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ii
Acknowledgements
I have been privileged to work with a truly outstanding group of faculty,
staff, and students while at USC. First and foremost, I would like to thank my
advisor and dissertation chair, Dr. Tridib Banerjee, not only for his contributions to
this research but also for his continued support and motivation throughout my
doctoral studies. He has been nothing but thoughtful, inspiring, and understanding. I
would also like to thank my committee members, Dr. Clara Irazabal and the late Dr.
Madeleine Stoner from the School of Social Work for their invaluable guidance and
inspiration.
Secondly, I am indebted to numerous people for their time and assistance.
Deepak Bahl of the Center of Economic Development at USC has helped me greatly
in completing the empirical part of the research. Also, I would like to thank Sangmin
Kim and Regina Pritchett for their assistance in managing the collected data and
Stephanie Kotin and Isidro Cerda for all their translation work. Special thanks to
Katharine Diaz, Peggy Hentschke and Annette Jacobs of USC Civic and Community
Relations, all of whom patiently endured my many requests. I am truly grateful to all
those who participated in this research by dedicating their time and information.
My greatest gratitude goes to all my family. I am thankful for my parent for
their constant love and support during my long years of education. Also, I am deeply
and forever indebted to my husband, Sungwook, whose never-ending support and
encouragement during this whole process gave me the strength and determination
that I needed to complete this journey.
Object Description
| Title | Walkability as 'freedom': the ecology of school journey in inner city Los Angeles neighborhoods |
| Author | Uhm, Jung A |
| Author email | uhm@usc.edu; j_uhm@hotmail.com |
| Degree | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Document type | Dissertation |
| Degree program | planning |
| School | School of Policy, Planning, and Development |
| Date defended/completed | 2008-06-05 |
| Date submitted | 2008 |
| Restricted until | Unrestricted |
| Date published | 2008-10-17 |
| Advisor (committee chair) | Banerjee, Tridib |
| Advisor (committee member) |
Irazabal, Clara Stoner, Madeleine |
| Abstract | Over the past two decades, rising concerns over childhood obesity and its health effects have brought the issue of "walkability" to the forefront in creating a child friendly environment. Particularly, the idea of promoting children walking to and from school has gained widespread support among policy makers, public health officials, civic organizations, and planners as a way to increase physical activity among children to prevent obesity. Recent policies and programs however are based on an assumption about the direct influence of the built environment on school travel mode, of which parents' values and perceptions are considered prominent in determining environmental attributes related to children walking to school.; This research proposes a conceptual framework in understanding the relationship between the environment and children's travel by adding a crucial link generally missing in current walkability research - children. By proposing the notion of walkability as freedom, this study attempts to draw attentions to children's choices and real opportunities and factors that either facilitate or prohibit children in or from actualizing what they value (walking to school as one of many). With this goal, this research explored the elements of a walkable environment through the eyes of ethnic minority children attending five elementary schools in inner city Los Angeles.; Through the triangulation of capability approach, child-centered participatory methods, and ecological perspectives, the findings demonstrate children's capacity not only to observe and understand the environment, but also to evaluate and reflect on making their neighborhood environment safer and walkable on their own terms.; This research suggests a shift in policy focus from the provision and improvement of environmental resources to the enhancement of individual freedom by increasing children's participatory capability. The results of this study advance the discussion on the relationship between active school travel and the environment by bringing children into the foreground within the spheres of ecological transaction. |
| Keyword | capability; children; inner-city neighborhood; perception; school travel; walkability |
| Geographic subject | educational facilities: Foshay Learning Center; educational facilities: Norwood Street Elementary School; educational facilities: St. Agnes Parish School; educational facilities: Vermont Avenue Elementary School; educational facilities: Lenicia B. Weemes Elementary School |
| Geographic subject (city or populated place) | Los Angeles |
| Geographic subject (state) | California |
| Coverage date | circa 2008 |
| Language | English |
| Part of collection | University of Southern California dissertations and theses |
| Publisher (of the original version) | University of Southern California |
| Place of publication (of the original version) | Los Angeles, California |
| Publisher (of the digital version) | University of Southern California. Libraries |
| Provenance | Electronically uploaded by the author |
| Type | texts |
| Legacy record ID | usctheses-m1671 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Rights | Uhm, Jung A |
| Repository name | Libraries, University of Southern California |
| Repository address | Los Angeles, California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Filename | etd-Uhm-2224 |
| Archival file | uscthesesreloadpub_Volume29/etd-Uhm-2224.pdf |
Description
| Title | Page 2 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Full text | ii Acknowledgements I have been privileged to work with a truly outstanding group of faculty, staff, and students while at USC. First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor and dissertation chair, Dr. Tridib Banerjee, not only for his contributions to this research but also for his continued support and motivation throughout my doctoral studies. He has been nothing but thoughtful, inspiring, and understanding. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dr. Clara Irazabal and the late Dr. Madeleine Stoner from the School of Social Work for their invaluable guidance and inspiration. Secondly, I am indebted to numerous people for their time and assistance. Deepak Bahl of the Center of Economic Development at USC has helped me greatly in completing the empirical part of the research. Also, I would like to thank Sangmin Kim and Regina Pritchett for their assistance in managing the collected data and Stephanie Kotin and Isidro Cerda for all their translation work. Special thanks to Katharine Diaz, Peggy Hentschke and Annette Jacobs of USC Civic and Community Relations, all of whom patiently endured my many requests. I am truly grateful to all those who participated in this research by dedicating their time and information. My greatest gratitude goes to all my family. I am thankful for my parent for their constant love and support during my long years of education. Also, I am deeply and forever indebted to my husband, Sungwook, whose never-ending support and encouragement during this whole process gave me the strength and determination that I needed to complete this journey. |
