moderating influence of race and ethnicity on health Internet use, this article seeks to determine use of health websites by race and ethnicity—whether non-Hispanic White, African American, Hispanic, or Other, and to identify variation in characteristics associated with website use across each group examined. Data derive from 828 respondents to a November 2005 national survey. Findings indicate that the percentage of non-Hispanic Whites using the Internet (33.7%) exceed the percentage of African Americans (31.0%) and Hispanics (20.4%). Whereas better perceived health was associated with greater website use among Hispanics and Whites, stronger health literacy was associated with greater use among Hispanics. No African American or Hispanic respondents aged 65 years or older reported going online. The relationship between education and use was more than twice as strong for African Americans and Hispanics than other groups. From a young age members of underprivileged groups need to be taught not only to be active participants in their own health but to use the Internet as one tool toward achieving that goal.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper examines the intersection of family wealth inequality and the popular ideologies of meritocracy in children's lives. Specifically, this paper begins to explore the roles of American Dreams and disparities in the intergenerational reproduction of social stratification. As American parents raise their children, they do so with equally high hopes for achieving the American Dream of mobility and prosperity-but they do so with unequal resources. Wealth, as opposed to income, is often not earned through individual hard work or achievement, but rather is passed down, acquired, and accumulated in families throughout generations. Wealth creates a context that enables different families of different race and class backgrounds to present different opportunities to their children. While the ideology of meritocracy tells us that in this, "the land of opportunity," all children have the chance to rise to unlimited stature, contemporary research indicates that race and the vastly different wealth portfolios of their parents will be key determinants of a child's lifestyle, experiences, sets of opportunities, and life trajectory. What are the mechanisms and processes that maintain wealth inequality and how do these systematic disparities affect children? How do children themselves make sense of the seemingly contradictory reality of structured social stratification and popular ideologies of the American Dream? And how does this then contribute to social reproduction and social change? This paper addresses these questions and proposes areas of inquiry for future sociological research.