Gender Role Socialization and the Choice of an Agriculture Curriculum

Little is actually known about this trend of women entering into gender atypical areas of study because it is so recent. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to examine the trend of women moving into one non-traditional area of study, agriculture, and to examine the social and demographic characteristics of women who choose to study agriculture. The study has been conducted at SDSU, with samples of both male and female students from introductory agriculture classes. This has permitted comparisons and contrasts to be drawn between male and female students who are beginning their studies in agriculture. Research Problem This study is particularly concerned with female students who enroll in agricultural curricula at SDSU. The specific problem addressed is as follows: To what extent are female students who enter into the study of agriculture at South Dakota State University similar to each other in terms of: (1) support and encouragement received from family, teachers and counselors, and peers; (2) their beliefs about appropriate and inappropriate male and female roles; and (3) their social and demographic background characteristics? Objectives The objectives of the study are as follows: 1) To determine if female and male students enrolled in beginning agricultural courses are similar to or different from one another in their gender-role attitudes and orientations; 2) To determine if female students in agriculture are more likely than male students to have mothers involved in non-traditional occupations; 3)To determine if female and male students are likely to aspire to the same majors in an agricultural curriculum; and 4) To determine if female and male students in agriculture are likely to aspire to similar occupations in agriculture or agriculturally-related fields

Extremist Groups of the Midwest: A Content Analysis of Internet Websites

This study involved the examination and analysis of Internet websites maintained by four hate groups and 16 militia groups located in South Dakota and the surrounding contiguous states. Websites were examined in order to gain a better understanding about these groups, their perspectives, and their stated agendas. The websites of militia groups were also compared and contrasted with those of hate groups. Information on the groups was gathered directly from the web pages maintained by these hate groups and militias. One of the research questions in this study asked if militia groups can be categorized as hate groups. This study identified the stated goals/purposes of the groups, important issues to the groups, analysis by the groups of important issues, and groups\u27 strategies for dealing with what they perceive to be the problem. On the basis of these four criteria, the hate groups and militias were compared and contrasted. In terms of stated goals/purposes, hate groups and militias were determined not to be similar to each other. The hate groups in this study focused on race and/or citizenship, while the militias concentrated on strict interpretation of the Constitution, fundamentalist religious beliefs, protection of and from the government, and/or personal freedoms