Tag: CJ Pascoe

Examining Evangelicalism in Faith-Based and Secular Anti-Human Trafficking NGOs

Presenter: Courtney Bourn − Sociology

Faculty Mentor(s): CJ Pascoe

(In-Person) Oral Panel—Rights of Humans

This research focuses on the sociopolitical role of Evangelical ideology in anti-human trafficking organizations through stigmatizing and criminalizing sex work in the United States. How do antihuman trafficking organizations utilize Evangelical beliefs about sex to control the moral narrative of sex work and influence policy? In order to address this question, I researched the websites of 8 antihuman trafficking NGOs, ranging from secular to explicitly faith-based, as well as interviewed 3 sex workers. My findings concluded that negative attitudes about sex work were pertinent amongst all of these NGOs, sharing almost-identical ideas regardless of religious affiliation, in contrast to more positive viewpoints expressed by the sex workers I interviewed. Consequently, Evangelical-oriented beliefs about gender and sexuality permeated arguments against sex work, framing it as a gendered act in which deviant, heterosexual males are the perpetrators of exploiting innocent, heterosexual females and children. This led me to infer that anti-human trafficking organizations base their solutions on reinforcing sexual standards rather than empowering sex workers. As sexual culture is changing and people are discussing the importance of sex workers’ rights, it is vital that NGOs are held accountable for the messages they convey and that organizations that empower sex workers are prioritized, not those who have an insidious mission to enforce their personal sexual standards and beliefs.

Precarious Aspirations: Hopes and Dreams in an Age of Individualized Risk

Presenter: Andrew Swift

Mentors: Jill Harrison and CJ Pascoe, Sociology

Oral Presentation

Majors: Sociology and Psychology

Over the past several decades, neoliberal political-economic shifts have significantly expanded the extent of economic insecurity in the United States. Today’s young adults making the transition from college to the labor force face unique challenges stemming from these changes. In this project I investigate these new forms of insecurity from the viewpoint of those who experience them. In particular, I examine how class background shapes the individual responses to insecurity. Previous research has demonstrated how the aspirations and expectations of the working class becomes “leveled”, preparing them to accept their lower position in the class hierarchy. However, the neoliberal transformations of risk, uncertainty, and precarity increasingly threaten the previously safe aspirations of the middle class as well. How do the aspirations and expectations of middle and working class college students fare in this era of widespread insecurity? To answer this question, I conducted 20 semi-structured qualitative interviews with college seniors and graduates from different class backgrounds. My findings indicate that class-based individual aspirations and expectations play a key role in shaping the individual emotional and symbolic responses to insecurity, speaking to the enormous importance of class in organizing private, interior experiences.

Speed Dating Lady Justice

Presenter: Samantha Lowery

Faculty Mentor: Patricia Gwartney, CJ Pascoe

Presentation Type: Oral

Primary Research Area: Social Science

Major: Sociology

Speed Dating Lady Justice, this thesis examines the predictive devices attorneys use to remove jurors due to shortened selection process in petit trials. This study examines how weight, age, and class are used alongside
the master traits of gender and race to select individuals to be excluded from serving as jurors. The ideal jury is a randomly selected cross section of community members. Their role is to judge the accused, fairly and without bias. The extent to which attorneys remove jurors out of their own biases not the biases of the jurors. A multi-method approach was used, ethnographic research and in-depth interviews. Juries who are selected by using predictive devices can cause bias jurors and faulty convictions.

Taxes in Oregon: How a Liberal State Gets a (Somewhat) Conservative Tax Code

Presenter(s): Kevin Lance − Political Science, Sociology

Faculty Mentor(s): Matthew Norton, C.J. Pascoe

Poster 125

Research Area: Social Sciences

Funding: Apex, Wayne Morse

This paper researches the history of Oregon’s tax code and examines the reasons why the tax code remains relatively conservative in comparison to most other liberal states. In order to do this, I have examined the roots of Oregon’s current income and property taxes, as well as its historic resistance to a sales tax. I have paired this research with qualitative interviews with taxpayers who work full time and own property, as well as a few business owners to see the influence of small business and corporate taxes. I have interviewed an even spread of liberals, moderates, and conservatives to get a wide range of perspectives that better represents Oregon politics. My preliminary findings have shown two major themes. The first is an intense distrust of government amongst all sides of the political spectrum and the second is a “Robin Hood” style of discourse between liberals and conservatives that permeates discussions across all areas of taxation, as both seem to contribute to Oregon’s tax code being lower in comparison to other states. I believe these two factors combined makes it easier for certain taxes, like income, to be relatively high and other taxes, like the sales and business taxes, to be very low or nonexistent. I argue that Oregon’s current tax code is bound to its history and the emotions of its voters, as these two factors contribute to a culture clash, creating a tax code that is very quirky in nature.

The Structure and Culture of Greek Life and Its Impacts on Identity

Presenter(s): Leanne Johnson − Sociology

Faculty Mentor(s): CJ Pascoe

Oral Session 2CS

Research Area: Social Science

The prevalence of greek life and its integration on college campuses throughout time contributed to the emergence of a culture specific to those communities, guided by values that are reflective of and enforced by the structure of fraternities and sororities. This research aims to identify the ways in which the structure and culture of greek life impacts the identities of members. Utilizing a qualitative approach, this study employs techniques of both participant observation and 30-60 minute in-depth qualitative interviews, using an open-ended interview guide as a means of distinguishing commonality amongst interviews but recognizing new trends produced by respondent follow-up and probing. I have found that fraternities and sororities are demanding in terms of expectations and time, leading members to spend a significant amount of personal time and commitment to meet those demands. I argue that due to the regulation of behavior through various mechanism such as mandatory attendance of events, expectations of presentation, and constraints on individual action; individuals in the greek community compromise aspects of personal identity to gain membership to a fraternity or sorority. Understanding the ways in which joining this form of community can impact individual experiences is important in evaluating their placement on college campuses. Being able to recognize these patterns serve as a framework for looking into the culture and structure of other demanding organizations that can similarly impact the ways individuals cultivate and understand their own identities.

Emotional Experiences of Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain

Presenter(s): Annalise Cameron − Sociology

Faculty Mentor(s): CJ Pascoe

Poster 99

Research Area: Social Science

This study explores the highly complex emotional experiences of women who have chronic pelvic pain. Women who suffer from chronic pelvic pain disorders or undiagnosed chronic pelvic pain, often face many obstacles in their medical care, close relationships, emotional health, and life in general. The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of women with chronic pelvic pain and attempt to draw commonalities in their emotional dispositions. Through original semi-structured interviews with 25 women, this study successfully identified commonalities that in turn have sociological meaning. While there were commonalities in almost all areas that are complicated by pelvic pain, the most striking findings come from an analysis of female sexual identity in the context of this pain, and the emotional dispositions stemming from this female sexual identity specifically. This research contributes to the limited body of work concerning this topic, and holds value as a resource to women who experience this type of pain, the people close to them, the medical community, and society in general.

Education as an Equalizer?: Youth Homelessness and Navigating Educational Institutions

Presenter(s): Lily Ritchie

Faculty Mentor(s): CJ Pascoe

Poster 104

 Session: Social Sciences & Humanities

Educational institutions are increasingly improving in supporting students experiencing homelessness. With the installment of the McKinney-Vento Act (1987), schools are able to provide resources and transportation needs to families and youth without a permanent address. However, barriers still remain. The question guiding this sociological research is as follows: how does a youth’s living situation, specifically youth experiencing homelessness, impact their ability to both have access to educational resources and successfully navigate educational institutions? Using qualitative methods, this research explores the differing perspectives of three populations to uncover the implications that living situations have on access to and success in educational settings for homeless families and youth. The three populations interviewed include educators, families and former students that have or are experiencing homelessness, and social workers. Results show that while families experiencing homelessness are supported by schools upon identification, homeless youth who are not identified by educational institutions receive no support. The current educational system relies upon families and students to self identify their homeless condition, which is problematic for those who are hesitant or unable to step forward. Furthermore, data suggests that unless educators are passionate in supporting homeless youth at an administrative level, students do not receive adequate resources to succeed in educational settings. This research suggests, then, that implementing clear standards for administrators to follow as well as the training of properly identifying youth as homeless to receive support is necessary in order for educational institutions to be a source of security and equality for all students.

Political Communication on Twitter: How Young People Obtain Information, Construct Identity, and Understand Events

Presenter(s): Rachel Johnston

Faculty Mentor(s): Ryan Light & CJ Pascoe

Poster 117

Session: Social Sciences & Humanities

The rapidly changing landscape of political communication is exemplified by Twitter’s extraordinary growth in popularity. The platform’s influence on elections and public opinion is undeniable. The social network has even changed the way news is distributed. Information that used to rely on newspapers, radio, and television is now accessible to millions of Twitter users in 280 characters and a matter of seconds. Some scholars have defined this as the “personalization of politics.” Studies have shown that Twitter increases political polarization by giving users the opportunity to choose information that aligns with their own opinions and ignore everything else. How does using Twitter help young people construct their own political identities? This research examines how the use of Twitter as a political communication platform influences young people’s understandings of and attitudes towards political events. Interviews were conducted with over twenty-five regular Twitter users to determine how young people use the medium to interact with news, express political opinions, and participate in online community networks. Experiences with Twitter varied significantly for conservatives and liberals. Young people use the platform for news because it is quick, accessible, and connects them to social networks. The majority of participants used traditional media sources to supplement Twitter news. Principal uses of the social network platform include involvement in larger conversations about political events, building online communities, and staying up to date with live happenings. This research is essential to understanding the drastically changing landscape of political communication, which is a landmark of government institutions and democracy itself. The way in which people consume and understand news has a significant effect on public opinion, and ultimately representation and public policy. Social media outlets such as Twitter have transformed the ways in which young people form political opinions and engage with news, politics, and government. Current research on this topic is limited to quantitative methods. Thus, the qualitative structure of this project fills a gap, facilitating crucial insight into individual opinions and behaviors.

Sex Work in the Margins: How Intersectional Stigma Affects Queer Sex Worker’s Access to Intracommunity Support Networks

Presenter(s): Ryhs Hawes

Faculty Mentor(s): CJ Pascoe

Oral Session 1 C

Previous research has shown that community is essential to sex workers’ success: it both offers concrete resources as well as provides space for emotion work and catharsis. Yet despite its importance to the welfare of sex workers, very little research has gone into how intersectionality shapes their experiences with community. This research examines how intersectional stigma affects queer sex workers’ ability to access community support structures. Qualitative interviews were conducted with six queer and trans sex workers about their experiences in sex work and queer communities. Responses indicated that while queer identity itself is by no means incompatible with sex work, the heteronormative standards of erotic labor predisposes sex work communities to assumptions of cisgender and heterosexual identity. A lack of visibility and inclusion of queer identities and experiences cause many respondents to turn away from mainstream sex work communities to find specifically queer sex worker spaces. However, due to anti-sex work stigma and the danger of outing one’s sex worker identity as well as increases in online censorship, queer sex work spaces are difficult to locate, and access relies heavily on pre- existing social networks. This in turn leads to increased isolation, frustration, and, for some, an inability to continue work. In short, this research finds that intersectional stigma detrimentally affects queer sex workers’ ability to access the intracommunity support systems that are integral to their success, and suggests that increasing inclusivity and visibility within queer and sex work spaces is essential to queer sex workers’ emotional and tangible welfare.

Farm Animal Valuation: An Analysis of the Variation in Values of College Students Surrounding Farm Animals and the Way Humans Relate to Them

Presenter(s): Kymmi Donaghue

Faculty Mentor(s): Clare Evans & CJ Pascoe

Poster 101

Session: Social Sciences & Humanities

Meat consumption is a practice that is well ingrained in our society. The diets of most individuals in the United States are heavily meat dependent, yet the meat industry perpetuated by violence and frequently by the exploitation of members of marginalized communities. Sociological examination of values surrounding farm animals and the meat industry is important, as taking a deeper look into practices that are considered normal in our society can provide insight into their implications and how people actually feel about them. This research seeks to answer the question: How do values surrounding farm animals vary across gender, race, socioeconomic status, and LGBTQIA+ community membership? The hypothesis is that members of oppressed groups will answer in ways that indicate an increased sensitivity to the oppression of animals. An qualtrics survey of 167 college students at University of Oregon, Lane Community College and Concordia University was conducted in order to assess values surrounding farm animals. The survey asked questions concerning treatment of farm animals, farming practices, and dietary preferences based on a typology of animal values created by Stephen Kellert. Results are analyzed using R. Preliminary findings suggest those who identify as Christian value the material use of farm animals more than those who indicated having no religion. The majority of all respondents across all demographic categories agree that factory farming practices are inhumane, farm animals should be treated with compassion, and that it is important to take into account the environmental effects of the meat industry when making meat purchases.