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Examining Intimate Partner Violence: The Erasure of Gendered Violence and Coercive Control
Full text linkCoercive control is a critical, yet largely ignored, tactic of intimate partner violence (IPV). This form of abuse is built upon an enduring pattern of threats, resulting in the degradation of victims and their direct loss of agency and safety. This violence is cyclical and intended to create power imbalances where the abuser is positioned above the victim. To enforce this dynamic and instill a sense of fear in the victim, an abuser relies on coercion, intimidation, isolation, minimization, denial, and blaming. This thesis argues that coercive control must be viewed as an inherently gendered aspect of IPV, in which male abusers strategically employ coercive control against women victims to uphold systemic structures of power in the private sphere. This violence is not enacted by male abusers to (re)gain control, but rather to punish and dominate the women victims.
This thesis traces the implications of this violence in the legal system. The law upholds a “gender neutral” view of IPV, under which women victims are often convicted for reactive violence, and their pleas for help to law enforcement are frequently misinterpreted and ignored. I argue that convictions for reactive violence are wrongful and that these convictions and unheard pleas are further aspects of gendered harm. To address this violence (perpetuated by the perpetrator of IPV, law enforcement, courts, and the state), this thesis requires a re-thinking of law enforcement and communal responses to enable women to escape the coercive control of gendered IPV
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) State Legislation in the United States: Case Study Analyses in California and Texas
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Trauma as Cultural Capital: A Critical Feminist Theory of Trauma Discourse
Full text linkThis essay theorizes a problem for feminism posed by a particular form of trauma discourse. Feminists have played an important role in developing cultural and clinical conceptions of trauma, but one result of the destigmatization of trauma has been that trauma discourse is sometimes used as a form of cultural capital to reinforce existing hierarchies. In a novel application of Pierre Bourdieu\u27s theory of distinction, we show how, when instrumentalized as cultural capital, trauma discourse can be used to reinforce patriarchy and other systems of oppression. We trace a critical feminist history of the struggle to understand and treat trauma. Using examples from contemporary US popular culture, we illustrate the appropriation of trauma discourse to entrench existing structures of gender, class, and racial oppression. First, the misuse of trauma discourse as cultural capital can encourage the instrumental use of trauma claims for cultural power, ultimately reinforcing patriarchy. Second, it might erode the legitimacy of trauma, a conceptual tool pioneered by feminists and still essential to their political claims. This discussion has important implications for not only mental health practitioners and trauma survivors but also feminist theorists, trauma studies scholars, and those interested in deconstructing structural injustice and relations of inequality
Academic Libraries and Open Educational Resources: Addressing Student Textbook Affordability
No full textCollege students face a wide number of unexpected financial obstacles in their pursuit of an education – one of the most difficult being the high cost of course materials, such as textbooks. Many textbooks cost more than 1,000. Facing the costs of housing, food, health care, and other necessities, many students do not purchase needed materials, leading to poor educational performance and outcomes. This commentary explores this issue along with one viable solution – open educational resources (OER), or alternative textbooks and materials for college courses that are free of cost and access barriers through open licensing. These materials are largely produced by faculty in universities. The use and creation of OER has been supported by universities and colleges in Maine and throughout the Northeastern states, with libraries playing a crucial role in both the discovery of existing OER and support in the creation of new materials. We argue that Maine stands poised to take a more active role in the use and creation of OER within our colleges and universities
The populist discourse on the environment: framework and evidence from Europe and the Americas
No full textWhat is the relationship between populism and the environment? Existing research answers this question by identifying empirical patterns emerging from the positions of specific populist parties. These patterns, however, are not leveraged to propose an overall framework for how populism itself relates to environmental positions. We adopt a deductive approach that draws from populism’s essence to articulate what we should expect. Populism is an ideologically ‘thin’ discursive approach centered on people-centrism and anti-elitism. The environment, as other substantive matters, is therefore a second-order issue. Given this, we should expect considerable variations across populists in their environmental positions. At the same time, we should expect the consistent anchoring of those positions in people-centrism and anti-elitism–in consonance with the specific factors pertinent to those parties that ultimately define their environmental positions. Our approach systematizes analytically the literature’s observations, corrects some of its empirical limitations, and allows for reflection on the environmental commitment of any one populist party. We undertake a cross-regional analysis of four cases to illustrate our argument: Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France, the US Republican Party led by Donald Trump, Spain’s Podemos led by Pablo Iglesias, and Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro’s socialist regime in Venezuela
The Examination of the Integration of Indigenous Knowledge in International Climate Discourse within the UNFCCC
No full textThis thesis examines how Indigenous knowledge is integrated into climate change legislation at the UN and UNFCCC levels, as well as how Indigenous knowledge is shared and who are the members of the Indigenous community doing the sharing. Through the analysis of policy relevant texts, the study reveals that the current approach to this integration can be characterized as extractive colonialism. The research employs discourse analysis and thematic coding to identify and analyze five central themes in three policy relevant texts. The findings highlight the historical entrenchment of the UN and UNFCCC in colonial histories, leading to a tendency to undervalue the intrinsic worth of Indigenous knowledge within Indigenous communities. The sharing of Indigenous knowledge is explored, emphasizing its complexity beyond the mere transfer of ideas. The research underlines the concern that knowledge sharing, when not approached with a genuine understanding of its significance and without considering individual perspectives, can become an extractive action. The profound value that Indigenous culture places on knowledge is emphasized, recognizing it not only as a repository of personal histories but also as a crucial aspect of identity. The study advocates for a more inclusive approach that acknowledges both the knowledge and its holders to facilitate a meaningful exchange of insights within Indigenous communities
The Construction of Coloured Identities: Apartheid Nostalgia & The Politics of Memory
Full text linkThis thesis explores why Coloureds in Cape Town experience apartheid nostalgia. During the era of apartheid (1948 to the early 1990s) in South Africa, the Population Registration Act of 1950 classified Coloureds as individuals who were ‘not a white person or a native.’ Since Coloureds neither belonged to the white or Black populations, they occupied a marginalized position under the apartheid regime. This thesis examines how the construction of Coloured identity has shifted post-apartheid, why Coloured South Africans feel marginalized in post-apartheid South Africa, and how this perceived marginalization contributes to feelings of apartheid nostalgia. With the end of apartheid in 1994, Coloureds had to redefine their identity within the context of the ‘new South Africa,’ which sought to create a unified national identity. However, some Coloureds felt excluded from the nation-building process, particularly regarding economic and educational opportunities. Simultaneously, Coloureds grappled with questions of ‘who they really are’ beyond the apartheid classification ‘Coloured,’ with some yearning for the perceived ‘stability’ and ‘structure’ of the apartheid era. As Coloureds continue to feel excluded from the national discourse, feelings of apartheid nostalgia have taken hold. This thesis also engages with the role of memory in creating a cohesive post-apartheid ‘South African’ identity. It asks: How is memory and Coloured identity linked? How is memory exploited by the nation-building process? Is nostalgia an effective method to critique the current government? And how does the collective memory of the apartheid past inform the present and future
Anti-Asian Racism, Model Minority Myth, and Their Psychological Impact on Asian Americans
No full textWhile Asian Americans have encountered numerous anti-Asian rhetoric and policies, the model minority myth also portrays Asian Americans as successful, academically talented, and hardworking. This myth, however, may mask the challenges this community faces and fails to explore the impact on mental health and social expectations. The myth not only oversimplifies the Asian American experience and ignores the mental health disparities and racism they face but also creates unrealistic standards, psychological stress, and ethnic tension. The purpose of this study is to identify how experiences with racism—internalized model minority myth and blatant anti-Asian racism—are associated with mental health outcomes (psychological distress and American meritocracy myth stress) through specific responses to the myth among 270 Asian American adults (Mage = 32.64, SD = 11.97). The results highlight a significant association between internalized stereotypes and mental health outcomes, suggesting that dual perception of Asian Americans as a “superhuman” (i.e., model minority) and as “subhuman” (i.e., targets of violence) may contribute to adverse mental health outcomes. By elucidating the mechanisms by which these stereotypes affect mental health, this study contributes to a better understanding of the complex interplay between race, identity, and mental health in the Asian American community
Legislation Should Address Substance Abuse Policy to Mitigate Homelessness Under Increasingly Extreme Climate Conditions
No full textDuring my time at Bates College, I regularly connected with local residents at the downtown Lewiston skatepark, gaining valuable insights into their backgrounds and experiences. These interactions shed light on the pervasive challenges of drug abuse and homelessness in their lives, with many sharing heartbreaking stories of friends and family members lost to overdose. Venturing further into the downtown area, I witnessed firsthand the stark reality of homelessness, seeing individuals enduring extreme weather conditions while living on the streets. Maine\u27s diverse climate, ranging from harsh winters to sweltering summers, poses significant challenges for unsheltered homeless populations. They are exposed to the elements, facing the unforgiving forces of nature without respite. Among these vulnerable populations, substance abuse often becomes a coping mechanism, highlighting the harsh realities they endure daily. While housing reform is a vital aspect of addressing homelessness, my experiences have highlighted the need to address the deeper, interconnected issues. Simply providing housing doesn\u27t always address the complex web of challenges faced by individuals battling addiction and homelessness. A more holistic approach that considers these broader struggles is essential for meaningful change and support
Borrelia burgdorferi PlzA is a cyclic-di-GMP dependent DNA and RNA binding protein
Full text linkThe PilZ domain-containing protein, PlzA, is the only known cyclic di-GMP binding protein encoded by all Lyme disease spirochetes. PlzA has been implicated in the regulation of many borrelial processes, but the effector mechanism of PlzA was not previously known. Here, we report that PlzA can bind DNA and RNA and that nucleic acid binding requires c-di-GMP, with the affinity of PlzA for nucleic acids increasing as concentrations of c-di-GMP were increased. A mutant PlzA that is incapable of binding c-di-GMP did not bind to any tested nucleic acids. We also determined that PlzA interacts predominantly with the major groove of DNA and that sequence length and G–C content play a role in DNA binding affinity. PlzA is a dual-domain protein with a PilZ-like N-terminal domain linked to a canonical C-terminal PilZ domain. Dissection of the domains demonstrated that the separated N-terminal domain bound nucleic acids independently of c-di-GMP. The C-terminal domain, which includes the c-di-GMP binding motifs, did not bind nucleic acids under any tested conditions. Our data are supported by computational docking, which predicts that c-di-GMP binding at the C-terminal domain stabilizes the overall protein structure and facilitates PlzA-DNA interactions via residues in the N-terminal domain. Based on our data, we propose that levels of c-di-GMP during the various stages of the enzootic life cycle direct PlzA binding to regulatory targets