Cultural identity

As flood risk rises in the U.S., technology and insights rise too, but even with these advances we still see the consequences of flood risk. Together, the rational actor paradigm (“RAP”), psychometrics, and cultural theory help to explain risk perceptions and behaviors of 20 respondents. Results from the mixed-methods approach found the RAP insufficient, less accurate than a coin toss (48%), when explaining respondent behaviors. Rather, risk perceptions and behaviors of the RAP explain the behaviors of lower risk portrayal groups (66%) and higher income groups (80%), with higher risk portrayals being relying on respondents’ trust in flood experts (45%) and cultural worldviews (55%). Cultural identities explain 65% of respondents’ behaviors across levels of risk portrayal (500-, 100-, and 25-year floodplain), and risk portrayal types (cumulative and AAL). In a world with increased risk, technology, and knowledge, researchers need understand the explanatory power of the RAP, psychometrics, and cultural theory.

This study analyzes the reactions of interracial relationships within the South
Asian Diaspora via film and literature focused on the United States and England. The
films examined are Mississippi Masala (1992) and Bend It Like Beckham (2002), and the
literature-utilized focuses on cultural identity, interracial dating, the importance of
marriage, the Indian community, and gender roles focused on women within the diaspora.
The films used encourage the idea of interracial relationships as acceptable and give
South Asian women the confidence to be more independent. The intention of this
research is to analyze the importance of cultural blending, independence, heritage, and
traditional values. The focus behind this research is to understand the battle of traditional
versus modern roles for women in the South Asian diaspora, and how independence can
be viewed as a form of dishonoring and humiliating their families when they step outside
of the cultural box.