Examining Guardianship in Rural Contexts: Guardianship in Action in Waco, Texas

• In Event: Advancing the Routine Activity Approach by Examining Guardianship Across Contexts

Abstract

Previous research has examined guardianship in action in The Netherlands (e.g., Reynald, 2009; 2011) and the northeastern United States (e.g., Hollis and Welsh, 2013). The current paper replicates and expands this work in a new social context - rural and small town Texas in the United States. Guardianship in action is broken down into the four primary components: invisibility, availability, monitoring, and intervening. The intervention dimension is further broken down into direct and indirect intervention on the part of the homeowner versus a neighbor. The results indicate that guardianship in action continues to apply in this context, although interesting differences in the way guardianship operates are observed. Theoretical and research implications are discussed.

Authors

• Nellie Navarro, Tarleton State University

• Meghan Elizabeth Hollis, Texas State University

• Shannon Hankhouse, Tarleton State University