Tag: Global Studies

How Music is Used to Preserve Ainu Culture

Presenter: Lily Strobel – Asian Studies, Global Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Alisa Freedman, Kathie Carpenter

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Sex, Drugs, & Music

The Ainu are an indigenous population native to northern modern-day Japan who have historically been suppressed and erased by the Japanese government. One of the ways they have resisted this governmental action is through music. In this presentation, how the Ainu use music as a tool to preserve their culture will be analyzed, both historically and in the modern context. To develop an understanding of the Ainu as a population, an in-depth literature review of their history was conducted, particularly as it pertains to music. This information informs an analysis of how music is used in the modern day. Two principal musical approaches were identified: the traditionalist approach, where artists perform music in traditional styles; and the fusionist approach, which combines traditional Ainu music with elements of more modern music, such as reggae or dub. Both of these approaches have the dual purpose of exposing non-Ainu to Ainu culture, as well as a way for Ainu to find belonging and express their heritage. Because the two approaches are drastically different styles of music, they will naturally attract different demographics. By understanding how music specifically is used to preserve Ainu culture, a more robust understanding of how arts in general can be used to the same end will develop. The underlying framework needs only to be slightly altered to map onto other fields, such as dance or literature.

Possible Benefits of Maternal Thiamine Supplementation for Mother-Infant Joint Attention in Cambodia

Presenter: Sera Lew – Global Studies, Psychology

Co-Presenter(s): Audrey Saing

Faculty Mentor(s): Dare Baldwin, Jeffrey Measelle

Session: (In-Person) Poster Presentation

Thiamine deficiency is a common micronutrient deficiency in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia (Measelle, et al., 2020). Severe thiamine deficiency contributes to infant mortality, while subclinical levels undercut infants’ neurocognitive development (Fattal-Valevski, et al. 2009). This study focuses on the possible implications of mother-infant thiamine status for neurocognitive development in terms of joint attention interactions where caregivers and babies simultaneously engage with the same object. This study is part of a larger randomized controlled trial in rural Cambodia investigating how low-dose thiamine supplementation of breastfeeding mothers might benefit infants’ cognitive development. Cambodian mothers (N=335) were randomly assigned to receive daily supplements of either 0mg, 1.2mg, 2.4mg, or 10mg of thiamine hydrochloride from 2 to 24 weeks postnatal. We hypothesized that mothers and infants who received thiamine would display longer joint attention interactions than those in the control group. Preliminary findings from 70 mother-infant dyads (control: 18; supplementation: 52) provided possible confirmation of these predictions; joint attention interactions were marginally longer for dyads who received supplemental thiamine than those who did not, F(1, 68) = 3.69, p = .059. If these findings are reflected in the full sample, they would indicate that thiamine facilitates infants’ joint attention interactions, a key catalyst for neurocognitive development.

Shia-Catholic Coexistence and Cross-Religious Engagement Among Youth in Southern Lebanon

Presenter: Raimy Khalife-Hamdan − Global Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Stephen Wooten

Session: Virtual) Oral Panel—Health and Social Science

This ethnographic research project on Shia-Catholic coexistence in Southern Lebanon centers on young adults’ voices and actions. Traveling between a militia-filled Muslim village and a Christian village to conduct over thirty-three qualitative interviews over three months, I examine the interreligious relationship in which young adults engage. I advance an understanding that ordinary youth of different social identities have the ability to enact and bolster long-term peacekeeping. In the case of Ghazieh and Maghdouché, the vast majority of young adults re-conceptualize identity and religion to detach from sectarian master narratives, and they instead articulate a narrative underscoring shared fraternal connection with religious neighbors. In the process, many young adults treat temporalities and spaces as inclusive, surpassing the sectarian to become neutral or religiously sublime. I determine a general “common life” or “single life” (‘aysh mushtarak or ‘aysh wahid) marked by friendships, shared spaces, and mutual reliance. Lebanon’s history of sectarian conflict does not impel the youth I interview to reproduce sectarian narratives. This postwar generation—which rejects divisive war-era master narratives that enemize the religious other—craves an alternative Lebanon, one that disintegrates the sectarian sociopolitical structures. Yet considering the crises plaguing Lebanon and the desperation of young adults to flee, I dare to theorize the country’s demise.

Identifying COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Motivators for People Who Inject Drugs in Lane County

Presenter: Blake Hardin − Economics, Global Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Melissa Graboyes, Camille Cioffi

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Covering Covid

People who use intravenous drugs (PWID) are at greater risk of mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases yet also express higher levels of vaccine hesitancy than the general public. For the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying common vaccine hesitancy motivators among intravenous drug users is key to ongoing vaccination campaigns against the disease. However, very little research has used qualitative methods to examine why intravenous drug users are often more vaccine hesitant. This thesis used a mixed-methods design, conducting 41 semi-structured interviews and 260 quantitative surveys with PWID in Lane County to understand better the most influential contributors to vaccine hesitancy among this demographic group. The interviews and surveys demonstrated a consistent connection between the poor social determinants of health and frequent dehumanization of intravenous drug users and their reduced willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This thesis proposes a new model for assessing vaccine hesitancy among PWID, directly informed by the actual experiences shared by collaborators for this project. Moreover, the results of this thesis elucidate the need to address systemic barriers in healthcare that inhibit accessibility, trust, and confidence in preventative services like vaccines among marginalized communities. Current and future vaccine outreach programs for PWID must first establish a foundation of trust to alleviate vaccine hesitancy and encourage vaccine uptake.

Constructing Belonging: An In-Depth Analysis of the Oregon Sanctuary Movement

Presenter: Alexis Han − Global Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Kristin Yarris

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—HURF

In the 1980s, churches in Oregon and across the nation declared themselves as sanctuaries for Central Americans fleeing civil conflict. This marked the start of the sanctuary movement, a religious and political campaign to assist migrants seeking safety in the United States. The movement made its way into the political sphere in 1987 when Oregon became the first state to pass a sanctuary policy, limiting the use of local law enforcement to apprehend undocumented immigrants. Decades later, the Oregon legislature solidified these protections in 2021 with the passage of the Sanctuary Promise Act. In researching the many dimensions of the Oregon sanctuary movement, my research project takes a multi-disciplinary approach to answer these research questions: How has the Oregon sanctuary movement evolved from its origins in faith-based activism? And how does Oregon’s sanctuary policy and the work of sanctuary and immigrants’ rights activists intersect to cultivate belonging for undocumented people? I engaged in a multi-method study by thematically analyzing interviews with Oregon sanctuary activists and analyzing the Sanctuary Promise Act through analysis of the bill’s text and contextualizing its provisions with interviews from community advocates and submitted public testimonies. These analyses show the resiliency and adaptability of the Oregon sanctuary movement as a community-powered campaign that responds to the needs of undocumented Oregonians in order to cultivate belonging.

Year of the Paper Tiger: The US Military’s Pursuit of Missile Defense and New Cold War with China

Presenter(s): Taylor Ginieczki — Global Studies,Political Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Jane Cramer

Session: (Virtual) Poster Presentation

The last two decades have seen China become one of the biggest perceived threats to US national security. Fingers point to China’s economic rise, regional power-seeking, human rights abuses, and evolving nuclear capabilities as grounds for increased threat—with the latter meriting an “aggressive” US nuclear response. Yet seldom is it asked, “What is the cause of the deteriorating nuclear relationship between the United States and China?” Using defensive realist theory and process- tracing methodology, this thesis answers this question: American nuclear policy, specifically national missile defense (NMD). Part I begins by detailing the dire threat inflation present in American media, public opinion, and government rhetoric, where China is the unilaterally culpable “paper tiger.” Part I analyzes both states’ nuclear policies, revealing the astronomical discrepancy between rhetoric and reality. China’s “No First Use” posture is contrasted with the US’s rejection of nuclear deterrence, discarded in favor of nuclear war-fighting and This section then reviews the violated theory and nonsensical technology behind American NMD, ending with a US missile defense timeline that predates the current crisis with China—absolving China to instead implicate the US. Finally, Part II offers prescriptions from defensive realism: minimal nuclear deterrence, a no-first-use policy (ironically, like China’s), eliminated NMD, and increased transparency in Sino-American relations.

Inequities faced by asylum seekers from Guatemala and Mexico under the Trump Administration

Presenter(s): Juanita Dominguez — Global Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Lesley Jo Weaver

Session: (Virtual) Oral Panel—Health and Social Science

For my thesis, I will be looking at inequities faced by asylum seekers under the Trump Administration. I look at immigration policy since the beginning of his administration until the very end of it. The thesis touches on push factors that motivate individuals to leave their home country and immigrate to the United States. Additionally, I look in depth on the way these changes affected mental health on asylum seekers. While there were lots of policy changes during his tenure, asylees were greatly affected by so many legislative and policy changes. Due to the Remain in Mexico Program and and the Zero Tolerance Police children, just as much as adults faced equal mental health challenges and disparities. I highlight inhumane treatment faced by these individuals as well. My overall conclusion is that asylum seekers faced great mental health inequities under the Trump Administration. While the Obama Administration also had a narrow immigration policy, it didn’t come as ill-mannered as the policy under Trump. This research is of great significance because of the nature and seriousness regarding seeking asylum.

Outdoor Inclusion for Hispanic Women

Presenter(s): Claire Daley — Global Studies

Co-Presenter(s): Yesenia Vargas, Mia Rivas, Ana Gastelu

Faculty Mentor(s): Chantelle Russell

Session: (Virtual) Oral Panel—Strive to Thrive ARC

Outdoor recreation is an important part of our community at UO because of the many benefits, such as better mental/physical health, increased academic success, and social connections. However, while there have been attempts to attract minority groups, such as Hispanic women to outdoor recreation activities at the university, there is still a big disparity in participation. We hypothesize that with more inclusive promotion strategies within outdoor-oriented programs on campus and increasing Hispanic representation in leadership positions, people who identify as a part of this community will be more inclined to participate. Our research study explores factors contributing to the inclination to participate in outdoor activities, awareness of university outdoor events, and the interpersonal barriers that influence participation. We used data from interviews with UO outdoor recreation professionals and information from the Redefining Outdoorsy Summit. We looked at statistical and demographic data of Outdoor Program participation records provided by the Department of Assessment and Research. Lastly, we researched how other universities promote diversity in their Outdoor Recreational activities. We found factors that influence Hispanic women’s participation in outdoor events are: lack of inclusion and awareness in the promotion of these events, history of childhood participation in outdoor adventures, and negative perspectives related to involvement in outdoor activities.

An Analysis of English to Japanese Translation in the novel Pachinko

Presenter: Elizabeth Chandler − Global Studies, Japanese

Faculty Mentor(s): Glynne Walley

(In-Person) Oral Panel—Comics, Classics and Analysis

The research in this analysis focuses on the translation choices to both convey and introduce subtext surrounding the cultural and linguistic identity of the zainichi Koreans to the 2017 Japanese translation of Pachinko by Korean American author Min Jin Lee. It follows the story of a multi- generational zainichi Korean family, who moved to Japan a decade or so before the beginning of World War 2 and ends in 1989, many years later. The story covers many decades of Japanese history, focusing on its treatment of and evolving cultural identity of zainichi Koreans. This is explored and conveyed in both original and translation, but it is the translations distinct differences attributed to a variety of factors that alters the novels subtexts surrounding this unique cultural identity. The of research will examine some of the more specific and broader choices made by the translator, Makiko Ikeda, throughout the duration of her translation in relation to this subject. This was accomplished by a close reading of certain passages within the text, and then comparing them to their English equivalent, accounting for cultural and historical implications of the translator’s word choice. This analysis will be broken into two main focuses: that of the foreignization of the text and the domesticating aspects. Ultimately, it is their effects on the implied and overt subtexts that they either reinforce or create in comparison to the original that are the primary conclusions of this analysis.

Olympic Postponement and the Future of Japan: A Qualitative Study of Tokyo 2020

Presenter: Hermya Brock − Global Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Yoav Dubinsky

(In-Person) Oral Panel—Uniquely Their Own

For the first time in Olympic history, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed for one year, taking place in July and August 2021 due to the COVID-19 emergency. This paper explores the effect hosting the Olympics during a pandemic has had on Japan’s image using the frameworks of soft power and sports diplomacy. In this thesis, I code interview responses for themes to explore shifts in Japan’s country image as a result of Tokyo 2020. The trends that emerge in the findings of this paper are Japan’s handling of the pandemic and mental health advocacy. These findings indicate significant opportunities for Japan to improve its image using the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a catalyst. As such, these historic Games establish Tokyo 2020 as the benchmark for future Olympics to take place in a pandemic-affected world.