016-01: A Paradigm Shift From Social Exclusion to Inclusion: An Action Research Intervention

Social exclusion and inclusion have been researched in European contexts, among middle-class families, and from a quantitative perspective, however, its research has remained elusive in the U.S. The social exclusion and inclusion debate centers around its several definitions, which results problematic from a theoretical and methodological perspective. The first purpose of this study is to propose a paradigm shift from social exclusion to social inclusion to break the dichotomy between the two terms. The second is to provide a proper definition of social inclusion and the third is to describe how to develop and deliver a social inclusion intervention.

016-02: The Poverty Paradox: Conceptualizing the Relational Dance Between Privilege and Oppression

The time has come for a new conceptual model for explaining and alleviating poverty – the relational dance between generational privilege and generational oppression. We synthesize literature on wealth and privilege, poverty and oppression, which spans family science and a range of disciplines to create a framework that elevates generational privilege to the same level of societal concern as generational oppression. This theoretical proposition takes a critical approach to challenging the dominant narrative of the intergenerational transmission of poverty and the ontological assumptions of current poverty-focused models to advocate for a more balanced and just narrative that better sustains all families.

016-03: Theorizing Hookup Behavior Through An Intersectional Lens

Hookup behavior has long been studied in the context of White, heterosexual, college students. Because of this, the field has a limited understanding of the processes, meanings, and experiences of individuals outside of this demographic (e.g. racial and sexual minorities, noncollege attending individuals, older adults). Further, it neglects to consider how social power, privilege, and social location play into hookup processes. Therefore, this paper suggests using intersectionality to frame hookup research and outlines ways in which this could progress theory, practice, and future research.

016-04: Women’s and Men’s Participation in and Valuation of Production and Social Reproduction

Drawing on Foucault’s conceptual framework of power, we aim to achieve a better understanding of the interplay between power and agency. We begin by distinguishing different levels of power and how they function; direct control being the exertion of power at the individual and dyadic level and social control at an aggregate level, which exudes its own effects and is not controllable by a single person or act. Importantly, we propose that ideology plays a critical role in the way individuals exert and are subject to power and theorize about ideology’s influence over individuals and their agency. Specifically, we see ideology as a lever that moderates individuals’ agency, where increased consciousness of the ideology’s influence enables more agency, and decreased awareness results in less agency. Although not all individuals enjoy equitable societal privilege, they are all able to equally contribute toward social control. This adapted conceptual framework of power and agency provides a novel approach to analyzing and influencing power relations.