Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons^™

Bodies In The Margins: Refiguring The Rebetika As Literature, Sophia Schlesinger

English Honors Projects

This thesis engages a literary analysis of a corpus of songs and recordings known as the rebetika (sing. rebetiko), which prospered in the port districts of major cities throughout the Aegean in the early 20th century. Engaging the rebetika as literary texts, I argue, helps us understand how they have functioned as a kind of pressure point on the borders between nation and Other. Without making unproveable biographical claims about the motives of the music progenitors, I examine why so many have reached for the rebetika as texts with which to articulate various political and cultural desires. Using a …

Meridians 19:1, Ginetta Candelario

Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism

This volume’s publication coincides with the one hundredth anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which Meridians readers likely know was the culmination of nearly a century of women’s organizing for political and civil rights....

Twelve Dispatches From The Futures Of Aids, Alexandra Juhasz, Emily Bass, Pato Hebert, Elton Naswood, Margaret Rhee, Jessica Whitbread, Quito Ziegler

Publications and Research

A Dialogue between Emily Bass, Pato Hebert, Elton Naswood, Margaret Rhee, and Jessica Whitbread, with Images by Quito Ziegler and an Introduction by Alexandra Juhasz

¿Es Suficiente La Ley De Parto Respetado? Una Investigación Sobre El Parto Respetado Y La Intervención Médica, A Partir De Las Opiniones De Los Profesionales De La Salud Y Una Organizacion De La Sociedad Civil En La Ciudad Autónoma De Buenos Aires, Argentina / Is The Respected Birth Law Enough? An Investigation On The Respected Birth And Medical Interventions Through The Opinions Of Health Professionals And A Civil Society Organization In The Autonomous City Of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jennifer Rufino

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

A través de los años, la medicalización y los avances en el campo de medicina ha garantizado un nivel de seguridad para el proceso del embarazo y el parto. Sin embargo, la intervención médica también ha producido una discusión sobre el aumento de cesáreas, el significado del parto respetado, y los derechos de la mujer. Esta investigación exploró las opiniones de los profesionales de salud y una organización de la sociedad civil sobre la ejecución del parto respetado y el aumentado de la tasa de cesáreas en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dada la situación de aislamiento social …

¿“La Familia Diversa”?: Una Investigación En Constructos De Familias En Ecuador En El Siglo Xxi, Julia Cornick

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

En este ensayo, exploro la constitución ecuatoriana de 2008, específicamente el artículo 67 que reconoce y protege “la familia diversa”. Este artículo supuestamente reconoce “la familia en sus diversos tipos”. Pero, otras partes de la constitución y las acciones del gobierno niegan el artículo en muchas maneras. A pesar de las promesas rotas y palabrerías de la constitución, individuos y grupos en comunidades LGBTI en Ecuador existen afuera de la constitución cuando construyen “familias alternativas”. A través de formas de familias alternativas, los ecuatorianos pueden hacer familias alternativas y significado afuera de la constitución, y voy a investigar las implicaciones …

El Cuerpo En La Poesía De Mujeres Ecuatorianas, Chloe Hood

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Este proyecto examina la presencia del cuerpo humano en la poesía de tres mujeres ecuatorianas: Aleyda Quevedo Rojas, Aurora Estrada y Ayala, y Sophia Yánez. Enfoco en como las imágenes del cuerpo en su poesía están relatados con algunos temas del poder y el genero. Específicamente, exploro los temas del patriarcado, el colonialismo, y la creación. En relación con el patriarcado, encontré que la poesía de Aleyda Quevedo Rojas aborda mucho con la expectativa social para la perfección del cuerpo femenino. Ella rechaza esta expectativa y abraza las imperfecciones de su cuerpo, incluyendo la fracasa del cuerpo a través de …

Ngos As Learning Organizations: Evaluating Female Sports Development In Jordan Through The Lens Of Women’S Soccer, Saede Eifrig

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This Independent Study Project (ISP) explores how NGO programs measure the success of their impact on female sports development in Jordan and the impact thereof on improving women’s opportunities in sport. This research relies on several theories, including Sport for Development theory (Lyras and Welty Peachey, 2011), organizational learning and learning organizations (Roper and Pettit, 2002), and monitoring and evaluation (Peters, 2016) to discover the effect of NGO programs on women's sport development in Jordan. It centers on the intersection of gender, social expectations, and non-governmental work for development. This paper aims to answer the following questions: Roper and Pettit …

“Gender And Sexual Minorities Identity Terms” Academic Discourse In Nepal Over Time, Carolyn Kelly

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The last 20 years in Nepal has seen drastic changes in the rights and recognition of Gender and Sexual Minorites. Little research has been done on GSM in Nepal and the majority of this research focuses solely on discrimination faced by GSM using western identity terms and categories. These identity terms conflict with a Nepal specific understand of self. Even fewer research has been done on academic discourse on GSM in Nepal. There is a need to understand how academics talk about Nepal’s GSM and how this has changed over time. Terms and their respective constructed identities say a lot …

Black Female Artists Reclaiming Their Sexual Power, Nicole E. Heller

Student Publications

The emergence of hip hop in the 1980s and 90s is representative of the struggle that Black men and women face in modern society. As a result of a New York City housing crisis, crime, and poverty, hip hop arose as a coping mechanism, as many art forms do; hip hop provided a way for Black men to express their experiences and struggles. Hip hop has been used as a vehicle for self- expression, social views and political views among disadvantaged urban groups (White, 2013). However, it was and still is common for male hip hop artists to sexualize and …

Promoting Health, Justice And Well-Being Of Minnesota's Lgbtq+ Community: Banning Conversion Therapy, Katelin Farmer, Ashley Hansen, Chelesa Schweim, Sarah Petersen

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

There are 853 cities in Minnesota, and only two have enacted protections for LGBTQ+ people from the harmful practice of conversion therapy. All Minnesotans deserve access to safe, ethical, affirming, and evidence-based mental health care.

The Contemporary Porn Debate - Perceptions Of Sexual Health Of Porn Actors, The 2013 Hiv Crisis, And Recognizing The Complexities Of The Porn Industry, Nasreen C. Gooya

Student Publications

Between August 2012 and January 2013, four adult film performers based in California tested positive for HIV which triggered a moratorium on production, and led the state of California to mandate condom usage in the industry under the Safer Sex in the Adult Industry Act – otherwise referred to as Measure B. The goal of this research is to explore how the discourse surrounding health in the adult film industry, specifically sexual health in relation to the adult film performers during this event, is reflective of contemporary anti-pornography sentiments. These sentiments and biases ultimately lead to regulations of the industry …

The Myth Of Neutrality: Linguistic Influence In The Integration Of Nonbinary Identities In English And German, Zoe A. Philippou

Student Publications

Grammatical structures that differ among languages can affect the way people of different cultures think, speak, and behave. Because of its close ties with identity, language also has the ability to manipulate the way people view themselves and others. Ethnographic research among English and German speakers shows that these differing grammatical structures affect the integration into society of nonbinary, intersex, and agender individuals through a grammatical predisposition for gender neutral language. As such, the means of increasing social integration of these groups also differs between linguistic and cultural borders.

Women In State Legislatures And State-Level Abortion Restrictions, Sydney N. Siegel

Student Publications

This research paper explores the relationship between women in state legislatures and state level abortion restrictions. This relationship is explored, and then tested against the amount of democratic legislators, the conservatism, of the public, and the religiosity of the public using a linear regression. While the findings are complex, they show that women do have an impact on state level abortion restrictions in some instances.

Blackness And Disability And How Disability Is Too Often Forgotten, Abel C. Rose

Student Publications

Disability is commonly left out of discussions on intersectional oppression, and this omission and stigmatization of disability does us all a disservice. Black people are more likely to be disabled due to the continuous violence of racism, and black people and disabled people in their status as “other” often find themselves needing to prove their worth in a society that does not see their lives as unconditionally valuable. We cannot see the full picture on issues of oppression such as racism and sexism without considering disability.

Black Women In Finance, Skylar R. Frankiewicz

Student Publications

The concept of gender has long played a role in United States’ history, greatly impacting and restructuring our economy. The push for gender equality in America has altered how organizations operate across different occupational fields. While the 2020 Equal Rights Amendment has yet to pass, many organizations are still motivated to reach total gender equality and balance within their firms. While there is a fight for feminism and gender equality, it is not a racially inclusive one. Black women face the most discrimination both in the workplace, and in social settings. Misogynoir is defined as prejudice against Black women, highlighting …

The Attack On Blackness In Fashion, Brian H. Berry

Student Publications

This paper identifies specific and general instances of anti-black sentiment in the fashion industry across the Western world, in order to demonstrate how the actions and rhetoric of this industry equates to an all out assault on blackness and black culture, despite the contemporary acceptance and commodification of some of its elements. Next, an analysis is conducted into the overall effect this trend has on black life and psyche in today’s world. Finally, the paper suggests specific changes that must be made in order to reverse and correct this trend.

Eating Disorders In The Lgb Community, Aubrey Griffith

Student Scholars Day Posters

Research has shown that members of the LGB community are diagnosed with eating disorders at an alarming rate. Yet, little research has been done to show how eating disorders affect the LGB community. By examining YouTube videos from a few individuals in the LGB community with eating disorders, along with analyzing their comment sections, I was able to examine how eating disorders affect the LGB community in a specific way. Anticipated findings include white privilege allowing for these YouTubers to have a voice in a muted group of individuals. This study is important because it helps to show how individuals …

The Language Behind Victim Impact Statements, Isabel Dowell

Student Scholars Day Posters

Survivors of sexual assault are given the opportunity to provide a victim impact statement in front of their abusers in court. Former Michigan State University gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar, has 204 statements against him. These statements give survivors the power they need to resist any assumptions made about them before, during, and after the assault; however, in what ways could they also be endorsing these assumptions? For this research, I have randomly selected a sample of statements from the unnamed victims of the People of the State of Michigan v Lawrence Gerard Nassar case in order to understand how the …

Masked Marginalization, Moreen Akomea-Ampeh

Audre Lorde Prize

"I was inspired to write this reflective piece after a personal encounter with a close female relative and wanted to demystify the notion that marginalization of women no longer exists. This thoughtful piece presents a vivid description of the objectification of women concerning women's physique in this twenty-first century. Therefore, this piece acts as a wake-up call to our blindness to this 'normalized' issue. It also shows the traumatic experiences of women and the various hurdles they face.

The Bloody Truth, Elizabeth Fulkerson

Audre Lorde Prize

No abstract provided.

The Public Secret And Private Pain Of Wartime Sexual Violence: Comparing The Heroinat Memorial And The 2020 Newborn Monument From The Perspective Of Ngos In Kosovo, Martha Beliveau

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In a rare year where there are two monuments dedicated to survivors of wartime sexual violence in Kosovo, the permanent Heroinat Memorial and the year-long Newborn Monument have different approaches and effects in their processes of commemorating wartime sexual violence. This paper approaches a comparison of these two monuments through four interviews with representatives of women-centered civil society organizations in Pristina, Kosovo. This paper finds that the Heroinat Memorial and the 2020 theme of the Newborn Monument are sites of contested meanings, because of the different approaches of each respective monument, each of the monuments’ gendered implications, and the implications …

(Des)Cuidando A Quienes Nos Crían: Una Exploración Cualitativa Del Abordaje Para El Diagnóstico, La Prevención Y El Tratamiento De La Depresión Posparto En La Ciudad Autónoma De Buenos Aires (2020) / (In)Adequate Care For Those Who Raise Us: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Approach To Diagnosis, Prevention And Treatment Of Postpartum Depression In The City Of Buenos Aires (2020), April Hopcroft

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Aunque el embarazo y la maternidad están representadas como periodos de alegría, la llegada de un bebé es una transición significativa en la vida que también puede provocar sentimientos de ansiedad y depresión. La depresión posparto (DPP) es un trastorno de estado de ánimo que plantea consecuencias graves para ambas madre y bebé. Dada la vacancia de investigación en la Argentina, este trabajo pretende analizar el abordaje actual de intervención de la DPP en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Los objetivos específicos son: 1) identificar y describir el proceso de diagnóstico, prevención y tratamiento, y 2) indagar las percepciones …

“El Fútbol No Tiene Género”: Confrontar, Desafiar Y Cambiar La Narrativa Sexista Del Fútbol Femenino En Argentina / “Soccer Has No Gender”: Confronting, Challenging, And Changing The Sexist Narrative Of Women’S Soccer In Argentina, Adia Klein

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Este proyecto explora cómo el sexismo se manifiesta en el fútbol femenino en Argentina de maneras culturales, económicas e institucionales y examina, como resultado, las acciones tomadas por las jugadoras, las promotoras y las federaciones nacionales e internacionales para abordar y eliminar estas desigualdades estructurales. Esta lucha ha promovido muchos cambios pero todavía queda más por hacer para igualar el campo de juego entre los varones y las mujeres. Las cuestiones planteadas en este trabajo demuestran los vínculos entre la identidad nacional, los movimientos feministas, las políticas de derechos humanos y el fútbol femenino. Las estrategias metodológicas incluyeron leer y …

Encuadrar El Aborto: Un Estudio De Caso De Dos Medios Impresos Porteños Durante El Debate En El Congreso Nacional De Argentina En 2018 / Framing Abortion: A Case Study Of Two Buenos Aires Print Media During The Debate In The Argentina National Congress In 2018, Emma Lohman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

En 2018 el Proyecto de Ley de la Interrupción Voluntaria del Embarazo fue presentado al Congreso Nacional de Argentina por la Campaña Nacional por el Derecho al Aborto Legal, Seguro y Gratuito, desatando un debate en todo el país sobre el tema. Dado que los medios impresos desempeñaban un rol importante en la conversación, me interesa investigar cómo dos medios impresos de Buenos Aires, el diario La Nación y la publicación comunitaria mensual Revista Cítrica encuadraron el aborto en sus artículos publicados entre junio y agosto de 2018. Utilizando una metodología cualitativa y teniendo en cuenta que los marcos realizan …

Encuentros Intergeneracionales: Continuidades Y Reformulaciones En Las Prácticas Militantes De Las Jóvenes Integrantes De Espacios De Acompañamiento De Aborto En La Amba / Intergenerational Encounters: Continuities And Reformulations In The Activist Practices Of The Young Members Of Abortion Accompaniment Spaces In The Amba, Hannah Robinson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Debido al acceso restrictivo de los abortos legales, en los últimos diez años los espacios de acompañamiento de personas que quieren interrumpir la gestación se han convertido en un sitio importante de la militancia feminista en Argentina. Estos espacios o colectivos brindan información sobre el uso del medicamento misoprostol para abortar, conectan las personas gestantes con profesionales de salud “amigables” que garantizan el acceso al Interrupción Legal del Embarazo, y proveen apoyo durante el proceso de interrupción. Al mismo tiempo, en los últimos cinco años una marea de jóvenes ha entrado masivamente a la militancia feminista.

A través de la …

Regulating Cultural Expressions In Post-Apartheid South Africa: A Case Study On Pretoria High School For Girls, Michaela Shelton

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Within the social sciences, there is some debate about multiculturalism’s compatibility with governing institutions in liberal democracies. Multiculturalism is a sociological concept that states cultures, races, and ethnicities, particularly those belonging to a minority group, deserve special acknowledgment of their differences within a dominant political culture. While promising in theory, the implementation of multiculturalism can lead to superficial recognition of differences and uphold institutionalized racism. I plan to use Pretoria High School for Girls as a single case study to examine the lingering heritage of apartheid and to better understand the tensions between multiculturalism and anti-racism in historically white South …

La Inclusión De La Mujer Indígena Y El Conocimiento En La Conservación Biológica En El Perú, Ivyanna Colon-Greider

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

El Perú es uno de los países más biodiversos en el mundo. Sin embargo, esta diversidad biológica está amenazada por el cambio climático. Para poder combatir este fenómeno, tenemos que incluir la mujer y sus saberes en la toma de decisiones sobre el manejo conservatorio de la biodiversidad. La meta a través de este estudio es presentar el estado actual del medioambiente y la mujer indígena, mostrar las vinculaciones entre el rol de la mujer indígena y sus saberes en la conservación de la diversidad biológica en Perú y hacer un plan multifacético que reconoce los tres temas con una …

The Social Dimensions Of Reproductive Health: Analyzing Disparities In Morocco Through Health Indicators And Social Determinants, Mila Sicorsky

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper explores the social dimensions of reproductive health in Morocco through a look at its health indicators and social determinants. Existing literature discusses reproductive health differences that run on economic, social, and cultural lines. In this paper, I shed light on how best to measure and understand these disparities. The research shows that reproductive health in Morocco is most accurately indicated by maternal mortality rates (MMR), access to prenatal and postnatal visits, and access to adequate family planning. It also finds that location of residence, economic status, and women’s status are key social determinants of reproductive health in Morocco. …

From The Ulama To The Legislature: Hermeneutics & Morocco’S Family Code, Rachel Olick-Gibson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study examines the role that Islamic law has played thus far in reforming the Moroccan Family Code, also known as the Moudawana. When King Mohammed VI reformed this law in 2004, Morocco received immediate international praise for its liberal strides towards gender equality. Through this study I investigated the hermeneutical tools and methods of ijtihad employed both by the drafters of the Moudawana and by activists leading up to the 2004 reforms. I then investigate impediments to the implementation of this Code in providing substantive legal rights to Moroccan women and the role that interpretation of Islamic law plays …

Understandings Of Sexual Consent Among Male And Female Zulu South Africans In Masxha, Kwazulu-Natal, Larkin Levine

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Though South Africa has an astonishingly high rate of rape and sexual violence, little research has been conducted on understandings of sexual consent outside of the context of rape and sexual violence in different South African communities. Instead, research has focused on understandings and perceptions of rape and sexual violence alone, ignoring the importance of understanding how individuals approach consent in healthy sexual relationships.

Through conducting semi-structured interviews with sixteen Zulu males and females of different ages, all of whom are residents of Masxha, I hoped to learn how these individuals understand sexual consent and how consent is requested, given, …