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"Can the Subaltern [e-communicate]?" Exploring the Complex Relationship between the Worldwide Web and the World's Most…

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“ … World’s Most Marginalized Women, June 2015 ADVISOR: MARSO, Lori Famously heralded by early Internet pioneers and … freedom and equality”, the Internet, on one hand … , Lori . "Feminism." Encyclopedia of Political Thought. Ed. … N.p: John Wiley & Sons, 2014. 1258-272. Print. Marso, Lori J. "Feminism's Quest for Common Desires." Perspectives … ”
In Honors Theses

Abstract

Famously heralded by early Internet pioneers and contemporary globalization theorists as providing a "state of perfect freedom and equality", the Internet, on one hand, may be used to benefit the world's least privileged women; these efforts have taken variety of forms, from serving as a space where women can share ideas, to creating an encyclopedia of practical women's health and political information, to providing a medium through which women can directly access economic opportunities. Yet through critically examining the ways in which the Internet is used, we see how such apparently benevolent initiatives may sometimes silence the very marginalized, female voices they attempt to empower; this idea of Internet deployment gone wrong may manifest as the forcible assertion of certain socioeconomic values, the homogenization of unique individual women, and the aggravation of internal conflict within religious communities. My thesis will attempt to move beyond these two contrasting positions, in order to suggest the specific ways the Internet may be conscientiously deployed to benefit the world's least privileged women; the most effective way to advantage such women, it concludes, is to deploy the Internet as a space where the subaltern can directly e-communicate her own, individual preferences, ideas and experiences.

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America's First Ladies: A Catalyst for Change in Female Leadership, Power and Influence or a Reinforcement of Gender Norms in …

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“ … of Gender Norms in American Society? ADVISOR: Lori Marso My work examines the nature of The Office of the … ”
In Honors Theses

Abstract

My work examines the nature of The Office of the First Lady of the United States as a lens through which to view female leadership, power and influence in America. Through analyzing the singular experiences of four controversial First Ladies; Abigail Adams, Jacqueline Kennedy, Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, this dissertation illustrates the ambiguities and challenges associated with The Office of First Lady as a metaphor for female power. Why analyze the First Ladyship as compared to other political posts held by women? The Office itself is not elected, appointed, institutionalized or legal. Therefore, how do these women use The Office, a feminized position accorded through marriage, to maintain, disrupt, challenge or reinforce gender roles and stereotypes in American society? Each First Lady analyzed through this work represents a shifting ideal of women in America as constructed through the era in which they served. While the feminist movement has either benefited or been disadvantaged by these First Ladies, what are the ultimate contributions of the Office? With a former First Lady potentially making her second run for the Presidency, it is clear that the Office of the First Lady of the United States yields more power than once thought imaginable.

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

The Internet, Prostitution, and Rape: Can Taking Prostitution "Indoors" Mitigate Social Harms?

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“ … Harms? ADVISORS: Professor Lewis Davis and Professor Lori Marso Prostitution is often debated as an illegal … to my thesis advisors Professor Lewis Davis and Professor Lori Marso. Thank you for your careful advising and … ”
In Honors Theses

Abstract

Prostitution is often debated as an illegal activity that causes individual and social harms. This study uses feminist theories on prostitution in conjunction with econometric tools to find if prostitution can actually reduce social harms such as rape. Prostitution is a highly debated subject within feminist literature, as some believe prostitution is considered legitimate work, while others view prostitution as extremely harmful toward women and an act that perpetuates female submission. This econometric study adds to the feminist debate on prostitution by implementing the internet's role in expanding the indoor market as a potential causal factor in the relationship between prostitution and social harms. This study concludes that there is a clear, negative, and statistically significant relationship between prostitution and rape in America. However, the role that the internet plays in this negative relationship is unclear and calls for further interpretation and research.

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The Smiling, The Sick, The Suffering: Snapshots of Syrian Displacement

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In Honors Theses

Abstract

Photographic images of Syrian refugees - smiling, sick, or suffering - on the news and in the ads of human rights organizations have been employed to mobilize governments, armies, or businesses. These images are effective in mobilizing various forms of support or intervention because they have a strong emotional impact on the mass public. The emotionally driven connection between spectator and refugee, however, raises some troubling questions about whose interests the images serve, and how they are used for various efforts. Is it possible to depict the suffering of Syrian refugees without violating their dignity, agency, and autonomy? I argue that well intentioned efforts to mobilize societies and governments through the use of photographs can become counter productive to the interests of refugees. Many refugees are silenced by these efforts, and left out of the dialogue regarding their rights and visual portrayal. Nevertheless, the use of photographs depicting refugees can be a powerful political tool, which should not be entirely disregarded as a form of mobilization. Photographic depictions are vital to the education of societies and governments, as well as a vital form of historical documentation, and it is possible to achieve a higher degree of autonomy and agency for Syrian refugees.

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted