Factors affecting the selection of clothes on daily basis: male and female differences

The major objective of the study was to test the theories of the function of dress that individuals apply to everyday practice. The study examined the extent to which Maslow's theory of motivation is relevant to male and female practice regarding the selection of daily clothes, the order of importance and the attention to clothing functions demonstrated by males and females, and the inter-relationship between the different clothing functions. The study is based on data collected from male and female students at a midwestern university in the month of April. The Friedman two-way ANOVA by ranks revealed that weather function was the single most important clothing function for males which influenced the selection of daily clothing, while social activity was the most important clothing function which influenced females. Females indicated a higher degree of consideration of each clothing function than males. These findings suggest that females tend to dress more for social reasons, are more sensitive to clothing needs and possess a greater degree of clothing awareness than males. The correlation coefficients of clothing function for males and females indicated that there was a high degree of correlation between several clothing functions. The correlation coefficients of clothing functions for females were more consistent than those for males, indicating that females consistently consider several clothing functions concurrently while males do not. This finding conforms with the theory of functions of dress which illustrates the multiple nature of motivation of clothing behaviour and the interdependent characteristics of Maslow's five basic human needs.     

Non-market provision of food by low-income households

A model of food provision through growing, hunting or raising food was developed. Food supply was less of a problem for those who grew, raised or hunted their food than for others. Non-market food provision was a viable alternative for consumers regardless of educational levels, income levels and employment status. Home food production varied by other characteristics. There was not a significant difference between urban and rural households in some types of food provided. Results of this study can be helpful to professionals assisting households with resource use and to policy makers concerning policies to assist low-income consumers.     

POLTICAL EFFICACY AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF FAMILY-ORIENTED PROFESSIONALS*

Political activities of home economists were found to be markedly limited. Those who reported greater amounts of participation were characterized by strong feelings of political efficacy, backgrounds of family political involvement, greater amounts of community participation, and employment in colleges or universities. Respondents not presently employed, including students, homemakers and retired persons, appeared to be the least politically active group. Implications for the academic preparation of home economists are explored.     

IMPACT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ON GENETIC DIVERSITY: THE CASE OF U.S. WHEAT

This paper examines the link between passage of the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA), private R&D, public R&D, and genetic diversity in farmers' fields. PVPA did have a limited positive impact on private wheat breeding but did not lead to a decrease in public wheat research. Instead, public wheat research increased rapidly after PVPA passed. The trends in wheat diversity over time for the entire United States suggest that private research has undergone minor increases in diversity. Regression analysis of genetic diversity in Kansas, Nebraska, and Montana indicates that public sector research has increased diversity in farmers' wheat fields and that PVPA has had a small positive impact on diversity .     

Leaving Welfare: Independence or Continued Vulnerability?

Data from two semi‐structured interviews gathered approximately six months apart from seven women who were receiving cash welfare benefits at the time of the first interview and were not receiving benefits at the second interview were used to analyze the experiences of leaving welfare. Emergent themes about the post‐welfare experience are: (1) the low wages and lack of advancement opportunities in jobs, (2) confusion related to program administration, (3) the continued reliance on income support programs and kin, and (4) the banking of cash benefits under the five‐year time limit as a new safety net.     

Secondary household production of food: the influence of home meal preparation on food expenditures and reported adequacy

A path model was tested to ascertain the relationships between certain socio-economic and demographic variables, the percentage of household meals prepared and eaten at home (secondary household production), food expenditures, and the household's reported adequacy of food consumed. Significant positive predictors of secondary household production of food were the age of the head and household size. Negative predictors were education of the head, income of the head(s) and number of hours worked by the household head(s). By far the most important predictor was the number of hours worked. The strongest predictor of food expenditures was household size. Other positive predictors were income of the head(s), number of household heads and the degree of urbanization. Negatively affecting food expenditures was secondary household production of food, indicating the ‘saving’ effect of preparing meals at home. The household's reported adequacy of their food was predicted by the positive effect of education of the head, age of the head, tenure, hours worked by the head(s) and number of household heads. Although the number of hours the heads are employed decreased the percentage of meals prepared at home, and the percentage of meals at home negatively affected expenditures, the number of employment hours had no effect on food expenditures.     

It Don't Come Easy: Overcoming Obstacles to Technology Use Within a Resistant Consumer Group

To identify ways in which resistance can be overcome and technology's potential realized, we study acceptance and use of a specific technology, the Internet, by a specific resistant group, older consumers. Using interviews and a survey of consumers who are over 65 years old, we discover that curiosity and proactive coping drive technology optimism, which then predicts adoption and heavier usage. Motivated seniors with technology discomfort get help to adopt and continued assistance to learn usage repertoires. Surprisingly, technology discomfort is positively rather than negatively related to usage enthusiasm. Implications are drawn for consumer groups resistant to technology.