Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Menopause, Rurality, And Obesity In Rural African American Women, Colleen Kilgore

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the US, one in every eight deaths is due to an obesity-related chronic health condition (ORCHC). More than half of African American women (AAW) 20 years old or older are obese or morbidly obese, as are 63% of menopausal AAW. Many have ORCHC that increase their morbidity and mortality and increase health care costs. In 2013, 42.6 percent of AAs living in South Carolina (SC) were obese. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify the cognitive, behavioral, biological, and demographic factors that influence health outcomes (BMI, and ORCHC) of AAW living in rural SC. A sample of …

Unprotected, Unrecognized: Canadian Immigration Policy And Violence Against Women, 2008-2013, Rupaleem Bhuyan, Bethany Osborne, Sajedeh Zahraei, Sarah Tarshis

Publications and Scholarship

The Migrant Mothers Project (MMP) was launched in 2011, as a collaborative research project led by Rupaleem Bhuyan at the University of Toronto in partnership with a network of community stakeholders, legal clinics, community health centres, and grassroots women. The MMP examines how immigration policies contribute to the production of violence against women and creates barriers for women seeking safety and support.

In 2013, The Migrant Mothers Project conducted research to understand how immigration and refugee policies impact the safety of immigrants who have a precarious status. Since 2008, the Canadian government has introduced an unprecedented number of legislative and …

Women Directors On Public Company Boards: Does A Critical Mass Affect Leverage?, Cindy K. Harris

Business and Economics Faculty Publications

This study examines the relationship between corporate leverage (the ratio of total debt to total assets) and gender diversity on US public company boards, with particular focus on boards that have at least 25% women directors. Using this critical mass of women eliminates from consideration boards with lesser female representation, whose female directors may be marginalized in their contributions to board functioning and decision-making. I hypothesize that when boards have this minimum threshold of gender diversity, the influence of risk-averse female directors will impact board decisions related to financing, resulting in lower debt ratios when compared to boards with no …

Brazen (Fall 2014), Hollins University

Brazen - Gender & Women's Studies Department Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Breaking Barriers: The Influence Of Socioeconomic Status On Obesity Among Women In Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Christina Camoriano

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Obesity in Brazil has grown rapidly within the past decade, however research is conflicting in terms of who carries the burden of this disease- the economic elite or the poor. Despite the lack of clarity towards the current distribution of obesity, many studies have come to the conclusion that in developing countries, obesity is growing more rapidly among those of lower socioeconomic status.¹¹ Therefore, the purpose of my research study is to examine how socioeconomic status influences the dietary and exercise habits of lower and lower-middle income women who are obese. This study is relevant because it seeks to …

The Safety Of Women On College Campuses: Implications Of Evolving Paradigms In Postsecondary Education [October 2014], Carol E. Jordan

Psychology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Fearless Friday: American Association Of University Women (Aauw), Mollie R. Sherman

SURGE

Quickly establishing a reputation on campus for challenging inequality and holding events that grab attention and effectively communicate their message, the newly formed American Association of University Women club is a fearless and influential voice for change at Gettysburg. [excerpt]

Indigenous Women College Students’ Perspectives On College, Work, And Family, Jennie L. Bingham, Aaron P. Jackson, Quintina Bearchief Adolpho, Louise R. Alexitch

Faculty Publications

Native American and First Nations (herein collectively referred to as Indigenous) women college students are faced with the challenge of balancing their cultural imperatives and the demands of the dominant Western culture in family, school, and work/employment roles. In order to explore these women’s experiences and perspectives, this study analyzed unstructured qualitative interviews of 11 Native American and 9 First Nations female college students. The themes that resulted from the hermeneutic analysis were (a) honoring Indigenous culture and community, (b) living in two worlds, (c) pursuing individual fulfillment and goals, and (d) acknowledging the importance and influence of family.

The …

The Safety Of Women On College Campuses: Implications Of Evolving Paradigms In Postsecondary Education [July 2014], Carol E. Jordan

Psychology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

An Exploration Of Sexual Victimization And Academic Performance Among College Women, Carol E. Jordan, Jessica L. Combs, Gregory T. Smith

Office for Policy Studies on Violence Against Women Publications

The literature has documented the widespread nature of sexual assault victimization among college women. While the aftermath of violence against university women has also received focus, that is, documenting trauma-related sequelae; risk factors; reporting patterns; and legal interventions, the impact on academic performance has not received adequate attention in the literature. The primary purpose of this study was to explore the association of rape and sexual assault with academic performance among college women. Its specific aims included the following: to compare high school and college sexual assault experiences with collegiate grade point averages (GPAs) at key points in time; to …

Cedarville Women Fit Shoe Stereotype, Crystal Goodremote

News Releases

The stereotype that women wear uncomfortable shoes to be fashionable was put to the test and found to be true by five Cedarville undergraduate pharmacy students.

Gender And Business Outcomes Of Black And Hispanic New Entrepreneurs In The United States, Marie T. Mora, Alberto Davila

Economics and Finance Faculty Publications and Presentations

In light of the growing numbers of women of color in the entrepreneurial sector in the United States, employing public-use microdata from the 2007 Survey of Business Owners, this study finds that new firms owned by black and Hispanic women were more likely to cease operations than those owned by their male counterparts or by non-Hispanic whites, even when controlling for other owner- and firm-level characteristics and labor market conditions. These differences occurred despite the existence of public programs designed to help female and minority entrepreneurs, raising the question of efficiency of the current policy infrastructure in the United States.

Sex-Trafficking In Cambodia: Assessing The Role Of Ngos In Rebuilding Cambodia, Katherine M. Wood

Senior Honors Theses

The anti-slavery and other freedom fighting movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries did not abolish all forms of slavery. Many forms of modern slavery thrive in countries all across the globe. The sex trafficking trade has intensified despite the advocacy of many human rights-based groups. Southeast Asia ranks very high in terms of the source, transit, and destination of sex trafficking. In particular, human trafficking of women and girls for the purpose of forced prostitution remains an increasing problem in Cambodia. Cambodia’s cultural traditions and the breakdown of law under the Khmer Rouge and Democratic Kampuchea have contributed to …

Employers Need To Do More To Help Maintain Careers Of Employees With Babies, Leandra Preston-Sidler

UCF Forum

It’s amazing how quickly humans adapt to changing circumstances. A few months ago I wrote about how incredibly challenging my first month of life was with a newborn—what many refer to as “baby boot camp,” a perfect term since that’s exactly what it was like thrust into a completely new state of being where life is organized around one thing.

Coming Into Consciousness Women’S Empowerment Projects In Chinandega, Nicaragua, Brittany Wightman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Nicaraguan people are gridlocked into various oppressive hierarchies. Those who find themselves at the bottom of these hierarchies face what Paolo Freire calls “dehumanization”, because they are unable to engage in the inquiry and praxis of their realities. Through my independent study project, I address the hierarchical system of patriarchy in Nicaragua, and highlight the ways in which women empowering themselves are reclaiming their humanity through increasing consciousness. I was fortunate enough to work with two organizations in Chinandega: El Movimiento de Mujeres de Chinandega, and El Grupo Crecer. In working with these organizations I became immersed in the the …

The Patriarchy’S Role In Gender Inequality In The Caribbean, Erin C. O'Connor

Student Publications

While gender equality in the Caribbean is improving, with women’s growing social, economic, and political participation, literacy rates comparable to those in Europe, and greater female participation in higher education, deeply rooted inequalities are still present and are demonstrated in the types of jobs women are in and the limited number of women in decision-making positions. Sexism, racism, and classism are systemic inequalities being perpetuated in schools, through the types of education offered for individuals and the content in textbooks. Ironically, the patriarchy is coexisting within a system of matrifocal and matrilocal families, with a long tradition of female economic …

Reforming Gendered Tenure Policies In U.S. Higher Education: A Policy Recommendation, Donald Mitchell Jr., Ph.D., Abigail Johnson, Laura Poglitsch

Executives, Administrators, & Staff Publications

Men receive tenure more often than women in United States higher education. One reason may be due to current tenure policies. Within this article, the authors evaluate three policy alternatives—benefits packages targeting women, a three-track tenure process, and support programs—using the evaluative criteria effectiveness, affordability, administrative operability, and political feasibility to determine which alternative might be the best option for decreasing the tenure gap between men and women. Each policy alternative was assessed and ranked based on the outcomes associated with the identified criteria. The authors conclude by recommending the three-track tenure policy and suggesting ways to implement and evaluate …

Maternal-Fetal Attachment And Health Behaviors Among Women With Hiv/Aids, Julieta P. Hernandez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Mothers with HIV often face personal and environmental risks for poor maternal health behaviors and infant neglect, even when HIV transmission to the infant was prevented. Maternal-fetal attachment (MFA), the pre-birth relationship of a woman with her fetus, may be the precursor to maternal caregiving. Using the strengths perspective in social work, which embeds MFA within a socio-ecological conceptual framework, it is hypothesized that high levels of maternal-fetal attachment may protect mothers and infants against poor maternal health behaviors. Objective: To assess whether MFA together with history of substance use, living marital status, planned pregnancy status, and timing of …

Women’S Municipal Leadership In Massachusetts: Snapshot Of Cape Cod, Center For Women In Politics And Public Policy, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

The center tracks the status of women at all levels of government in New England. It also provides dynamic web resources to inform and support the public leadership of women of color.

Do Religious Affirmations, Religious Commitments, Or General Commitments Mitigate The Negative Effects Of Exposure To Thin Ideals?, Mary Inman, Erica Iceberg, Laura Mckeel

Faculty Publications

Western pressures for thinness tell women that having a thin body makes a person worthy. Two factors that may provide alternative means of self-worth are religion and general commitment to a meaningful goal. This study experimentally tested whether religious-affirming statements buffered against exposure to thin models for everyone, or only for women with strong religious commitment. It also examined the relationships among religious commitment, general commitment, and body satisfaction. One hundred eleven women at a religious-affiliated college completed the commitment scales and baseline body measures. They were later randomly assigned to read one set of affirming statements, after which they …

Expanding Women’S Healthcare Access In The United States: The Patchwork “Universalism” Of The Affordable Care Act, Randy Albelda, Diana Salas Coronado

Center for Social Policy Publications

This paper explores the promise of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly called “Obamacare” (referred to here as the ACA), with attention to the ways gender matter by tracing the development and implementation of key US social protection systems, an examination of the current health system with particular attention to women’s coverage, and the potential impacts of the ACA, including how it conforms to international human rights norms for health care. The ACA promises to vastly improve the key dimensions of health coverage in the US, but it conforms with other US social policy by relying on market-based …

Prevention: Sexual Violence Against Adolescent And Young Adult Women, Kimberly K. Mcclanahan, Marlene B. Huff, Hatim A. Omar, Joav Merrick

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Art Of Remembering: Iranian Political Prisoners, Resistance And Community, Bethany Osborne

Publications and Scholarship

Over the last three decades, many women and men who were political prisoners in the Middle East have come to Canada as immigrants and refugees. In their countries of origin, they resisted oppressive social policies, ideologies, and various forms of state violence. Their journeys of forced migration/exile took them away from their country, families, and friends, but they arrived in Canada with memories of violence, resistance and survival. These former political prisoners did not want the sacrifices that they and their colleagues had made to be forgotten. They needed to find effective ways to communicate these stories. This research was …

State Imprisonment Of Milwaukee County Women: 1990-2012, John Pawasarat, Lois M. Quinn

ETI Publications

This research study by the Employment and Training Institute provides data on the 4,300 Milwaukee County women who were incarcerated in adult state correctional facilities from January 1990 to January 2012 using the Wisconsin Department of Corrections public inmate data files. Two-thirds of the women were African Americans. whose incarceration numbers spiked in 2003 during the height of the “war on drugs” enforcement years. The heaviest concentrations of imprisoned women were from the poorest neighborhoods on Milwaukee’s near north side and near south side.

Call To Duty: Women And World War I, Jennifer D. Keene

History Faculty Articles and Research

"Watching loved ones depart, uncertain if they would return—this was an experience that women around the world shared during the Great War. The continual scene of women sending men off to fight was troubling; paradoxically, it was also a familiar, traditional ritual that reinforced gender roles within western societies. "

Male-Female Wage-Gap: A Comparison Of Different Employment Classes, Richard V. Foster, Jeffrey Waddoups, Heather Lynn Lusty, Thomas Mike Carroll

McNair Poster Presentations

This study is being conducted and presented in two parts. The first part, this report, is a statistical examination of the male-female wage gap. By evaluating the average (mean) differences between men and women within the workplace, pay differential trends can be ascertained and examined to support the need for additional study. The second stage, to be conducted Fall 2014 at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, will use regression analysis to differentiate between explained and unexplained portions of said pay-gap to better understand how the remaining gap is related to discrimination. The data analyzed will establish baselines for both …

Sexual And Reproductive Health Of Women Living With Hiv In Egypt: Unmet Needs And Unfulfilled Dreams, Doaa Oraby, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab

Reproductive Health

The gender profile of the HIV/AIDS epidemic has changed since it emerged 30 years ago when infections were concentrated in key populations of men such as injecting drug users and men who have sex with men. In 2012, women accounted for nearly 50 percent of the estimated 35.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS globally. In the Middle East and North Africa, 44 percent of infected adults are women. The past 30 years have also witnessed remarkable improvements in access to high-quality information and medical services, including services for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the virus. With care and treatment for …

Learning Wisdom Through Collectivity: The Women Writing Women Collective, Luanne Armstrong, Barbara Bickel, Lynn Fels, Gillian Gerhard, Alyson Hoy, Nane Jordan, Wendy S. Nielsen, Annie Smith, Jeannie Stubbs, Valerie Triggs

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The Women Writing Women Collective was a collegial and collaborative response to the isolation that is often experienced by women scholars as they pursue their academic careers. For 5 years, a group of women gathered on a monthly basis to share their writing. In doing so, the group members provided a sounding board for each other as they engaged with writing and scholarship through reflective, reciprocal, and responsible critique and curiosity. As a writing collective, we began to recognize and deconstruct specific institutional constraints, practices, and theoretical stances that had influenced our perspectives and experiences of what it means to …

Nutrition During Pregnancy - Exploring Women's Knowledge And Models Of Nutrition Communication, Khlood Bookari, Heather Yeatman, Moira Williamson

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract of paper presented at the ICM 30th Triennial Congress - Midwives: Improving Women's Health Globally, 1-5 June 2014, Prague, Czech Republic

The Hero's Journey: Stories Of Women Returning To Education, Sarah O'Shea, Cathy Stone

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This paper draws upon the metaphor of the "hero's journey" to further analyse seven stories of women returning to education. These stories have formed the basis of a recent book publication by the authors (Stone & O'Shea, 2012) and are derived from two complementary but separate research studies (O'Shea, 2007; Stone, 2008). None of the women featured in this article have a parent who went to university and all have a number of competing demands in their lives including families, partners and employment. This paper aims to both frame the richly descriptive nature of these stories within a heroic metaphor …