Digital Commons Network^™

Verbal Fluency In Women With The Fmr1 Premutation And The Broad Autism Phenotype, Emily Szabo

Theses and Dissertations

Women who carry a premutation allele on the FMR1 gene can experience limitations due to their genetic status, including executive function deficits. These subtle deficits are often shared by women who possess the broad autism phenotype (BAP). Poor understanding and limited research on the extent of these executive functioning deficits has led to limited clinical management of these two groups. The current study aimed to clarity whether there is a difference in verbal fluency abilities in mothers that possess the FMR1 premutation, mothers of children with autism who are at risk for the BAP, and mothers of typically developing children, …

The Experiences Of Women As Latinx Osteopathic Medical Students, Dana L. Weiss

Theses and Dissertations

In existing literature, researchers have predominantly examined issues related to minoritized groups by juxtaposing differences and outcomes among groups without attention to the diversity of experiences, challenges and strengths. This has had a limiting focus on the experiences specific to women as Latinx medical students, and has created a gap which restricts knowledge about experiences of perceived support and barriers within osteopathic medical school. This research provided an opportunity to think more deeply and critically about the experiences for women as Latinx osteopathic medical students. The data collected in this qualitative phenomenological study was gathered from participants as they narrated …

The Impact Of Global Crises On Women: The Case Of Covid-19 In Egypt, Nour A. Dokhan

Theses and Dissertations

Any global crisis is expected to affect every human being, but for women it is always twice as hard. In the case of Covid-19, women are more affected across every domain, from social protection to health, simply because if their gender. This research explores the impact of Covid-19 on women, both economically and socially, with the focus on the case of Egypt. It explores the systematic gender inequalities in the economic, social, and health spheres using cases from previous crises, and how this gender inequality and vulnerability has resulted in much worse consequences of Covid-19 than that of men. The …

The Seaaster Scholars Collective: A Story Of Homemaking In Academia, Jacqueline Mac, Varaxy Yi, Vanessa Na, Latana Thaviseth, Malaphone Phommasa, Linda Marie Pheng

Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement

How do we make a home in spaces not built for us? What does an academic home for Southeast Asian American (SEAA) women look and feel like? This is the story of how a collective of SEAA women came together to create an alternative space in higher education. Continuing the radical act of resistance modeled by other Black, Indigenous, and women of color scholars, the SEAAster Scholars Collective uses a feminist epistemological approach to further their mission—to advance knowledge and understanding of the postsecondary educational experiences of SEAA students, staff, and faculty.

Exploring Breast Cancer Patients’ Experiences Of Struggle Against Socio-Economic And Geographical Barriers In Rural Pakistan, Nadia Agha, Maliha Gull Tarar, Rahim Dad Rind

Journal of International Women's Studies

This study offers insights into the barriers experienced by Breast Cancer (BC) patients from less privileged rural areas of Pakistan. We conducted in-depth interviews with 42 BC survivors, from the northern Sindh in southern Pakistan, to explore and analyse knowledge, geographical and financial barriers and how these barriers intersect and complicate BC patients’ lives. Results indicate that most of the women in this study were poor and their families’ health seeking behaviour was influenced by their socio-economic background; their knowledge about the disease was limited and they were unable to appropriately assess the symptoms for months, which caused delay. Based …

Women’S Attitudes Towards Wife Beating And Its Connection With Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv): An Empirical Analysis Of A National Demographic And Health Survey Conducted In Pakistan, Muhammad Saud, Asia Ashfaq, Siti Mas'udah

Journal of International Women's Studies

Wife beating, a form of intimate partner violence that is used as a tool to correct wives’ behavior, is not acceptable in most parts of the world. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a global health problem and is far more than a dilemma; it is a systemic form of abuse that is the third major cause of death around the world. Despite it being unacceptable in most parts of the world, in its different forms, wife beating is still a commonly practiced pattern of behavior that pervades all societies, patriarchal ones in particular. This is a problem in the patriarchal …

The Escalation Of Gender-Based Violence During Lockdown As A Practical Theological Concern In The South African Context, Me Baloyi

Journal of International Women's Studies

The year 2020 will be remembered as the year in which the coronavirus managed to disturb almost the entire planet from many of its activities. During the lockdown, which saw more than 195 countries in the world trying to combat the virus, gender-based violence in South Africa rose at an alarming rate. The skyrocketing statistics reported to police during this period raises a lot of concern as to why, instead of lockdown uniting families and marriages, reports of violence are on the rise. Aside from other factors that the research will unveil, theologically the church is not innocent of its …

Essential Package Of Palliative Care For Women With Cervical Cancer: Responding To The Suffering Of A Highly Vulnerable Population, Eric L. Krakauer, Khadidjatou Kane, Xiaoxiao Kwete, Gauhar Afshan, Lisa Bazzett-Matabele, Danta Dona Ruthnie Bien-Aimé, Lawrence F. Borges, Sarah Byrne-Martelli, Stephen Connor, Raimundo Correa

Department of Anaesthesia

Women with cervical cancer, especially those with advanced disease, appear to experience suffering that is more prevalent, complex, and severe than that caused by other cancers and serious illnesses, and approximately 85% live in low- and middle-income countries where palliative care is rarely accessible. To respond to the highly prevalent and extreme suffering in this vulnerable population, we convened a group of experienced experts in all aspects of care for women with cervical cancer, and from countries of all income levels, to create an essential package of palliative care for cervical cancer (EPPCCC). The EPPCCC consists of a set of …

How Did You Become A Police Officer? Entry-Related Motives And Concerns Of Women And Men In Policing, Samantha S. Clinkinbeard, Starr J. Solomon, Rachael M. Rief

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

As police agencies in the United States suffer declining applications and struggle to recruit women, the National Institute of Justice has identified workforce development as a priority research area. To recruit more effectively, we must understand what attracts people to policing and what deters them. We surveyed officers in two Midwestern police departments (n = 832) about entry motivations and concerns and examined gender differences. Serve/protect motivations were most important for men and women, though women rated the category significantly higher. Women and non-White officers rated legacy motives higher than did males and White officers. Women reported more concerns overall …

Propensity Score Matching Evaluation Of Psychological Stress And Hair Cortisol Among People Living With Hiv In China, Xu Chen, Shuaifeng Liu, Chengbo Zeng, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D., Riying Lv, Zhiyong Shen

Faculty Publications

To compare the psychological stress level and hair cortisol level of people living with HIV (PLWH) with those without HIV in China, a total of 220 participants were initially enrolled in the study, including 200 PLWH and 20 people living without HIV. Psychological stress level, including quality of life, anxiety, perceived stress and psychological resilience, was self-reported in both groups with related scales. The cortisol in hair was extracted and assessed by LC-APCI-MS/MS method. Propensity score matching analysis was performed to balance the baseline covariates of the two groups, whereas the difference in psychological stress level and hair cortisol level …

The Ill-Treatment Of Their Countrywoman: Liberated African Women, Violence, And Power In Tortola, 1807–1834, Arianna Browne

Master's Theses

In 1807, Parliament passed an Act to abolish the slave trade, leading to the Royal Navy’s campaign of policing international waters and seizing ships suspected of illegal trading. As the Royal Navy captured slave ships as prizes of war and condemned enslaved Africans to Vice-Admiralty courts, formerly enslaved Africans became “captured negroes” or “liberated Africans,” making the subjects in the British colonies. This work, which takes a microhistorical approach to investigate the everyday experiences of liberated Africans in Tortola during the early nineteenth century, focuses on the violent conditions of liberated African women, demonstrating that abolition consisted of violent contradictions …

Colombian Women’S Experiences Of Cosmetic Surgery And Its Relationship To Body Image, Austin Gonzalez-Randolph

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand women’s experiences of cosmetic surgery and its effects on body image on women from the Colombian cities of Bogotá and Pereira. The participants of this study were women of Colombian descent, who reside in Colombia. This was done with the hopes of better understanding how culture impacts views on cosmetic surgery. Colombia appears to have a culture that is very enmeshed with cosmetic surgery. This study provides an initial exploratory and qualitative investigation into the perception of body image as it relates to cosmetic surgery among six young women living in Colombia; …

Leader Development Of The Health Information Management (Him) Professional, Theresa Jones

Dissertations

This study contributes to the body of knowledge in leader development by examining how higher education programs in a female dominated profession assist learners in developing person-related characteristics that support leader development. A ten-part online survey was sent to directors of health information management (HIM) programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM). Results suggest an opportunity for improvement in the curriculum for development of person-related characteristics critical for leadership positions. In the interest of the progression of women these results should be taken into consideration.

Young Women And The Initiation Trajectory Of Prescription Opioid Misuse, Rachel Chernick

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The most recent opioid epidemic in United States history emerged in the late 1980s and continues its destructive impact to this day. It has evolved into a devastating public health crisis with a broad range of medical, social, and economic consequences. This dissertation focuses on the “first wave” of this opioid epidemic characterized largely by the misuse of prescription opioids. The research questions here were focused on developing a greater understanding of the social processes involved in young women’s initiation of prescription opioid misuse (POM) during this first wave. The research methodology consisted of a cross-sectional, exploratory study using qualitative …

Inter-Related Factors Influencing Sexual Quality Of Life Among Women Living With Hiv In Banten Province, Indonesia: A Mixed Methods Study, Dyah Juliastuti, Judith Dean, Yati Afiyanti, Lisa Fitzgerald

Kesmas

Socio-cultural concerns often restrict women's sexual rights and well-being living with HIV (WLHIV) in developing countries. These convergent parallel mixed methods study combined quantitative and qualitative approaches to explore factors influencing WLHIV sexual quality of life in Banten Province, Indonesia. A 2017 cross-sectional survey of 207 reproductive-aged WLHIV was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression statistics. Furthermore, in-depth interviews with a sub-sample of survey participants (n = 30) were thematically analyzed. Most of the women (60%) involved reported loss of sexual pleasure and depressed sexual life. Meanwhile, 48% affirmed low sexual quality of life which was associated with unemployment …

National Health Insurance Scheme: Internal And External Barriers In The Use Of Reproductive Health Services Among Women, Evi Martha, Herna Lestari, Resvi Siti Zulfa, Yoslien Sopamena

Kesmas

Lack of familiarity among the community, medical workers, and administrative staff regarding reproductive health services covered by Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS) or the National Health Insurance (NHI) in Indonesia remained a problem. Therefore, this resulted in sub-optimal use of the medical services, as shown by surveys from the Women's Health Foundation for three consecutive years (2015-2017). This qualitative study was conducted with a Rapid Assessment Procedure design in three cities within Indonesia: Padang Pariaman, Manado, and Kupang. Data were collected through IDIs (n = 47informants) and 6 FGDs (7 persons/group). Participants also consisted of NHI RHS users (mothers and …

Arts & Literature: Feeding Her Child A Green Slipper Instead Of A Cucumber, Kaziwa Salih

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

I first observed the confident, sad, yet hopeful face of Nabat Fayiaq Rahman through the black screen of the TV. She was wearing a traditional, completely black Kurdish outfit that matched the stage curtains designed for the anniversary of the Anfal genocide, marked on April 14th of each year. The Kurdish Anfal genocide in Iraq was perpetrated by Saddam Hussein’s regime in the 1980s. Human Rights Watch (1994) estimates that as many as 182,000 Kurds were buried alive in mass graves; many of these mass graves were found after Hussein was overthrown. More than 2.5 million people were displaced, 4500 …

“Rage Defends Against Overwhelming Loss”: A Literature Review On Women, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, And Anger, Sarah Maeder

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

A literature review examining the difference in anger as a symptom of PTSD based on gender. The focus was on how gender roles and stereotypes impact women’s, as well as providers’, interpretation, expression, acknowledgement, and suppression of anger. By researching civilian survivors of non-combat trauma, the review examined PTSD and symptom discrepancies along a gender divide. Emphasis was placed on the creation of gender as a social construct. Significant nuance was discovered when defining anger, its means of expression, and measurement tools, particularly when interacting with gender. The history of art therapy as a treatment modality for PTSD and anger …

The Experience Of Women On A High-Risk Pregnancy Unit Engaged In Art Therapy, Emili Sherfield

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Considering the significant changes that occur throughout pregnancy, coping with such changes may be challenging, affecting those experiencing high-risk pregnancies in particular. Women facing high-risk pregnancies often endure heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, ultimately impacting their well-being and mental health. Medical concerns may lead to hospitalization, which has the potential to exacerbate an already distressing situation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. While evaluating beneficial therapeutic interventions to address the needs of this population, art therapy and art-making has proven to reduce anxiety, encourage coping strategies, provide an emotional outlet, and improve overall well-being. In light of these …

Beyond Pathology: A Critical Review Of The Literature On Black Female Sexuality, Twerk, And Dmt, Patricka James

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis uses a dance/movement therapy investigative and critical lens to examine the controversial twerking phenomenon. This literature review investigates twerk’s historical, embodied, and hyperlocal cultural settings as it relates to the stigmatized sexuality of U.S. Black women, the history and effects of oversexualizing Black female sexuality that influences twerk’s negative review, the dance/movement therapy field’s cultural movement bias, and dance/movement therapy's potential as a therapeutic intervention for Black women. Racial and sexual socialization of Black female sexuality is found to be attributed to twerk’s negative review and its existence as an embodied form of resistance and liberation. In examining …

Mindfulness Practices For Women’S Midlife Transition, Patricia A. Chilangwa

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Every major period of life brings a unique set of opportunities and challenges. Midlife remains a mostly uncharted territory in the field of human development. Given that women of middle age currently comprise over 17 % of the total population, it is essential that we seek a better understanding of middle age and what may or may not be beneficial during this stage of life. The purpose of this work is to present a supportive academic rationale paper and a creative project consisting of a book with a journal component on mindfulness practices for finding ease and grace in the …

Misogynoir: Undergraduate Experiences By Black Women, Briettny Curtner

Master's Theses

The Black female voice whispers within literature because of the limited focus on their lived experiences, specifically of undergraduate Black women. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how Black women in pursuit of a baccalaureate degree navigate racism and sexism. Additionally, this study explored participant resonance with the characteristics and perceived conflicts of the Strong Black Women (SBW) schema. Six Black women from a comprehensive public university in the West participated in a qualitative interview and member checking. The following are emergent themes found as a result of this study: oppositional framing, navigation of intergroup comparisons, inferiority …

Neurocognitive Empowerment For Addiction Treatment (Neat): Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial., Hamed Ekhtiari, Tara Rezapour, Brionne Sawyer, Hung-Wen Yeh, Rayus Kuplicki, Mimi Tarrasch, Martin P. Paulus, Robin Aupperle

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Neurocognitive deficits (NCDs) and associated meta-cognition difficulties associated with chronic substance use often delay the learning and change process necessary for addiction recovery and relapse prevention. However, very few cognitive remediation programs have been developed to target NCDs and meta-cognition for substance users. The study described herein aims to investigate the efficacy of a multi-component neurocognitive rehabilitation and awareness program termed "Neurocognitive Empowerment for Addiction Treatment" (NEAT). NEAT is a fully manualized, cartoon-based intervention involving psychoeducation, cognitive practice, and compensatory strategies relevant across 10 major cognitive domains, including aspects of attention, memory, executive functions, and decision-making.

METHOD/DESIGN: In a …

The Effects Of The Superwoman Schema On African American Women Receiving Their Graduate Degree At Rowan University While Also Holding An Assistantship, Corrine Smith

Theses and Dissertations

As an African American or Black woman, there is an expectation to be strong at all times. They are often glorified for their resiliency. Unfortunately, that strength and the expectation of it, can prove to be detrimental to African American or Black women's health. The Superwoman Schema, originally studied in 2010 by Woods-Giscomb, is the double edge sword that is handed to African American or Black women at a young age. The purpose of this qualitative study was to expand Wood-Giscomb's research by examining the perceptions of the impact of the Superwoman Schema on African American or Black graduate students …

Cultural, Political, And Choreographic Developments Of Feminism In Classical Ballet, Lydia Mariya Wirth

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This thesis was an exploration of how the female ballerina can be better represented in the culture, aesthetics, and politics of ballet. Despite the patriarchal and misogynistic traditions that this artform is steeped in, women have made significant strides in reclaiming ballet as a tool of female empowerment, rather than of suppression or objectification. A disparity of leadership positions, a traditionally disempowering training system, misogynistic ballet narratives, and patterns of abuse and harassment all combine to create a world which disempowers female dancers on multiple levels. Despite these realities, women have been at the forefront of narrowing wage and opportunity …

Contemporary Women's Poetry And Leaning Into The Senses, Samantha Keebler

All Theses

This project reveals the ways in which contemporary women poets return to and embrace the senses. Sensory expression has long been a source of shame, especially for women. Our fear of embracing our bodies and their situation in the world is symptomatic of misogynistic tropes and the phallocentric order. By prioritizing the body, poets like Jorie Graham, Carolyn Forché, and Morgan Parker subvert the patriarchal order and make space for women in the literary canon. They also challenge us to recognize sensuality as a valuable facet of poetic expression, a locus of untapped information, and a great source of power. …

“You're In A Cult, Call Your Dad.” An Investigation Into The True Crime Podcast My Favorite Murder And Its Online Fan Communities, Kelsea Sierra Schulenberg

All Theses

The interest many women have in true crime has recently received widespread attention in popular media. For instance, a Saturday Night Live sketch that aired in late February of 2021 featured women singing about how their favorite way to unwind is to tune into the latest murder documentary or podcast. A leader in this true crime revolution, My Favorite Murder (MFM) is a true crime comedy podcast whose fan base—known as Murderinos—is massive in size and in passion. Despite the enormous popularity of true crime podcasts like MFM or Serial, research on true crime podcasts and their online fan …

The Lived Experience Of Women With Head & Neck Cancer And The Impact On Close Relationships., Georgia Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is emotionally and physically burdensome to people who are diagnosed with this disease. In the United States, nearly 30% of people diagnosed with HNC are women. Studies about depression and anxiety in this population have been conducted for decades; however, there are no studies that specifically examine the psychosocial implications of this disease from the perspective of women. Method: Women diagnosed with HNC were recruited from two academic medical centers in the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana tri-state area to explore the lived experience of women with HNC and how this disease impacts their close relationships. Semi-structured interviews …

A Comparative Case Study Exploring The Experiences Of Women Leaders In Academic Affairs And Administration In Higher Education Through The Lens Of Intersectionality, Johniqua S. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

There is an increasing concern about the absence of women in senior positions in academia and administration within institutions (Johnson, 2016). There is limited research to compare the journeys of women leaders in academics and administration. This study is an examination of women’s experiences of perceived barriers to leadership roles in faculty and administration. Using comprehensive interviews, this study explores personal accounts to emphasize apparent barriers to career advancement. The goal of the study is to explore women in senior positions in academia and administrative paths to leadership. The male dominated society has made it challenging for women to grow …

The Gender Epidemic: Intersecting Disease, Gender, And Sexuality In A Graphic Novel, Autumn Cejer

All NMU Master's Theses

For my thesis, I wrote a graphic novel set in a world where certain people possess powers that society tries to suppress by viewing them as a disease. The story focuses on two super-powered individuals on opposite sides of the law who handle this oppression very differently. Although these characters would easily be able to overpower the non-powered people in charge, they are too afraid to do so. Internalized guilt from possessing abilities they did not ask for adds an additional layer of conflict, just as women and disabled persons are constantly made to feel like they should apologize for …