Muslim immigrants and religious group feelings: self-identification and attitudes among Sunni and Alevi Turkish-Dutch

Affective ratings of multiple religious (sub)groups (Muslims, Christians, Jews and non-believers, as well as Sunni, Alevi and Sjiit Muslims), the endorsement of Islamic minority rights and religious group identification were examined among Sunni and Alevi Turkish-Dutch participants. The findings show that both groups differ in important ways. Some Alevi participants considered themselves Muslims but others interpreted Alevi identity in a secular way. The Sunnis were quite negative towards Jews and non-believers, they more strongly endorsed Islamic minority rights and they had very high Muslim group identification. Furthermore, the Sunnis were negative towards Alevis and the Alevis were negative towards the Sunnis. Muslim group identification was positively and strongly related to feelings towards Muslims and to the endorsement of Islamic group rights.     

Entrepreneurship and interracial dynamics: a case study of self-employed Africans and Chinese in Guangzhou,China

ABSTRACT

Guangzhou is the most popular gateway city for African migration to China. Unlike stereotypical international migrants, Africans in Guangzhou are predominantly self-made entrepreneurs, doing business face-to-face with Chinese entrepreneurs who are mostly internal migrants with truncated citizenship rights. African-Chinese encounters in local markets and residential neighbourhoods offer a rare opportunity for studying interracial dynamics beyond the classic black-white dichotomy and traditional paradigm of ethnic entrepreneurship. In this paper, we draw from in-depth interviews and field observations to examine how interacting social forces shape interracial relations and mobility pathways for migrant entrepreneurs in an emerging city of opportunities. Our analyses suggest that interactions between African and Chinese entrepreneurs are economically interdependent and socioculturally contentious processes, and that these processes shape a myriad of intersecting identities and create room for cooperation that transcends race, class, and migrant status. We discuss the theoretical implications of these findings.     

新疆伊犁六个民族的初潮年龄

1983年7月至1984年7月,用回忆法调查了新疆伊犁地区3972名12—23岁的女性的初潮年龄,其中哈萨克族924人,维吾尔族864人,锡伯族486人,回族209人,蒙古族216人,汉族1273人。其平均初潮年龄是:哈萨克族14.37±1.09岁,维吾尔族14.34±1.41岁,蒙古族14.21±1.05岁,回族13.89±1.32岁,锡伯族13.78±1.02岁,汉族13.61±1.11岁。各族中均以七、八、九三个月来月经的最多。此外,还发现六个民族中1969—1972年出生的与1961—1964年出生的相比,平均初潮年龄都明显提前。在八年中,回族提前2.67岁,蒙古族提前1.90岁,锡伯族提前1.78岁,汉族提前1.64岁,哈萨克族提前1.17岁,维吾尔族提前1.13岁。     

白、苗、土家、彝族组特异性成分亚型的研究

用薄层聚丙烯酰胺凝胶等电聚焦结合免疫固定的方法分析了中国四个少数民族的组特异性成分(Gc)的亚型分布。白族、苗族、土家族、彝族Gc~1F的基因频率分别为0.4082,0.4229,0.3592,0.4248;Gc~1S的基因频率分别为0.3035,0.2687,0.2864,0.3301,Gc~2的基因频率分别为 0.2577,0.3035,0.3342,0.2208。另外,在四个民族中发现十六个个体带有Gc的罕见变异型等位基因。     

Population genetic studies in three Chinese minorities

Three minority ethnic groups from China (Mongolians, Koreans, Zhuang) were examined with respect to the genetic markers GLO, GPT, ACP, ESD, 6-PGD, PGM₁ subtypes, C3, and TF. Significant variations were noted for the gene frequencies of GLO, GPT, ESD, sub PGM₁ between Zhuang and Mongolians; for GPT, ACP, ESD, sub PGM₁ between Zhuang and Koreans; and for GLO between Mongolians and Koreans.     

Toward Comprehensive Obesity Prevention Programs in Native American Communities

Obesity is a particularly important challenge to the health status of Native Americans. This challenge is manifest in the increasing rates of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus among Native Americans. Most studies of Native American infants, preschool children, schoolchildren, and adults have confirmed a high prevalence of over weight Historical studies suggest that for many Native American communities the high rates of obesity are a relatively recent phenomenon. The specific reasons for the increase in obesity among Native Americans have not been determined, although it has been hypothesized that Native Americans have a genetic predisposition to over weight in a “westernized” environment of abundant food and decreased energy expenditure. Few detailed studies of diet or of physical activity levels of contemporary Native Americans have been published. Community-based interventions to modify diet and activity levels to prevent obesity in Native American communities are needed. Preliminary evidence from two formative school-based programs in the Southwest suggest that Native American communities are receptive to school-based interventions, and that such programs may be able to slow the rate of excess weight gain and to improve fitness in schoolchildren. Because of the cultural diversity among Native Americans, future studies should focus on collecting community- and region-specific data, and should emphasize the need for obesity prevention through culturally appropriate community-and school-based behavioral interventions.     

Identities in-between: the impact of satellite broadcasting on Greek Orthodox minority (Rum Polites) women's perception of their identities in Turkey

Abstract

This study aims to shed a light on women belonging to the Greek Orthodox Christian (Rum Polites) community in Istanbul, Turkey and their perception of their identity with the help of satellite broadcasting (ERT World). This research is the first attempt to analyse Rum women's viewing attitudes and their correlations with a number of variables such as education, age, family structure, religion, occupation, and their perceptions of themselves as part of a distinctive religious and cultural entity. Since the female members of the community are heavy television viewers, television is a powerful tool to construct a social reality and a sense of self. By conducting in-depth interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), this study aims to reveal how this unique community makes sense of their identities and social worlds through television.     

Reflections on Grant Evans’ The Politics of Ritual and Remembrance: Laos since 1975

In this article I reflect on Grant Evans’ landmark and influential The Politics of Ritual and Remembrance: Laos since 1975, the way in which this book relates to the transformation from socialism to post‐socialism in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), to the crisis of legitimacy of the communist regime, and to issues of social memory, Buddhism, nationalism, iconography, and ethnic minorities. I also consider how other scholars have engaged with The Politics of Ritual and Remembrance both critically and supportively since the publication of the monograph in 1998 . I include in my analysis some observations on Evans’ quite radical change in political views over his career as a student, journalist and academic, culminating in his critique of socialism in general and the LPDR in particular and his controversial sympathy for the Lao monarchy.     

Immigrant generation,religiosity and civic engagement in Britain

Abstract

Immigrant integration appears to be generational in the USA, and further facilitated by religious involvement. We examine whether similar patterns exist in Britain. We find evidence for secularization across ethnic minority groups, measured by private religious practice and religious salience. Communal religious practice appears robust to generational decline. Ethnic minority members of the second generation exhibit lower social trust; for the 1.5 generation, being more religious is associated with lower trust. However, members of the 1.5 and second generation are more civically involved than the first and religiosity further increases civic involvement. While anecdotal accounts suggest that religiosity has a particularly dissociative effect on the second generation, we find no evidence for this. In sum, successive generations of ethnic minority respondents appear to be secularizing; successive generations are more civically involved than the arriving generation, although less trusting; and immigrant religiosity promotes civic integration.