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Scholars have argued that there is a silence related to social class status in educational literature. Consequently, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to develop an understanding of the educational experiences of working-class African American women doctoral students at predominantly White institutions and what factors influence their doctoral persistence. Black feminist thought and the social class worldview model informed the conceptualization of the study. Ten doctoral students completed individual 2-phase semistructured interviews. Three themes reflected students' educational experiences and doctoral persistence: (a) working-class virtues, (b) development of self-efficacy and resiliency, and (c) utilization of personal and academic support systems. Implications for practice, research, and advocacy that support the academic persistence of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are discussed.

An overview of access to and use of general infertility and assisted reproductive technology (ART) services in the United States (U.S.) shows a declining trend for the ever-use of infertility services. Moreover, the use of ART services lags relative to other member nations of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Access to and use of general infertility and ART services is primarily undermined by a severely constrained underwriting universe dominated by self-insured employers and by a finite number of state infertility insurance mandates. The contribution of traditional public and private payers to the underwriting of ART is limited. As compared with OECD member nations wherein the access to and underwriting of general infertility and ART services is universal, the current status quo in the U.S. can only be characterized as dismal. Further, the current state of affairs is socially unjust in that the right to build a family in the face of infertility appears to have become a function of economic prowess. Given the dominance of the self-insured employers as underwriters of general infertility and ART services, advocacy directed at this interest group is likely to prove most productive. Improving the state of underwriting of general infertility and ART services in the U.S. must be embraced as a central moral imperative and as an unwavering strategic goal of the professional societies entrusted with the reproductive health of women and men.

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The purpose of this study was to explore students' technology use and its relationship with their psychosocial development. Previous research explored students' computer use in conjunction with their cognitive development. This study examined the effects of computer use and other technologies, such as instant messaging, handheld gaming devices, and MP3 players, and the impact they have on students' peer relationships, academic involvement, and healthy lifestyles. Results show both positive and negative effects on all three constructs of psychosocial development, including differences based on gender and race. Student engagement on campuses is different than it was a decade ago.

Human trafficking is increasingly recognized as an outcome of economic insecurity, gender inequality, and conflict, all significant factors in the region of southern Africa. This paper examines policy responses to human trafficking in southern Africa and finds that there has been a diffusion of international norms to the regional and domestic levels. This paper finds that policy change is most notable in the strategies and approaches that differ at each level: international and regional agreements emphasize prevention measures and survivor assistance, but national policies emphasize prosecution measures. Leaders across the region have adapted these policy norms to fit regionally specific conditions, including HIV/AIDS, conflict, traditional leaders, and prostitution. Yet, national policies often fail to incorporate preventative solutions to address gender inequality, human rights, and economic development. Until appropriate funding and preventative measures are introduced, the underlying issues that foster human trafficking will continue. KeywordsNorms diffusion -Human trafficking -Southern African Development Community -ProstitutionChild trafficking 2 This paper examines policy approaches used to address human trafficking in southern Africa. 1 We argue that the theories of international norm diffusion and localization Human trafficking and gender-based violence are extremely prevalent in post-conflict societies as unexpected and lasting consequences of war. Facilitated by poverty, disruption in social structures, and discriminatory gender systems, human trafficking poses a threat to human security in Africa by challenging the rule of law, societal peace, and the welfare state (Jonsson 2009). Many southern African countries experienced protracted civil conflict in their quest to gain independence from colonial and apartheid powers during the latter half of the 20 th century. Now, more than two decades after liberation in most countries, the legacies of war and racial and gender inequality remain. There have been successful, national-level public initiatives to increase women's representation in national office, implement democratic institutions, and support transformative development programs. Despite these initiatives, the region still faces significant gender inequality, economic disparity, and interpersonal violence at the grassroots and household level. This context creates an enabling environment for human trafficking. The region is increasingly being utilized as a source of trafficked persons, a transit hub for trafficking networks, and a destination for trafficked persons and sex trafficking. for understanding how trafficking policies are being developed in southern Africa, and these support for this study. We especially thank Larry Hoyle of IPSR for his assistance in the use of Atlas.ti. We also wish to thank Alexandria Innes for her assistance with the French translation. We are grateful to the helpful comments from members of the Continuity, Change, and Credibility of Institutions (CCCI) Wor...

The purpose of this study was to explore students’ technology use and its relationship with their psychosocial development. Previous research explored students’ computer use in conjunction with their cognitive development. This study examined the effects of computer use and other technologies, such as instant messaging, handheld gaming devices, and MP3 players, and the impact they have on students’ peer relationships, academic involvement, and healthy lifestyles. Results show both positive and negative effects on all three constructs of psychosocial development, including differences based on gender and race.