Beyond traditional understanding of gender measurement: the gender (re)presentation approach

This paper considers different approaches to measuring gender. It critically reviews gender role theorising and describes how this has informed two approaches to measuring gender as an individual phenomenon: gender orientation (the assessment of individual traits) and gender ideology (assessing individual endorsement, and internalisation, of social norms). It is argued here that social constructionist perspectives offer a viable alternative to gender role theory and that these inform an alternative approach to measuring gender as a social phenomenon: gender (re)presentation. This approach assesses group level endorsement of dominant gender representations. Endorsement is not seen to reflect individual traits or internalised social norms. Rather, it is understood as a social practice, made meaningful through shared understanding of dominant gender representation. This approach is introduced through a critique of the traditional concept of attitudes and a reformulation thereof. The practical measurement implications and benefit of this reformulation are outlined

Peak effect in a superconducting DyBa2Cu3O7-y film at microwave frequencies

We report the observation of a peak in the microwave (9.55 GHz) surface resistance in an epitaxial DyBa2Cu3O7-y superconducting film in magnetic fields (parallel to the c axis) ranging between 0.2 to 0.9 Tesla. Such a peak is absent in the measurements done in zero-field. The temperature and field dependence of the peak suggests that this peak could be associated with the peak effect phenomenon reflecting the order-disorder transformation in the flux-line lattice. A strong dependence of this peak effect at frequencies close to the depinning frequency of the flux line lattice is observed.Comment: 1 text, 4 figures (all postscript) to be published in Phys. Rev.

Chinese Consumer Response to Imported Fruit: Intended uses and their effect on perceived quality

Though imported fruit sells in China for many times the price of its local equivalent, and sometimes at prices higher than in developed countries, there are still many willing buyers. Previous reports argue that this purchase behaviour is impelled by the perceived high quality of imported fruit. However, perceived quality itself cannot explain this behaviour comprehensively without examining the intended use behind the decision to purchase. In this research we examined the relationships between intended use and people's perceptions of fruit quality. After convergent interviewing, an intercept mail survey of 1000 consumers was conducted in two different Chinese cities, Guangzhou (highly developed) and Urumqi (relatively undeveloped). The research identified five intended uses of imported fruit, each associated with different functions. Statistical analysis showed that intended use did affect people's perceptions of fruit quality, and that a significant difference exists between the two investigated cities in terms of the relative importance of the five intended uses. Results from this study could help to better understand why Chinese consumers purchase imported fruit and the interrelationships between quality attributes and intended uses. Such an understanding would be significant in developing strategies and policies in marketing imported fruit in China

Who Would Pay for Facebook? Self Esteem as a Predictor of User Behavior, Identity Construction and Valuation of Virtual Possessions

Abstract. Self-presentation is a major preoccupation in Facebook. Users carefully construct their online profile and assiduously edit postings on their wall in order to strategically shape their online persona. This study examines some psychological antecedents and consequences of such actions. In particular, we propose that users ’ self-esteem affects their sense of agency and self-monitoring tendencies, with the former leading to a fuller description of their profile and the latter contributing to more frequent customization of their wall. In turn, these behaviors are hypothesized to contribute to users ’ personal and social identity respectively, en route to affecting their valuation of Facebook as a virtual possession. Structural equation modeling analysis of survey data (N=221) largely supports this model and reveals that the personal identity reflected in one’s Facebook account is a major predictor of the degree to which one values it as a possession. We discuss the implications of “I ” vs. “Me ” in self-esteem with regard to virtual possessions in social networking environments