Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Habitat Division'

Riparian systems are important for breeding bird communities and are highly used as migratory corridors; however, their importance for wintering birds has not been assessed systematically. In order to assess the value of riparian areas for birds wintering in Sonora, data from 1,816 standard point counts were collected from 87 locations during January and February 2004-2006. A total of 253 species were detected across 14 vegetation types, including nine categories of riparian vegetation. The mean number of species and individuals detected per count was significantly higher in riparian vegetation than in non-riparian vegetation for migratory species, but not for residents. Riparian bird communities are different from those in non-riparian habitats, and contribute 22% of the regional avifauna's species.
Anthropogenic disturbance has imposed significant changes in riparian habitats, and is known to have negative effects on biological communities. To assess the effects of human induced disturbance on wintering bird communities, I recorded community composition, relative abundance of species, and three indicators of bird condition in relatively undisturbed and highly disturbed sites at three river systems in Sonora. There is, in general, little effect of disturbance on the composition of wintering communities, with less than 20% of the most common species having significant differences in their abundances between relatively undisturbed and highly disturbed sites. Condition indicators were similar in the two disturbance levels, but the mean heterophil/lymphocyte ratio in the blood of sampled birds showed increased levels of physiological stress in disturbed sites. A more experimental approach is needed to determine the specific cause of the stress expression in leucocytes.
Modification of natural flooding regimes has modified riparian areas, as has been the case in the Colorado River Delta. I present a summary of the changes experienced by riparian systems and some of the measures implemented for riparian restoration in the southwestern United States, and then I compare the scenario with that in central Sonora, where some of the same stressors exist on riparian systems, but where traditional management practices have also mitigated some of the negative consequences of flow control along mid-sized river systems.

We describe the ecology of off-channel or "lateral" habitats as key attributes of the Shifting Habitat Mosaic (SHM) of a river flood plain at the Nyack Research Natural Area in northwestern Montana. Our working hypothesis was that lateral habitats are important to the cycling of energy and materials within the SHM and contribute greatly to the productivity and biodiversity of the floodplain ecosystem. We produce a quantitative description of temperature variation across aquatic and terrestrial habitats at Nyack. Thermal patterns across lateral habitats indicate vast differences exist between lateral habitats in habitat suitability for aquatic organisms over an annual cycle. Existing thermal regimes favor life history diversification. We further document the impacts of flood disturbances on organic matter accumulation by aquatic primary producers in off-channel environments. We were able to show that the annual flood pulse disturbance was the major force controlling periphyton community biomass, nutrient status, and species composition, with secondary control by surface and groundwater mediated water chemistry fluctuations during lower flow periods. We end with a study relating biodiversity pattern and process to lateral habitat heterogeneity. Data supported our prediction that densities and diversity of organisms and food webs of the flood plain would be greatly increased if off-channel habitats as well as main channel habitats were included. Collectively, lateral habitats uniquely support 50% of the total documented aquatic biodiversity of the entire floodplain. We conclude that lateral habitats contribute significantly to the biocomplexity of alluvial floodplain ecosystems.

Dissertação(mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós–Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, 2013
Submitted by Cristiane Gomides (cristiane_gomides@hotmail.com) on 2013-12-16T11:59:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 rodrigo.pdf: 2838178 bytes, checksum: 0ed5e3967d18f3075d7e2c1c3f615170 (MD5)
Approved for entry into archive by Sabrina Andrade (sabrinabeatriz@ibest.com.br) on 2013-12-18T18:12:23Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 rodrigo.pdf: 2838178 bytes, checksum: 0ed5e3967d18f3075d7e2c1c3f615170 (MD5)
Made available in DSpace on 2013-12-18T18:12:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 rodrigo.pdf: 2838178 bytes, checksum: 0ed5e3967d18f3075d7e2c1c3f615170 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013
Investigamos a estrutura social e padrões espaciais de uso da área por uma população de golfinhos, Tursiops truncatus, que habitam o estuário da Lagoa dos Patos e águas costeiras adjacentes, no sul do Brasil. Nós estimamos o índice de associação a partir de 102 indivíduos regularmente observados em 243 saídas de foto-identificação realizadas entre agosto de 2005 e outubro de 2012. As análises sociais e de rede, com a divisão proposta pela modularidade, indicou que esta população de botos é composta por três unidades sociais principais. Embora exista certa sobreposição espacial, houve distinção entre as zonas preferenciais de cada unidade. Uma das unidades esta fortemente associada com o estuário da Lagoa dos Patos, enquanto as outras duas ocuparam, respectivamente, as áreas marinhas adjacentes norte e sul. Dentro das unidades, as associações entre os indivíduos foram predominantemente de curta duração (dinâmica de fissão-fusão), embora tenham sido identificadas algumas associações de longa duração. Embora tenham ocorrido interações entre as unidades sociais, as associações foram rápidas e ocorreram apenas entre alguns indivíduos. A segregação destes indivíduos é motivada, pelo menos em parte, pelos padrões de associação entre os indivíduos e sua fidelidade a áreas específicas. Recomenda-se que as unidades sociais sejam a base para modelar a viabilidade e dinâmica intrapopulacional, bem como para investigação de padrões de fluxo gênico dentro e entre unidades sociais.
We investigated the social structure and spatial patterns of area usage by a population of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, inhabiting the Patos Lagoon estuary and adjacent coastal waters, in southern Brazil. We estimated the association index from 102 individuals regularly sighted in 243 photo-identification surveys carried out between August 2005 and October 2012. Social and network analyses, with the division proposed by modularity, indicated that this bottlenose dolphin population consists of three social units. Although some spatial overlap exists, preferred areas of each unit were distinct. One of the units was strongly associated with the Patos Lagoon estuary while the other two occupied, respectively, the southern and northern adjacent marine coasts. Within unit associations among individuals were predominantly of short duration (fission-fusion dynamics), though a few long-lasting bonds were detected. Although interactions between social units occurred, the associations were brief and occurred only among a few individuals. The segregation of these individuals is motivated, at least in part, by the bonding patterns among individuals and their fidelity to specific areas. It is recommended that the social units be the framework for modeling the intrapopulation dynamic and viability as well as for investigating patterns of gene flow within and between social units.

Syftet med studien var att kartlägga föräldrarna till de barn som 2012 blev uttagna till Västervikslägret i fotboll, det första steget i svensk fotbolls nationella selektionssystem. Vi ville undersöka föräldrarnas utbildnings- och idrottskulturella kapital som grundar sig i habitusbegreppet (Bourdieu, 1984), hur föräldrarnas engagemang i sina barns idrottande ser ut, samt diskutera vilken roll föräldrarna kan ha för barnens idrottsutveckling. Många idrottare uppger att föräldrarna har haft en väldigt stor betydelse för deras idrottande (Peterson, 2011). Däremot saknas kunskapen om vad det i praktiken är föräldrarna gör och vilka de är. Studien är byggd på en surveyundersökning där kvantitativ data har samlats in genom en enkätundersökning och urvalsgruppen var föräldrar till de ungdomar som 2012 deltog på Västervikslägret i fotboll, det första steget i uttagningsprocessen till ett första ungdomslandslag. Vi har analyserat resultaten utifrån ett habitusperspektiv som till stor del är styrande över de val, inställningar och möjligheter människor har inom olika fält. Resultaten visade tendenser på att personer med högt utbildningskapital i större utsträckning än i samhället i stort är representerade inom idrotten samt att en stor andel föräldrar har utövat idrott på nationell nivå. Föräldrarna är i stor utsträckning även engagerade och involverade i sina barns idrottande.

Nutrition knowledge, Locus of Control, and dietary practices were assessed and compared among male and female athletes at Ball State University with the goal of designing an appropriate nutrition education program. Members of the men's basketball (n=ll), track (n=12) and women's basketball (n=12) and track (n=14) teams were selected as participants in this study. Each participant was required to complete nutrition knowledge, Locus of Control and food frequency questionnaires in addition to completing three 24-hour food recalls on separate occasions.Comparison between gender revealed that female athletes had greater nutrition knowledge levels than male athletes. Women averaged only 90% of advisable caloric intake whereas men exceeded their advisable caloric intake.Male athletes were found not to have better dietary practices than female athletes as previous research suggest. In fact, males exceeded the percent of advisable intake of protein and fat. While, women exceeded advisable protein intake, they consumed less than the maximum advisable fat intake.Comparisons made between sport form revealed two trends: (1) track athletes had greater nutrition knowledge than basketball players and (2) track athletes tended to consume a greater percent of kcalorie intake as protein than basketball athletes.It can be concluded from this study that greater nutrition education should be given to male athletes to encourage lower fat and protein intake. Female athletes need to be educated in the areas of approximate caloric and protein intake. All the athletes need to be educated in general nutrition and nutrition as it relates to physical activity. Further investigation is needed to evaluate the effect of Locus of Control on the dietary practices of both male and female athletes.
Institute for Wellness

Abstrakt Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur kvinnor upplever arbetsfördelningen mellan könen i hemmet. Vårt mål är att skapa en förståelse samt belysa hur sju unga kvinnor som lever i en samborelation upplever den könsrelaterade fördelningen vad gäller hushållssysslor i de svenska hemmen idag. För att besvara studiens syfte använde vi oss av en kvalitativ metod där vi utgick från hermeneutiken som metodansats. Vi utförde sju semistrukturerade intervjuer, i syfte att fånga upp och beröra kvinnornas upplevelser och erfarenheter. Materialet vi fick ut av intervjuerna analyserades med begrepp som Individualisering (Beck), Första och Andra skiftet (Hochschild), Habitus (Bourdieu) samt Det andra könet (de Beauvoir). Studiens resultat visar att majoriteten av kvinnorna upplever att de utför mer hemarbete än sin partner. Vi kunde utläsa att kvinnorna har utformat olika strategier i syfte att få sin partner att utföra mer hushållssysslor, något som i våra ögon innebär att de får ta rollensom ”projektledare” i många fall. Resultatet indikerar även på att det finns en kluvenhetmellan en ny medvetenhet och gamla förhållanden, vilket hos kvinnorna har skapat såväl nya förväntningar som önskningar på situationen i hemmet. Detta är bland annat ett svar på framväxten av ett mer individualiserat samhälle där jämställdhetsfrågor står allt mer i fokus.
The purpose of this study is to highlight how women experience the division of labour at home between genders. Our goal is to create an understanding as well as illustrate how young women living in a co-relationship experience the gender-related distribution of domestic household chores in Swedish homes today. In order to answer the study's purpose, we used a qualitative method where we went from hermeneutics as a method. We conducted seven semi-structured interviews in order to capture and touch the women's experiences and experiences. The material we received from the interviews was analyzed with concepts such as Individualization (Beck), First and Second Shift (Hochschild), Habitus (Bourdieu) and The Second Sex (de Beauvoir). The study's findings show that the majority of women feel that they are doing more housework than their partner. We could state that women have designed different strategies to make their partners perform more household chores, which in our eyes means that they can take the role of "project manager" in many cases. The result also indicates that there is a gap between a new awareness and old conditions, which in women has created new expectations as well as the wishes of the home situation. This is, among other things, a response to the emergence of a more individualized society where equality issues are increasingly in focus.

Physiotherapy in Sweden has developed from a practical, hands-on, assistant job predominantly taught at college level to a university-based academic discipline emphasising evidence-based practice and research. Women are in majority although an increasing number of men have entered the profession. Women and men physiotherapists tend to undertake different career paths. The overall aim of the present thesis was to use a gender perspective to describe and analyse attitudes to the professional role, health care work and the development of the profession among actors engaged in physiotherapy education. A questionnaire was distributed in 1997 to all Swedish physiotherapy students in the second semester of the education (n=273). The same cohort was investigated in 1999 at the completion of the education. The response rate was 93 percent at both occasions. For an international comparison, the same questionnaire was distributed in 1997 and in 1999 to a group of Canadian physiotherapy students in their first and last semesters (n=60). Qualitative research interviews were conducted with 8 novices in physiotherapy and with 14 women educators in academia. Five focus group discussions with clinical supervisors were conducted (10 women and 5 men). Methods used were Grounded theory, factor analysis, logistic regression and path analysis. Feminist theories and Bourdieu's theory of culture constituted a theoretical framework Four ideal types were identified among the novices representing attitudes to the professional role. The Treater and The Supervisor were attitudes found among the women, whereas The Coach and The Entrepreneur were attitudes among the men. Type of health care facility was important for their positioning in the organisational hierarchy. Swedish students favour future employment in private practice. Sports medicine clinics and fitness centres are health care facilities highly endorsed, as is health promotion. Neither care of elderly nor hospital work are preferable fields of practice. Research is not favoured. Men students are more likely to have chosen the profession because of their interest in physical activity and sports. They are also more likely to prefer owning a private clinic and working with alternative approaches such as fitness training in sports medicine clinics. Women students are more likely to prefer an employment in private practice. The Canadian men students favour private practice whereas the women prefer the public sector of health care. The academic educators experience a gap between theory and practice which causes conflicting messages to students. Competing professions, emergent societal change and a conservative clinical practice constitute threats to the profession. The uniqueness of professional competency, theoretical development and new arenas such as home rehabilitation, consulting and research constitute a vision for future development of the profession. Masculinity is highly valued for status and power whereas femininity symbolises empathy and caring. The clinical supervisors update their theoretical knowledge base through supervision of students, but claim that students lack hands-on skills. Stress at work, unequal power relations in the hierarchy and restructuring of health care are factors that influence work satisfaction negatively. To conclude, gendered habitus, different symbolic capital and different attitudes towards health care work and development of the profession were found in the sub-fields of physiotherapy.
digitalisering@umu

Cette thèse traite des effets de la migration sur le statut professionnel et social des travailleuses domestiques et des nouveaux rapports de subordination qui en découlent, analysés à l'intersection des rapports de genre, de classe et de « race ». Le but de cette recherche est d'aborder l'ordre hiérarchique de ces différents rapports et d'analyser les causes structurelles de la subordination. Les travailleuses migrantes chaoxianzu appartenaient à la classe symboliquement au pouvoir dans la Chine socialiste, en tant qu’ouvrières industrielles et agricoles. En examinant leur expérience de travail dans cinq villes de trois pays - France, Corée du Sud et Chine - nous analysons comment les conditions de travail de chaque société d’immigration affectent leur statut en tant que travailleuses. Les participantes à notre recherche vivent et perçoivent leur expérience de travail à la lumière de l’habitus professionnel de la Chine socialiste, basé sur la fierté en tant que travailleuses. Selon leur perception, dans la migration, elles ne changent pas pour un niveau hiérarchique et professionnel inférieur, mais souffrent, collectivement, de la position subalterne des travailleurs domestiques sans-papiers dans le référentiel de l’ordre hiérarchique de la société capitaliste. Plutôt qu'un travail trivial, elles perçoivent leur métier comme une somme de tâches nobles, physiques et émotionnelles. Elles s’inscrivent dans la chaîne globalisée du care. Mais, en s'interrogeant sur leur statut subalterne, elles remettent en cause la logique de reproduction de la hiérarchie sociale
This thesis deals with the effects of migration on the occupational and social status of domestic workers and the resulting new relationships of subordination that are analyzed at the intersection of gender, class and ‘race’ relations. The purpose of this research is to address the hierarchical order of these different relationships and to analyze the structural causes of subordination. The Chaoxianzu women migrant workers belonged to the class symbolically in power in socialist China, as industrial and agricultural workers. By examining their work experience in five cities in three countries - France, South Korea and China - we analyze how the working conditions of each immigration society affect their status as women workers. The participants in our research live and perceive their work experience in light of their professional habitus of socialist China, based on pride as women workers. According to their perception, in migrating they do not change for a lower hierarchical and professional level, but collectively suffer from the subordinate position of undocumented domestic workers typical for capitalist society’s hierarchical order. Rather than perceiving their job as trivial, they see it as a sum of noble, physical and emotional tasks. They are part of the global chain of care. But, in questioning their subordinate status, they undermine the logic inherent to the reproduction of social hierarchies

À partir de quatre enquêtes empiriques resituées au sein des transformations de la société salariale, nous avons mis en évidence la fragilisation matérielle et symbolique d'une grande partie des membres des classes populaires occupant des positions subalternes. Confrontés à l'impératif social de réussite individuelle, ces individus ne peuvent se reposer que sur des dispositifs publics dont l'incitation à l'individualisation constitue un mode rhétorique et pratique d'atomisation socialisée qui tend à renforcer la logique oppressive des rapports sociaux, et à accentuer la souffrance sociale. S'accompagnant d'un déni croissant de la dignité et des attentes individuelles, cette situation conduit à une autonomie sociopsychique au mieux " contrôlée ", au pire soumise. En effet, les processus de naturalisation présents dans les dispositions individuelles permettent certes de lutter contre la souffrance, mais freinent les possibilités de luttes collectives qui viseraient à remettre en cause l'" ordre des choses ".

Como elemento incontornável na definição da imagem e forma da paisagem, bem como instrumento que molda, organiza e hierarquiza o Homem tanto em relação ao território como em relação ao seu semelhante, o muro é, como figura de pensamento um elemento bastante rico. A reflexão teórica deste trabalho, procura interpretar o elemento muro como conceito geral, identificando-o nos seus vários conceitos e estereotomias, (muro, parede, muralha, barreira) ao mesmo tempo que procura interpretar o simbolismo inerente às suas várias e distintas interacções com o Homem e com a paisagem, tendo por base os conceitos de superfície, enclosure e divisão. A proposta de projecto, tendo como caso de estudo a cidade de Alcácer do Sal, pretende o redesenho da sua linha marginal, e surge como resultado de uma leitura cuidadosa da génese da cidade. Partindo do conceito de limite, pretende trabalhar o sistema urbano da cidade no encontro com as características paisagísticas do lugar.
As an indisputable element in the definition of the form and image of the landscape, as well as an instrument, which organizes and hierarchizes Man both in relation to the territory as well as to his similar, the wall is, as a figure of thought, a very rich element. This thesis’s theoretical reflection intends to interpret the wall as a general concept, identifying its various meanings shapes and manifestations, while at the same it reflects on the different symbolical meanings inherent to its various and distinct interactions with Man and with the landscape, under the concepts of surface, enclosure and division. The project proposal consists in reshaping Alcácer’s shoreline, and starting from the concept of boundary, intends to explore the relation between the city’s urban system and the characteristics of the surrounding landscape.

The aim of this bachelor thesis is to study the violations of soccer rules committed by male soccer players. Our methodological approach is qualitative, and our material consists of interviews with six players and three coaches active in division four and five in Småland. The theoretical framework we use consists of two concepts, namely social control and habitus in relation to fields. Our result display that there occure two different kinds of rule violations, intellectual and emotional. The intellectual rule violations are characterized by consideration of gain and loss. The emotional rule violations are not characterized by reflection from players but originate from negative emotions, these emotions in turn engender rule violations. Throughout these two themes we argue that both players and coaches are influenced by their experiences and past. This prehistory gives players and coaches schemas which help them to know when it is accepted to break or not to break the rules of soccer. The intellectual rule violations are motivated through the behavioral schema that both players and coaches have. These schemas are reproduced by informal comprehensions that exists in the world of soccer. The emotional rule violations are also motivated through behavioral schemas but are unlike the intellectual violations counteracted by informal comprehension. Although, these violations are still reproduced as they are deeply embedded in player and coaches behavioral schemas.

Cette thèse traite des effets de la migration sur le statut professionnel et social des travailleuses domestiques et des nouveaux rapports de subordination qui en découlent, analysés à l'intersection des rapports de genre, de classe et de « race ». Le but de cette recherche est d'aborder l'ordre hiérarchique de ces différents rapports et d'analyser les causes structurelles de la subordination. Les travailleuses migrantes chaoxianzu appartenaient à la classe symboliquement au pouvoir dans la Chine socialiste, en tant qu’ouvrières industrielles et agricoles. En examinant leur expérience de travail dans cinq villes de trois pays - France, Corée du Sud et Chine - nous analysons comment les conditions de travail de chaque société d’immigration affectent leur statut en tant que travailleuses. Les participantes à notre recherche vivent et perçoivent leur expérience de travail à la lumière de l’habitus professionnel de la Chine socialiste, basé sur la fierté en tant que travailleuses. Selon leur perception, dans la migration, elles ne changent pas pour un niveau hiérarchique et professionnel inférieur, mais souffrent, collectivement, de la position subalterne des travailleurs domestiques sans-papiers dans le référentiel de l’ordre hiérarchique de la société capitaliste. Plutôt qu'un travail trivial, elles perçoivent leur métier comme une somme de tâches nobles, physiques et émotionnelles. Elles s’inscrivent dans la chaîne globalisée du care. Mais, en s'interrogeant sur leur statut subalterne, elles remettent en cause la logique de reproduction de la hiérarchie sociale
This thesis deals with the effects of migration on the occupational and social status of domestic workers and the resulting new relationships of subordination that are analyzed at the intersection of gender, class and ‘race’ relations. The purpose of this research is to address the hierarchical order of these different relationships and to analyze the structural causes of subordination. The Chaoxianzu women migrant workers belonged to the class symbolically in power in socialist China, as industrial and agricultural workers. By examining their work experience in five cities in three countries - France, South Korea and China - we analyze how the working conditions of each immigration society affect their status as women workers. The participants in our research live and perceive their work experience in light of their professional habitus of socialist China, based on pride as women workers. According to their perception, in migrating they do not change for a lower hierarchical and professional level, but collectively suffer from the subordinate position of undocumented domestic workers typical for capitalist society’s hierarchical order. Rather than perceiving their job as trivial, they see it as a sum of noble, physical and emotional tasks. They are part of the global chain of care. But, in questioning their subordinate status, they undermine the logic inherent to the reproduction of social hierarchies

Text in English
This study indicates the strong link between the belief in the afterlife and the inception of testamentary dispositions in ancient Egypt. To understand law, and specifically succession law, the importance of religion must be understood. Religion was embedded in society. One of the most important principles of religion was maat, which formed the basis for law. The living and dead formed part of the same community. The belief in the afterlife implied an immortality, an eternal continuation of life. There was a moral relationship between the dead and living and the deceased was dependent on sustenance after death. There was an obligation for the family to sustain the deceased, but this piety diminished and a need arose to make arrangements for sustenance prior to death. This led to the inception of the testamentary disposition document. The purpose of succession law is to maintain and strengthen the socio-economic structure in society and it therefore fulfils a social function. At the heart is the nuclear family. In ancient Egypt two systems of succession law developed: customary intestate succession and testate succession (by way of testamentary disposition). Different types of documents were used in ancient Egypt to serve the purpose of a testamentary disposition, such as the pious foundation and the imyt-pr. Important concepts and elements of succession law from the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms are identified and discussed. These include fideicommissum, trusts, usufruct, habitatio, legacies, the importance to indicate ownership of property, etc. The testamentary disposition documents of ancient Egypt must be one of the earliest examples of testate succession law. The Egyptian testamentary disposition, with its concepts and elements of succession law, was established centuries before Rome and Roman law were established. The resemblance to our modern-day wills and testaments through our Roman testate succession law heritage is remarkable.
Classics and World Languages
D. Litt. et Phil. (Ancient Near Eastern Studies)

This dissertation interrogates the deficit assumptions about English proficiency of skilled immigrants who were recruited by Canadian governments between the late 1990s and early 2000s. Through the lens of literacy as social practice, the eighteen-month ethnographic qualitative research explores the sequential experiences of settlement and economic integration of seven well-educated Chinese immigrant professionals. The analytical framework is built on sociocultural approaches to literacy and learning, as well as the theories of discourses and language reproduction. Using multiple data sources (observations, conversational interviews, journal and diary entries, photographs, documents, and artifacts collected in everyday lives), I document many different ways that well-educated Chinese immigrants take advantage of their language and literacy skills in English across several social domains of home, school, job market, and workplace. Examining the trans-contextual patterning of the participants’ language and literacy activities reveals that immigrant professionals use literacy as assistance in seeking, negotiating, and taking hold of resources and opportunities within certain social settings. However, my data show that their language and literacy engagements might not always generate positive consequences for social networks, job opportunities, and upward economic mobility. Close analyses of processes and outcomes of the participants’ engagements across these discursive discourses make it very clear that the monolithic assumptions of the dominant language shape and reinforce structural barriers by constraining their social participation, decision making, and learning practice, and thereby make literacy’s consequences unpredictable. The deficit model of language proficiency serves the grounds for linguistic stereotypes and economic marginalization, which produces profoundly consequential effects on immigrants’ pathways as they strive for having access to resources and opportunities in the new society. My analyses illuminate the ways that language and literacy create the complex web of discursive spaces wherein institutional agendas and personal desires are intertwined and collide in complex ways that constitute conditions and processes of social and economic mobility of immigrant populations. Based on these analyses, I argue that immigrants’ successful integration into a host country is not about the mastery of the technical skills in the dominant language. Rather, it is largely about the recognition and acceptance of the value of their language use and literacy practice as they attempt to partake in the globalized new economy.