The construction of ethnic identity: insights from identity process theory

Ethnicity has received much empirical and theoretical attention in the social sciences. Yet, it has scarcely been explored in terms of its relationship with the motivational principles of identity. Here it is argued that there is much heuristic and predictive value in applying identity process theory (IPT), a socio-psychological model of identity threat, to the substantive literature on ethnicity. The paper explores the potential psychological benefits of ethnic identification. Key theoretical strands from anthropology and sociology, such as the ‘relational self’ in ethnic identification, are discussed in relation to IPT. The intergroup dimension of ethnic identification is explored through the discussion of ethnic 'boundaries'. Finally, the paper discusses the construct of 'hybridization' in relation to social psychology. This paper attempts to reconcile psychological and sociological perspectives on ethnic identification, advocating a multi-methodological approach. Key theoretical points are outlined in the form of testable hypotheses which are open to empirical exploration

The Perceived Benefits of Height: Strength, Dominance, Social Concern, and Knowledge among Bolivian Native Amazonians

Research in industrial countries suggests that, with no other knowledge about a person, positive traits are attributed to taller people and correspondingly, that taller people have slightly better socioeconomic status (SES). However, research in some non-industrialized contexts has shown no correlation or even negative correlations between height and socioeconomic outcomes. It remains unclear whether positive traits remain attributed to taller people in such contexts. To address this question, here we report the results of a study in a foraging-farming society of native Amazonians in Bolivia (Tsimane’)–a group in which we have previously shown little association between height and socioeconomic outcomes. We showed 24 photographs of pairs of Tsimane’ women, men, boys, and girls to 40 women and 40 men >16 years of age. We presented four behavioral scenarios to each participant and asked them to point to the person in the photograph with greater strength, dominance, social concern, or knowledge. The pairs in the photographs were of the same sex and age, but one person was shorter. Tsimane’ women and men attributed greater strength, dominance, and knowledge to taller girls and boys, but they did not attribute most positive traits to taller adults, except for strength, and more social concern only when women assessed other women in the photographs. These results raise a puzzle: why would Tsimane’ attribute positive traits to tall children, but not tall adults? We propose three potential explanations: adults’ expectations about the more market integrated society in which their children will grow up, height as a signal of good child health, and children’s greater variation in the traits assessed corresponding to maturational stages

Gender gaps in education

This chapter reviews the growing body of research in economics which concentrates on the education gender gap and its evolution, over time and across countries. The survey first focuses on gender differentials in the historical period that roughly goes from 1850 to the 1940s and documents the deep determinants of the early phase of female education expansion, including preindustrial conditions, religion, and family and kinship patterns. Next, the survey describes the stylized facts of contemporaneous gender gaps in education, from the 1950s to the present day, accounting for several alternative measures of attainment and achievement and for geographic and temporal differentiations. The determinants of the gaps are then summarized, while keeping a strong emphasis on an historical perspective and disentangling factors related to the labor market, family formation, psychological elements, and societal cultural norms. A discussion follows of the implications of the education gender gap for multiple realms, from economic growth to family life, taking into account the potential for reverse causation. Special attention is devoted to the persistency of gender gaps in the STEM and economics fields

Gender Gaps in Education

This chapter reviews the growing body of research in economics which concentrates on the education gender gap and its evolution, over time and across countries. The survey first focuses on gender differentials in the historical period that roughly goes from 1850 to the 1940s and documents the deep determinants of the early phase of female education expansion, including preindustrial conditions, religion, and family and kinship patterns. Next, the survey describes the stylized facts of contemporaneous gender gaps in education, from the 1950s to the present day, accounting for several alternative measures of attainment and achievement and for geographic and temporal differentiations. The determinants of the gaps are then summarized, while keeping a strong emphasis on an historical perspective and disentangling factors related to the labor market, family formation, psychological elements, and societal cultural norms. A discussion follows of the implications of the education gender gap for multiple realms, from economic growth to family life, taking into account the potential for reverse causation. Special attention is devoted to the persistency of gender gaps in the STEM and economics fields

Islam and human capital in historical Spain

We use a unique dataset on Muslim domination between 711-1492 and literacy in 1860 for about 7500 municipalities to study the long-run impact of Islam on human-capital in historical Spain. Reduced-form estimates show a large and robust negative relationship between length of Muslim rule and literacy. We argue that, contrary to local arrangements set up by Christians, Islamic institutions discouraged the rise of the merchant class, blocking local forms of self-government and thereby persistently hindering demand for education. Indeed, results show that a longer Muslim domination in Spain is negatively related to the share of merchants, whereas neither later episodes of trade nor differences in jurisdictions and different stages of the Reconquista affect our main results. Consistent with our interpretation, panel estimates show that cities under Muslim rule missed-out on the critical juncture to establish self-government institutions

Gis to improve knowledge, management and promotion of an archaeological park: the valorisation project of Unesco etruscan site in Cerveteri, Italy.

Within the valorisation project of the Etruscan Necropoli, a UNESCO site in Cerveteri – the ancient Caere city developed between the 9th and 2nd century BC, 40 km far from of Rome – we realised a unique GIS application, called SITAC, that responds to knowledge, project and management needs. The main project aims to preserve and promote cultural heritage and to grant tourist access to the archaeological, naturalistic and landscape resources: a light electrical train circuit will become the accessibility backbone of this sophisticated complex of more than 500 tombs, often superposed, green areas, viewpoints, almost 5 km of narrows etruscan roads developed in volcanic rocks. SITAC project started with the 3D analysis performed on recent aerial photos producing an High Resolution DEM (2x2 mt) of the area. The largest part of this area is still under a thick vegetation coverage and many ancient structures have to be excavated. The project is based on the organization of several thematic layers, vector and raster, in GIS environment. Work proceeded with the integration of different data: survey measurements, dGPS data, photo-interpretation of recent and historical aerial views, historical cartography at different scales, pictures campaign with metrical information and other multimedia documentation. The integration process has been developed giving a reliability order to the data. We assumed survey measurements as the most accurate ones, on which others data have been referred and adapted. Than, the dGPS data, affected by low precision under the vegetation coverage, have been used only for xy mapping while for the z value, we used the surveys points as Ground Control Point (GCP). Again, other features, on different themes, have been referred to the map obtained from survey measurements and dGPS data. We integrated into the SITAC the information given by the historical cartography, the tombs recognized by photo-interpretation, the tabular data obtained by the archaeological outcrops field classification and the photographic documentation of the site. The first results of surveying and GIS application are: the tourist paths definition, the definition of alternative routes for a light train, the base maps and vertical views for the execution of primary intervention on the site (cleaning monuments entrances, paths preparation, security and monitoring systems, wood structures, emergency restoration programming). This sets SITAC as the main system in planning, projecting, evaluating activities concerning the area and as a useful support to decision making processes. The Next step is the GIS integration of the archaeological database, supplied from experts and institutions involved in the project. Georeferencing this documentation is the first step to offer on site the desired descriptions through mobile devices and smart panels – with texts, maps, pictures, audio files. This database will be devoleped referring to three kind of users: 1) expert users for technical purpose: historical analysis, cataloguing, excavation, conservation and restoration plans, risk evaluation; 2) for direct support to tourism, with the full representation of itineraries, facilities and services; 3) remote users, for communication and promotion purpose with interactive and multimedia solutions: virtual tours and museums, cd-rom, webgi