Sociology Commons^™

Genwriter: Reducing Gender Cues In Biographies Through Text Rewriting, Shweta Soundararajan, Sarah Jane Delany

Conference papers

Gendered language is the use of words that indicate an individual’s gender. Though useful in certain context, it can reinforce gender stereotypes and introduce bias, particularly in machine learning models used for tasks like occupation classification. When textual content such as biographies contains gender cues, it can influence model predictions, leading to unfair outcomes such as reduced hiring opportunities for women. To address this issue, we propose GenWriter, an approach that integrates Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) with Large Language Models (LLMs) to rewrite biographies in a way that obfuscates gender while preserving semantic content. We evaluate GenWriter by measuring gender bias …

Bridging Generations: Intergenerational Transfers And Time Use In A Changing World, Christine Ho

Research Collection School Of Economics

This Special Issue brings together nine papers that examine how families allocate time and money across generations. Spanning aging societies in East Asia to informal settlements in the Pacific, the contributions employ diverse methodological approaches, from natural experiments and policy variation to administrative data linkage and cross-generational panel surveys. The findings converge on a central insight: intergenerational transfers of time and money are not merely cultural practices, but systematic responses to changing economic environments and institutional frameworks. Family decisions are critical to the provision of long-term care, investment in children’s human capital, and the transmission of preferences, opportunities, and well-being …

Hope Against Hope: Problems, Possibilities, Agency, And Survival, Erin Kay Chambers

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In response to a critique of hope put forth by queer theorist Jack Halberstam, this thesis is a reassessment of what makes us capable of response—to “stay with the trouble,” in the words of Donna Haraway—in the face of overwhelming collapse. If not hope, then what? This thesis explores a number of questions about hope and its absence, opposites, and various deployments: is hope always an effective tool for survival? Does hopelessness always spell doom? Are hope and its apparent opposites necessarily incompatible? And if there is no hope, how do we keep going?—how do we survive? I explore these …

Don't Settle For Less: Incorporating Postcolonial And Settler Colonial Perspectives Into The Sociological Canon, Eli Xavier Ornelas

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

For decades now, post-/de-/settler-/ and anticolonial scholars have advanced the argument that sociology has largely failed to incorporate critical insights from theories of empire into the sociological canon. In this dissertation, I argue that introduction to sociology textbooks offer an important vantage point from which to assess conventional sociological knowledge as textbooks are often thought to be “reflections of the discipline.” I analyze the social theory and race chapters of 21 of the most often used introduction to sociology textbooks in the United States to investigate two chapters where insights from theories of empire would be present if indeed incorporated: …

The Career Resilience Of Women Of Color Amidst Intersectional Racism-Sexism In The Us: A Consensual Qualitative Study, Hannah Ahmad Ridzuan

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Women of color have historically and presently experienced both sexism and racism on interpersonal, institutional, and cultural levels (Sue et al., 2007). While discrimination based on racial-ethnic and gender identities has by far the most extensive literature base (Duffy et al., 2016), literature on the development of women of color career resilience is not as expansive. Informed by the Psychology of Working Theory (PWT) (Blustein, 2006; Duffy et al., 2016), the intersectionality framework (Crenshaw, 1989; Collins et al., 2021), and critical consciousness (Freire, 1971; Quiñones-Rosado, 2020), this consensual qualitative research (CQR; Hill, 2006) explored how women of color in the …

“Self-Compassion Has To Be The Heartbeat Of How I Move Through Life”: A Mixed Methods Study Of Family Caregiver Emotional Well-Being, Sarah O. Rasby

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Often referred to as “hidden patients,” family caregivers endure numerous physical, emotional, psychological, and social hardships due to the demands of caregiving, which often results in their own needs going unmet. With the projected 61.3 million of the baby boomer generation entering the long-term care phase by 2029 along with a mass shortage of professional caregivers post-pandemic, more and more family members are expected to fill in for the role of care without sufficient access to support services (Pollard & Scommegna, 2014; Smith & Chang, 2016). An exploratory, mixed-methods study using a three-group intervention design was utilized to investigate the …

An Embodied Social Demography For Trans And Nonbinary Workers, Jesse Ezra Shircliff

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Recently, the separation of “sex” and “gender” has seen intense debate in public discourse, stemming from skepticism about the social sciences and the measurement and study of gender specifically. Meanwhile, the United States population is becoming more gender diverse, with roughly 1 in 200 people now identifying as trans gender or gender nonbinary (that is, as a gender that is different from that person’s sex assigned-at-birth or outside of the sex-gender binary). This growing population experiences numerous disadvantages across social life, including obstacles in one particularly important aspect of the American Dream: the right to have and hold a job. …

From Marriage To Migration: Analyzing Return Migration, Gender Inequalities And Household Resource Allocation Patterns, Saeed Ahmad

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In Kyrgyzstan, a country shaped by deep-rooted traditions and high rates of migration, women's lives are often influenced by powerful cultural expectations, economic pressures, and limited choices. My research explores how these forces intersect—particularly through the lens of bride kidnapping, migration, and how families use money and resources. Together, these issues reveal how gender inequality operates in everyday life, and how women navigate both constraint and resilience.

This dissertation includes three connected studies. The first examines how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted international labor migration, especially for Kyrgyz migrants working in Russia. Many returnees lost their jobs and faced hostility or …

Migration As Adaptation: Place-Based Vulnerability Near The Drying Great Salt Lake, Dallin Johnson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The drying of the Great Salt Lake presents a complex and evolving threat to Utah residents, with wide-ranging environmental, economic, and health implications. This study explores the individual and structural factors impacting Utahns' ability to utilize migration as a form of adaptive capacity in response to these threats, using mobility justice and cumulative advantage and disadvantage theory as guiding frameworks. Drawing on survey data, a multilevel logistic regression model identifies key structural factors, including age, income, and gender, that influence perceived migration ability. Additionally, a 2x2 typology categorizes distinct profiles of vulnerability to the Great Salt Lake based on different …

Understanding Power Dynamics Of Latter-Day Saint Marriages In The United States Of America, Bonnie Young

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Power sharing is a key feature of romantic relationships. It is important to understand how various groups navigate power sharing within their relationships. Thirty-one participants who belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (16 women and 15 men) reported on their experience of power-sharing in marriage. In-depth individual and couple interviews revealed that couples engage in four individual and relational processes that impact and promote equality in marriage: systemic influences, self-in-relationship processes, relationship processes, and identity outcomes. These processes have important implications for future research and therapeutic practice with Latter-day Saint, religious, and secular couples.

Simmel’S Reification In The Digital Era: The Commodification Of Emotional Relationships In Rent-A-Partner Services On Social Media, Juliana Pramesti

Masyarakat: Jurnal Sosiologi

This study examines the commodification of emotional relationships in Indonesia through the rise of “rent-a-partner” services on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Existing scholarship on digital intimacy has largely focused on Western and East Asian contexts, particularly dating applications, offering limited insight into how commodified intimacy operates in non-Western settings shaped by distinct socio-cultural and moral frameworks. Addressing this gap, the study draws on Georg Simmel’s concept of reification to analyze how emotional intimacy is transformed into purchasable service packages within platform-mediated environments. Using a qualitative approach that combines netnographic observation and in-depth interviews, the study demonstrates …

A Cultural Mapping Of Local Knowledge For Flood And Landslide Mitigation In The Sendi Community, Mojokerto, East Java, Ahmad Mujahid Arrozy Arz, Abyoso Romadhoni Wicaksono Arw, Kusuma Sabrina Wardhani Skw, Lora Septrianda Putri

Masyarakat: Jurnal Sosiologi

This article investigated the irrigation sustainability and landslide prevention in the Sendi community, Mojokerto, East Java, by applying a cultural mapping approach to examine everyday practices through which local knowledge was enacted and produced, while linking the analysis to broader structural formations. The approach informed a participatory data collection process, that is also designed to protect the intangible cultural heritage of the community. The findings demonstrated how everyday practices function as an integral component of flood and landslide mitigation. This knowledge has been passed down through community archives since 1915 and included practices, such as planting local crops (bamboos and …

Central Halmahera In Power Relations, Development, And Environmental Crisis, Herman Usman

Masyarakat: Jurnal Sosiologi

Abstract This paper analyzes the relationship between power relations, development, and environmental crisis in Central Halmahera, North Maluku, a region that has undergone socio-ecological changes due to the expansion of extractive industries, especially nickel mining. Such development is controlled by state actors and corporations, creating unequal power relations in which local communities are often marginalized. This development model based on natural resource extraction resulting in ecosystem degradation, water pollution, and the loss of living space for indigenous peoples and coastal communities. This paper uses the approaches of political ecology and the sociology of development, to examine how the state facilitates …

Project Choices: An Experimental Serious Video Game For Performance-Based Risk Assessment, Rachel Bomysoad

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Risk assessment for future criminal conduct currently relies on evaluator ratings or self-report measures, with imperfect predictive utility. A new serious (clinical) video game, Project Choices, was developed for assessment and treatment purposes with persons involved with the criminal legal system. Project Choices offers performance-based measurement of individuals’ responses to realistic scenarios relevant to overall criminogenic risk and individual risk factors. The current study aimed to pilot test the newest version of Project Choices (Version 2) using a sample of university students (N = 100), examining gameplay performance metrics (number of risky decisions overall and within individual risk domains) for …

An Examination Of The Lived Experiences Of Community College Students Of Color Who Utilize On-Campus Food Pantries, Maria Luisa Marte

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In this dissertation, I present the findings of a descriptive phenomenological study I conducted focused on examining the experiences of community college students of color who utilize on-campus food pantries, aiming to understand how these resources impact their well-being. Through in-depth interviews, two central themes emerged. The first theme, Introduction to the On-Campus Food Pantry, highlights the accessibility of the service, with participants emphasizing the simplicity and efficiency of the registration process as a key factor in their initial engagement. The second theme, Experiences Using the Pantry, reveals that students found the pantry environment to be welcoming and non-stigmatizing, fostering …

Seeing Students For Part Of Who They Are: High School Counselors' Experiences Broaching, Jessica M. Miserentino

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Broaching is raising issues of race, ethnicity, and culture (REC) in the counseling setting. Day-Vines and colleagues (2007) introduced this skill that involves counselors bringing topics of identity into the counseling space intentionally. This phenomenological study, guided by intersectionality, aimed to explore the experiences of high school counselors broaching REC. This study provided a further understanding and definition of broaching. Five main themes emerged to describe their experiences: 1) What is Broaching? 2) Broaching Strategies, 3) Broaching with Students and Various Stakeholders, 4) Systems of Power Impact Broaching, and 5) Professional Trajectory, Training, and Counselor Identity Impact Broaching. The findings …

"It's A Calling That Won't Let You Rest": The Experiences Of Counselor Educators Of Color Who Teach Social Justice, Sunanda M. Sharma

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Social justice advocacy has been described as a foundational ethical duty for all professional counselors (American Counseling Association, 2014). Counselor educators of color (CEOCs) have advocated for the advancement of multiculturalism and social justice in counseling (Sue et al., 1992; Vera & Speight, 2003). However, their lived experiences are not well-accounted for in the counseling literature. Grounded in critical race theory (CRT) (Delgado & Stefancic, 2017), this phenomenological study sought to explore the lived experiences of CEOCs who teach students to engage in systemic social justice advocacy (SSJA). Eleven participants described the essence of their experiences and four themes emerged …

The Cost Of Strength: Navigating Systemic Racism And The Strong Black Woman Stereotype In The Workplace, Krystle M. Davis

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This research defined and explored the lived experiences of Black women in leadership and the role of systemic racism on the performance of the strong Black woman stereotype in the workplace. Grounded in Black feminist thought, epistemology, and phenomenology, this qualitative study seeks to deepen understanding the lived experiences of Black women. This manuscript-style dissertation comprises two studies: Study 1 consisted of nine participants who contributed through Sista Circle focus groups and Study 2 consisted of fourteen participants who engaged in semi-structured interviews to defined and examined their workplace experiences. Situated at the intersection of race and gender, this research …

Predicting Case Clearance For Victims Of Anti-Transgender Homicide In The United States, Brittaney Alyssa Mann

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There is a shortage of research exploring case clearance of anti-transgender bias homicides. This study will comparatively examine the similarities and differences in anti-transgender bias homicide cases with and without arrests at the victim, situational and incident levels occurring in the United States between 2013 and 2023. Data are extracted from the Bias Homicide Database (BHDB), the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). This project will address the gap in understanding case clearance of anti-transgender bias homicides, provide policy implications, and ideas to further the discipline’s understanding of the topic. Keywords: LGBTQIA+ victims, bias …

Crossing Borders: Analyzing The Factors Contributing To Healthcare And Reproductive Preferences Among Residents Of The Texas-Mexico Border, Yamaris Michelle Cordero

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Crossing Borders: Analyzing the Factors Contributing to Healthcare and Reproductive Preferences Among Residents of the Texas-Mexico Border explores the complexities of healthcare access and utilization among border residents, particularly in the context of reproductive health. Through qualitative analysis of focus group discussions with promotoras - community health workers - this study identifies key factors influencing cross-border healthcare decisions, including economic barriers, cultural influences, and perceptions of quality. The findings reveal that high costs and limited insurance coverage in the U.S. drive many individuals to seek affordable healthcare and medications in Mexico, where pharmacies provide immediate, low-cost services without the need …

Navigating Spaces: Understanding Lgbtq+ Families Who Homeschool Amid Shifting Legislative And Societal Landscapes, Ana Ferrante

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the motivations and lived experiences of caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth who chose homeschooling amid escalating anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the United States. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT) (Deci and Ryan, 1980) and Queer Theory (Chevrette, 2013), the study examined how caregivers navigated educational decisions to construct affirming, identity-conscious learning environments in response to exclusionary policies and systemic marginalization. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with four caregivers residing in politically conservative states in the U.S.. The findings revealed that homeschooling functioned both as a protective measure against institutional harm and as a proactive strategy for fostering …

Commitment And Betrayal In Intimate Relationships: A Grounded Theory Analysis, Megan Van Alfen Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Commitment and betrayal are key aspects of a relationship that have impact on the quality or health of the relationship. The purpose of this paper was to use qualitative grounded theory methods to explore how commitment and betrayal are experienced in intimate relationships and to explore the outcomes of both. The data were taken from a larger project on healthy and unhealthy relationships where participants were recruited through convenience and theoretical sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and constructivist grounded theory methods were used to code, generate, and refine prominent categories in the data. Findings revealed that commitment is experienced through …

Japan’S Military Transformation In Abe Era: A Revolution Or Something Else?, Ganesh Aji Wicaksono, Tangguh Chairil

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

After the World War II, Japan has been adopting a pacifist Constitution and established the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) for narrow self-defense operations. The JSDF are restricted from having offensive military weapons. However, Japan’s pacifism and restrained security policy have been evolving recently, especially during the term of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2012-2020). The latest example is Japan’s plan to enable forward defense and counterstrike. This paper explores the transformation of Japan’s military through the revolution of military affairs (RMA) concept. The findings suggest evolutionary transformation of Japan’s military rather than revolutionary. The factors explored include international and domestic factors. …

Unveiling The Shadows: Exploring The Roles Of The Dark Web And Encrypted Messaging Apps In Facilitating Online Terrorist Networks, Eziho Promise Ogele

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

The paper examines the pivotal roles of the Dark Web and encrypted messaging apps in enabling online terrorist networks. These platforms have become essential tools for extremist groups, empowering them to communicate, coordinate, and share intelligence securely. The Dark Web, a hidden portion of the internet, provides a secure conduit for terrorist organizations to emerge, operate, and coordinate activities anonymously. This digital haven enables terrorists to share resources, plan operations, and execute attacks as part of their secret operations strategy. Encrypted messaging apps, such as Telegram and WhatsApp, offer an additional layer of security, allowing terrorists to send messages anonymously …

Convergence Of Indonesia-South Korea Green Economy Strategy: A Case Study Of Hyundai Motor Group's Investment In The Ev Industry, Darynaufal Mulyaman, Dwi Agustina, Rudolf Davier Figo, Gabriel Alexander Mahameru Sipahutar, Abdullah Akbar Rafsanjani

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

Hyundai Motor Group's investment in the electric vehicle (EV) industry in Indonesia reflects the convergence of green economy strategies between Indonesia and South Korea. The study aims to analyze the contribution of Hyundai investment in the development of the local EV ecosystem, including technology transfer, supporting infrastructure, and its impact on the bilateral relationship between the two countries. The research method used is a qualitative study with a case study approach. The results show that Hyundai Motor Group's investment supports Indonesia's green economy policy, despite challenges related to dependence on natural resources and infrastructure. This research contributes to academics and …

Women’S Empowerment And Household Decision-Making: The Role Of Socioeconomic Status In Indonesia, Irvel Christa Fabian, Rafa Fayza Afrizal

Jurnal Ekonomi Kependudukan dan Keluarga

Understanding how women's economic, educational, and social positions influence their roles and choices within households is crucial for promoting gender equality and sustainable development. Despite significant advancements in women's rights and gender equality globally, women in Indonesia continue to face substantial barriers in achieving true empowerment. These barriers are particularly evident in domestic settings, where traditional gender roles often persist, limiting women's influence in household decisions. This research aims to investigate the relationship between women's socioeconomic status and their empowerment in domestic decision-making, examining how various factors such as income, education, and employment status contribute to or hinder their ability …

Determinan Kesejahteraan Anak Usia Dini Dalam Keluarga Dengan Kepala Rumah Tangga Perempuan Di Indonesia, Axellina M. Setyanti, Wildan Syafitri

Jurnal Ekonomi Kependudukan dan Keluarga

This study analyzes the determinants of early childhood well-being in female-headed households in Indonesia using data from the 2022 National Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS), covering 85,074 households with children aged 0–5 years. Using binary logistic regression, the analysis focuses on four key indicators: complete immunization, food adequacy, access to improved sanitation, and access to safe drinking water. The results show that children in female-headed households are significantly less likely to receive adequate and diverse food as well as complete immunization, compared to those in male-headed households. However, these households are more likely to provide access to improved sanitation and safe drinking …

Side-Hustle Dalam Dinamika Kemiskinan Pekerja: Tinjauan Empiris Di Indonesia, Christiayu Natalia, Fx Gugus Febri Putranto

Jurnal Ekonomi Kependudukan dan Keluarga

Working poverty remains a persistent issue in Indonesia. The high prevalence of working poor underscores the urgent need for effective poverty alleviation efforts. This study analyzes the relationship between side hustles, excessive working hours, and working poverty in Indonesia. Utilizing microdata from the March 2023 Susenas and applying binary logistic regression, the study assesses the effect of side hustle status and excessive working hours on the likelihood of being categorized as working poor, based on the international working poverty line. The results indicate that engaging in a side hustle without excessive hours actually increases the risk of working poverty, while …

Unpaid Parental Caregiving And Employment Status In Indonesia, Christopher Willy, Rafa Fayza Afrizal, Irvel Christa Fabian, Muhammad Farras Samith

Jurnal Ekonomi Kependudukan dan Keluarga

This study examines the impact of unpaid parental caregiving on employment status and formal sector employment opportunities in Indonesia, using panel data from the 2007 and 2014 waves of the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS). Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was applied to mitigate selection bias and estimate the Average Treatment effect on the Treated (ATT) for three caregiver categories: temporary, recent, and continuous. Results indicate that, after controlling for baseline characteristics, none of the caregiver categories significantly affected the probability of being employed or employed in the formal sector in 2014. The findings suggest that caregiving practices in Indonesia generally …

Itinerarios Y Vicisitudes De Blogueras Colombianas De Lo Materno: Una Etnografía Digital, Catalina Echeverri Gallo

The Qualitative Report

Los escenarios digitales se han convertido en espacios relacionales significativos para mujeres y madres en la contemporaneidad, integrándose en sus interacciones cotidianas. Sin embargo, la forma en que estas plataformas se utilizan en contextos latinoamericanos para compartir experiencias, emociones, aprendizajes y malestares sobre las maternidades aún no ha sido suficientemente explorada. A partir de una etnografía digital, esta investigación ofrece conocimientos contextualizados sobre cómo siete blogueras colombianas comparten sus maternidades en entornos digitales y crean comunidades que se sirven de sus saberes y trayectorias.

Los hallazgos muestran que las madres blogueras utilizan sus relatos digitales para desafiar los mandatos históricos …