Divergent Hallways - Resident Advisors' Perspectives on the Management of Cross-Cultural Conflict

ISBN-13: 9783836480376 / Angielski / Miękka / 2008 / 148 str.

Lindsay McDonough; U Vermont Northfield Peter Stephenson (Norwich University

Opis

This thesis explores the management of cross-cultural conflict by Resident Advisors (RA) at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. A total of twelve RAs were interviewed on the policies and expected practices of RAs, how these policies are implemented and whether these policies are effective in resolving crosscultural conflict. This research analyzes and demonstrates that besides conflict itself, the discourse of conflict--how one speaks about conflict--and its representation are equally important. In many circumstances, the cultural discourse and its representation are not only a major part of the problem, but even a source of it. I argue that a narrow conceptualization of culture in the expected dispute resolution practices of RAs constrains the management of disputes between residents. Examples of disputes pertaining to nationality, racial and sexual discrimination, drugs, and alcohol illustrate the use of culture as a controlling factor in conflict, defining culture as bounded and discrete. This neglects the underlying structural issues at play, serving only to reproduce conflict and to ensure that social and economic inequities are passed on.

O autorze

Lindsay McDonough Currently, Lindsay McDonough is a Senior Community Relations Advisor for the British Columbia government where she is continuing her passion for community engagement and conflict management. Lindsay holds a Masters of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Brunswick. Peter Stephenson Currently, Lindsay McDonough is a Senior Community Relations Advisor for the British Columbia government where she is continuing her passion for community engagement and conflict management. Lindsay holds a Masters of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Brunswick.