Browsing by Subject "Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies"

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    Body Language in Central America
    (2010-04-21) Svingen, Davis
    Much can be deduced about a culture’s attitude towards the body and persons with disabilities from the language used to describe them. For example, in the United States, language has evolved alongside the manner in which we understand and relate to people with disabilities, from “invalid,” to “disabled person.” Disability and language are so connected that the percentage of persons with disabilities in Honduras, according to a 2002 report of the Instituto Nacional de Estadística, varies from 0.2% to 20.9% depending solely upon the language used to describe “disability.” The field of Disabilities Studies is virtually unknown in the international arena and the goal of Dr. Patrick McNamara’s research is to bring this field of study to a wider audience in Mexico.
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    ¡Encuentro! A Healthy Youth Development Project Adolescent Contraceptive Use: Perspectives of Local Latina Youth
    (2011-04-13) Rosas-Lee, Maira
    In the United States and in Minnesota, Latina youth have the highest rates of teen pregnancy and birth of all major racial/ethnic groups. Latina girls are also less likely to use contraception than their non-Latina peers. Thus, it is imperative to develop pregnancy prevention programs tailored to Latina youth and their social and cultural contexts. As part of the ¡Encuentro! study, conducted with funds from the CDC, the purpose of this research is to examine influences on Latina teens’ decisions around contraceptive use, using data from focus groups conducted with Twin Cities Latina youth ages 14-22. This poster presents preliminary findings, from analysis of data from two female focus groups. Preliminary findings suggest cultural, social and individual-level influences on local Latinas decisions related to contraceptive use.