Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Unveiling Invisible Wounds: Experiences Of Racial Microaggressions, Racial Gaslighting, And Mental Health Among Racially And Ethnically Minoritized Adults, Supriya Pandit

Dissertations and Theses

Racial microaggressions are momentary, subtle, and often unintentional comments or behaviors that nonetheless communicate negative race-based messages towards racially and ethnically minoritized individuals. Given the accumulated and differential impact of racial microaggressions on individuals' mental health over time, it is crucial to investigate its associations with specific mental health symptoms and intrapsychic alleviating factors. To further clarify which coping strategies for racial microaggressions can be more empowering versus harmful, it is also crucial to investigate the processes and mental health consequences that unfold when individuals choose to challenge racial microaggressions, such as racial gaslighting. Racial gaslighting is an insidious interpersonal …

Vaccines And Publics: A Variety Of Engagement Experiences, David H. Lee

Publications and Research

This chapter is about some of the sites and scenes where members of the public are exposed to (and engage in) vaccination discourse. To preview, after a brief introduction, we begin with messaging models of communication, followed by the move from messaging to engagement. Next, case examples of public engagement with vaccines are introduced, from pandemic influenza preparedness in the U.S., to polio eradication initiatives in India, and then to COVID-19 public engagement events in England. Settings of public engagement are noted, including online, in churches and museums. Then, there’s a section about communication and public participation, seen as either …

An Introduction To Cultural Anthropology: What Does Anthropology Offer The Current World?, Kristina Baines, Victoria Costa, Baird Campbell

Open Educational Resources

This Open Educational Resource (OER) is designed to be used as a textbook to accompany an introductory course in Cultural Anthropology. The chapters can, however, stand alone or be expanded and be used in courses with units on Medical Anthropology, Ethnographic Methods, Race and Gender Studies, Climate and Environmental Anthropology and others. Please feel free to use all or part of the textbook and supplemental materials provided. This resource is published under a creative commons license. Use and modify as you wish for non-commercial use only with attribution to Cool Anthropology.

Minds, Made Up Or Malleable? Covert Commands At The Eclipse Of Vaccine Communications, David H. Lee

Publications and Research

Abstract: Although millions have died from SARS-CoV-2 illness, COVID vaccines are credited with stemming the tide. Vaccinations and boosters significantly decrease the incidence of severe illness and death (even if they don’t usually prevent COVID-19 infection). Despite the success of global vaccination efforts, frequent reports of vaccine hesitance and refusal suggest that public health communications need improvement.

The chapter begins by acknowledging adverse events associated with COVID vaccination, including rare cases of anaphylaxis, GBS, and myocarditis. An inoculation-theoretic rationale is offered for this admission of vaccine risks: just as immune defenses mount when organisms are exposed to pathogens, so too …

Review Of Digital Degrowth: Technology In The Age Of Survival, Michael Kirby

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

The Bib Record In The Age Of Digital Reproduction, Michael Kirby

Publications and Research

Taking both structural and thematic inspiration from Walter Benjamin’s “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction,” this article posits that the movement from physical card catalogs to ALSs [Automated library systems] and ILSs [Integrated library systems] was not solely the result of technological progress. Rather, this transition had its genesis in a process Marx called primitive accumulation—in this case a form specific to the library profession. In other words, this article seeks to recast the history of digitized catalogs within libraries, seeing them, first and foremost, as harbingers of disenfranchisement and dispossession, specifically of catalogers. The article …

The Limits Of Technocratic Degrowth: A Review Of The End Of Capitalism: Why Growth And Climate Protection Are Incompatible—And How We Will Live In The Future, Michael Kirby

Publications and Research

This book review discusses Ulrike Herrmann’s The End of Capitalism: Why Growth and Climate Protection Are Incompatible—and How We Will Live in the Future, situating it within contemporary climate debates. Herrmann’s central claim—that capitalism’s dependence on perpetual growth renders meaningful climate protection impossible—is presented as a clear, accessible synthesis of degrowth arguments. The book is particularly notable for its rejection of techno-utopian solutions such as carbon capture and its skepticism vis-à-vis large-scale renewable transitions under market conditions. However, the review ultimately questions the feasibility of Herrmann's proposed alternative (the “survival economy”), demonstrating that it overlooks political power, class interests, and …

Armed By Design: Posters And Publications Of Cuba's Organization Of Solidarity Of The Peoples Of Asia, Africa, And Latin America (Ospaaal), Jen Hoyer, Lani Hanna, Josh Macphee, Vero Ordaz, Sarah Seidman

Publications and Research

This book reflects on the intersection of graphic design and political solidarity work of OSPAAAL, the Organization of Solidarity of the Peoples of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Based in Havana, Cuba, OSPAAAL produced nearly 500 posters, magazines, and books beginning in the late sixties. Their output provides one of the most robust examples of political design ever seen; it offers a wealth of opportunities for thinking about how design is—and could be—deployed today in the search for more egalitarian social transformation.

Armed By Design brings together artists and thinkers from around the world whose work has been impacted by …

Active Learning Seminar Assignment: Broken Windows Perusall Activity, Penny Geyer

Open Educational Resources

This collaborative reading assignment created by Professor Penny Geyer was created as part of a seminar on Active Learning using OERs in 2025. The assignment uses the social annotation tool, Perusall, to transform a traditional reading assignment into an active learning exercise that encourages close reading, peer engagement and structured discussion of the foundational text, "Broken Windows" by James Wilson and George Kelling.

A Morphosyntactic Study Of Arab American Code-Switching, Qamar Bazar

Publications and Research

This study examines the morphosyntactic behavior of Arabic lexical items in English-dominant speech among Arab American bilinguals. Based on original survey data from 22 participants between the ages of 16 and 32, the paper focuses on specific Arabic words, such as yani, khalas, and ana, in English conversations across informal and professional settings. The analysis shows that these lexical items function as free morphemes and are inserted without disrupting English syntax, often serving discourse, emotional, or identity-marking purposes. Grounded in sociolinguistic theory and Poplack’s model of intra-sentential code-switching, this paper argues that code-switching among Arab Americans is intentional and …

Review Of The Commune Form: The Transformation Of Everyday Life By Kristin Ross, Michael Kirby

Publications and Research

Review of The Commune Form: The Transformation of Everyday Life

Problematic Behavior In Urban Public Libraries: Are Library Policies And Rules Keeping Staff And Patrons Safe?, Jessica Jackson

Urban Library Journal

Public librarians often encounter problematic patron behaviors that put staff and other patrons at risk of physical and psychological harm. A comparison of the user behavior policies at urban public libraries is a useful starting point for developing evidence-based best practices for ensuring that public libraries are safe spaces for all and can fulfill their missions to their communities.

Fostering Future Librarians: Best Practices For Remote Internships In A Post-Pandemic Library, Yoko Ferguson, Helena Marvin

Urban Library Journal

Remote library internships in cataloging and digital scholarship can be valuable for both librarians and students. Leveraging online tools, we provide learning opportunities to library school students regardless of their time zone. In this presentation we share best practices for post-pandemic internships that nurture future librarians while tackling challenging projects. This presentation, delivered at the 2024 LACUNY Institute, explored the implementation and benefits of remote internships in academic libraries. Provided here as conference proceedings is a PDF of the slides.

An archival version of the recorded presentation can be found at https://irl.umsl.edu/library-faculty/26/.

“Baking Inclusion Into Everything”: Internal Communication And Black And Latina Women’S Stories Of Intersectionality, Natalie Martell-Concepcion

Student Theses and Dissertations

Internal communications play a major role in creating diverse and inclusive workplace cultures. This study explores the lived experiences of Black and Latina women who work in internal communications, offering unique insights into how their identities intersect with workplace culture and strategic communication. Through a qualitative approach, six intersectional women, three Black and three Latina, were interviewed to examine how gender, racial and ethnic identities influence their work experiences and contributions. The results indicate that while Black and Latina women are treated differently at work compared to other groups, they use their differences to positively contribute to their companies’ internal …

When Do States Outsource Repression: Evidence From Hong Kong, Ming Kong

Student Theses and Dissertations

What explains the variation in states using state versus nonstate actors in responding to civil unrest? Prior research on state repression has predominantly focused on the direct use of force by state authorities, often neglecting the critical role of third parties, such as organized crime groups, in executing repression. This practice, known as "outsourcing repression", enables states to maintain control while preserving plausible deniability, particularly in contexts requiring substantial coercion. This study aims to elucidate the conditions under which states opt to outsource repression. I propose a two-step logical framework. First, I argue that outsourcing repression depends on the availability …

The Search For Unenumerated Fundamental Rights, Alina Sluzhyvenkova

Student Theses and Dissertations

There are certain rights that are explicitly enumerated in the Constitution, e.g., right to bear arms, right to free speech, right to a speedy and public trial. There are also rights that aren’t specifically written out but are nevertheless enjoyed by people nationwide. Rights that aren’t explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, but which are fundamental to are called the unenumerated rights. Unenumerated rights are just as important and can be derived from natural law, enumerated rights, the Ninth Amendment, precedents, judicial opinions, and substantive due process.

Substantive due process is a principle guaranteed by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, which …

Testing Routine Activity Theory: Behavioural Pathways Linking Temperature To Crime, Christopher Thomas, Jinuk Jeong, Kevin T. Wolff

Publications and Research

This study examines direct observations of outdoor routine activities to investigate the pathways through which temperatures shape crime. Daily administrative records of crime, weather, and outdoor activity were assembled from 2015 to 2019 in New York City. Mediation analysis (with bootstrapped standard errors) reveals that alterations in routine activities account for a statistically significant, yet modest, proportion of temperature’s relationship with homicides, shootings, assaults, larceny, and public consumption violations. The comparable mediation effects across violent and nonviolent crimes support routine activity theory as an explanatory framework for understanding temperature's impact on crime. The measures introduced here offer a novel approach …

Coding With Those Who Show Up: Two Methodologies On Technical Committee Work, Mark E. Eaton

Publications and Research

This paper considers our library’s attempt at applying a “laissez-faire leadership” model to technical committee work. Since its introduction in the 1990s, scholarship on laissez-faire leadership has historically viewed the concept very negatively. However, we argue here that many of these perspectives are straw man arguments that do not adequately consider the possibilities of a laissez-faire model. Following some dissenting voices in the literature, we would like to reclaim the laissez-faire model as a way to facilitate library technical work under certain very specific circumstances. This paper will describe the organizational context where these laissez-faire methods worked for us. Our …

Feeding Jersey: A Fresh Look At Food In The Garden State, Zachary E. Zawila

Capstones

New Jersey is the Garden State. The food business is in its nature. But how the state's foodways work, and particularly how they shape the cities of North Jersey, brings vitality to some neighborhoods while leaving others behind. The cities of Orange, Elizabeth, and Paterson have especially interesting food pasts, and particularly promising food futures.

https://sites.google.com/view/feeding-jersey/home

Falling Victim To The Beauty Algorithm, Niti Majethia

Capstones

As life on the internet becomes the new normal, the impact of social media becomes more pervasive and relentless. This story delves into how platforms like Instagram and TikTok can amplify the societal pressures on women to live up to an impossible beauty standard. Various experts weigh in on how this pressure affects women of all ages — from little girls to grown-up, established influencers. This timely narrative underscores the steep cost of society’s obsession with beauty as a measure of value and whether there is an escape to it at all.

¿Qué Futuro Les Espera A Los Trabajadores Latinos? El Calor Extremo, Las Promesas Vacías Y La Incertidumbre Política, Yunior Rivas Garcia

Capstones

Este artículo explora las condiciones mortales que enfrentan los trabajadores latinos en Estados Unidos debido al estrés por calor, un riesgo creciente en sectores esenciales como la construcción, la agricultura y el almacenamiento. A pesar de representar una proporción significativa de las muertes laborales, las protecciones contra el calor son insuficientes, y la falta de regulación federal agrava la vulnerabilidad de estos trabajadores, muchos de los cuales son indocumentados. A través de casos específicos, como la muerte de Esvin Cruz Mateo, y un análisis de las políticas laborales actuales, el texto examina las fallas estructurales que perpetúan la inseguridad laboral …

Applying Engagement Journalism Methods To Reach Young People In The South Bronx, Christine M. Zeiger Mrs., Judith Marks

Capstones

During the fall of 2024, engagement journalism students Christine Zeiger and Judith Marks met with more than 60 teens in the South Bronx. They also distributed digital questionnaires, which garnered 26 responses from teens and adults between the ages of 14 and 22. These questionnaires were distributed after in-person sessions we organized to gather feedback on topics we wanted to learn about more deeply.

The project’s initial goal was to understand how South Bronx teens and young adults were engaging with the November elections and use their feedback to inform election coverage for the Mott Haven Herald and Hunts Point …

A City Feeling Electrified Growing Pains, Noah R. Kolenda

Capstones

The following project is an analysis of public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in New York City compared to the registered electric vehicles. This project aims to highlight both the slow development of this infrastructure, but also how it's not being built out in an equitable manner. To come to this conclusion, I analyzed the number of chargers available from the state's OpenData portal and compared it to the number of registered electric vehicles that operate in the five counties that make up New York City using a python script. I found a significant imbalance between where the people are …

Campaigns, Climate, And Congestion: Reporting From The Hudson For Newmark's "Audio Files", Jesse King

Capstones

"Audio Files" is an annual news podcast series by students at CUNY's Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, producing stories to "inform, help, and delight" New Yorkers. This capstone includes a collection of political news stories and science features written for this program, all of which are based in New York's Hudson Valley. The first is a political piece breaking down how Congressional races in the suburbs could impact overall control of the House in the 2024 election. The second focuses on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's approval of a new congestion pricing plan in Manhattan, as proposed by New York …

Drogas, Basura Y Crimen: Los Vecinos De East Harlem Se Unen Para Mejorar El Barrio, Jacqueline Zamora

Capstones

En octubre de 2023 una nueva operación denominada “operación 4 esquinas” inició con el fin de mejorar la calidad de vida en East Harlem, pero el vecindario no ha cambiado mucho, dejando a residentes que formen una comunidad que se ayude mutuamente para marcar la diferencia en el barrio.

Enlace: https://medium.com/@jzamora2211/drogas-basura-y-crimen-los-vecinos-de-east-harlem-se-unen-para-mejorar-el-barrio-39455477522b

On Food And Restaurants, Liya Cui

Capstones

This portfolio contains a collection of stories about New York City restaurants and broader food culture, including reported features, a profile and criticism. Food is literally inescapable; even if you believe you don’t care about what you eat, every bite is a choice. This subject deserves critical thought and exploration as it influences our lives in myriad ways and reveals cultural trends that can tell us so much about who we are right now.

https://medium.com/@LiyaC/capstone-portfolio-on-food-and-restaurants-bc4c18c7f2a9

Has K-Pop Lost Its Koreaness?, Madison J. Gusler

Capstones

Since the 2010s, the global expansion of K-pop has been undeniable, with music from Korean idol groups resonating with fans around the world. We’ve seen the industry adapt to cater to this global audience, placing emphasis on non-verbal aspects of performance such as choreography and set design, and integrating more English lyrics in their songs. K-pop has always had multinational, multicultural influences in its production, yet the music has remained distinctly Korean. But as the industry expands into new markets, faces new challenges, and adapts to convey greater global appeal, the public must contend with the idea of a K-pop …

Avon Está Desapareciendo. Para Muchas Mujeres Sigue Siendo Su Sustento, Darian E. Mozo

Capstones

El negocio de Avon pasó de ser un negocio símbolo del empoderamiento femenino a una empresa en decadencia, pero algunas representantes de Avon latinas en Estados Unidos todavía dependen de este negocio, enfrentándose así a los retos económicos y tecnológicos actuales.

https://medium.com/@darianmozocortes/avon-est%C3%A1-desapareciendo-para-muchas-mujeres-sigue-siendo-su-sustento-58502dd427e9

Is Sexyy Red Minstrelsy, Or Are We Overreacting?, Malik Brizan-Reed

Capstones

This criticism piece explores the controversial female rapper Sexyy Red. It challenges negative perspectives about her persona, primarily based on respectability politics. It highlights Sexyy Red's ability to capitalize on a moment and business savviness. The article has themes of racial double standards and classism. Sexyy Red is more than the "ghetto Black girl," aesthetic. She's a mother and entrepreneur who is authentic to herself.

Más Que Pedalear: Mujeres Deliveristas En Nueva York Equilibran Cuidado, Trabajo Y Sus Cuerpos, Mariana Navarrete Villegas

Capstones

In New York City, immigrant women delivery workers face unique challenges as they juggle the care duties of their families and the demands of a grueling job. They endure harassment, navigate unsafe conditions, and adapt their work routines to their menstrual cycles—all while confronting limited support networks. This article profiles the experiences of four women who rely on delivery work for its flexibility but remain largely excluded from male-dominated labor activism. These women’s stories reveal the systemic inequities in the gig economy, from the lack of gender-specific protections to the marginalization of women’s voices in advocacy efforts. Amidst these struggles, …