Sarah Lawrence College
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The Movie Musical and Jazz Dance: Reflections on Nostalgia in 21st Century America
Get PDFThis research is an in-depth look at dance in movie musicals that were prominent in the United States during the Golden Age of Hollywood. The careers of three movie musical stars during this period: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, and Gene Kelly, are analyzed as their roles in these films were crucial to popularizing tap and jazz dance on screen. The Black choreographers and performers who originated the form of jazz dance, but were left out of this history are acknowledged as the true innovators. Connections are made between my personal dance history and the relevance of this research in American culture today. Finally, reflections on nostalgia and the renewed interest in the genre are highlighted
Embracing the Whore: Destigmatizing Sex and Dance
Get PDFDance has long been conflated with sensuality and sex. The act of dancing can incite intimacy and ecstasy, communion and liberation. This power has historically been vilified and restricted in the name of colonization and Christianity. Today, dancers are still subject to these associations: naming our profession yields lewd questions about our flexibility, or propositions for a private dance. Male celebrities wear ballerinas on their arms like trophies, with the implication of a vivacious sexual relationship widely understood and applauded. Rather than trying to distance the art of dance from the practice of selling sex, I propose we embrace our erotic history and instead focus our efforts on erasing the stigma surrounding sexual labor. With all the pleasures and dangers these vocations share—attractiveness, authenticity, vulnerability, exploitation—it is in our best interests to embrace the dancer’s whore status and demand better conditions for all who make their way through the world with their bodily delights
Teaching as Accommodation: The Benefits of Teaching All Children Through a Trauma-Informed Lens
Get PDFAdverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are an epidemic in our society. In 2021 alone, an estimated 600,000 children in the United States experienced abuse or neglect, with 90.6% of all reported cases documenting one or both parents as the perpetrator (HHS, 2023). As educators, we play an important role in preventing and mitigating the effects of ACEs in our students. When a child’s home life is unstable, schools and teachers are the next line of defense. Throughout the United States, schools are the constant; they are a universal provider even in areas that otherwise have limited access to support. Schools are the closest thing we have to an equalizing and unifying protective factor against ACEs. In my thesis, I work to give teachers concrete examples of the effects of trauma as they appear in classrooms, and then suggest a broad approach to trauma-informed teaching. Using curb-cut theory as a guide, I propose that when we take strategies that are designed to accommodate children who have experienced trauma, and apply them to all students, everyone benefits
“Where\u27s Daddy? Where\u27s Daddy?”: Exploring the Experience of a Male Social Worker of Color in Dyadic Play Therapy with Mothers and Young Children
Get PDFThis thesis presents the experiences of a male social worker of color as he and his clients confront the intersecting challenges of racism, oppression, and poverty and their own developmental history. Drawing from attachment theory and object relations perspectives, this exploration delves into the complexities faced by social workers of color, illuminating how these themes significantly shape one’s professional journey and influence the dynamics of their interactions with clients. This thesis also examines how social workers’ personal experiences can inform their approach to addressing clients\u27 unique challenges, creating a more culturally sensitive and empowering therapeutic space. Three case studies provide context to the intersection of the author’s position and identity and the therapeutic work that results from these interactions. Through embracing diverse perspectives and challenging systemic inequalities, this research advocates for a more inclusive and empowering approach to address the complex interplay of issues including experiences of racism, oppression, poverty, and trauma
Reflections of the Pioneers: An Oral History of the Early Years of Genetic Counseling
Get PDFIt has been 52 years since the first class of genetic counselors in the United States graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and entered into the medical profession. The determination and spearheading mentality the first generations of genetic counselors had for their patients and proved to their colleagues is the apparent and undeniable reason they are referred to as ‘pioneers’. The aim of this study was to capture and preserve the early history of our still-young field of genetic counseling. The content was gathered via five group interviews of eleven individuals total and thirteen questionnaire submissions to represent the pioneering generation of genetic counseling. Our results demonstrated that these pioneers met both challenge and opportunity with tenacity, insight, and collaboration, enabling the profession to rapidly grow and evolve over the past half-century. Moments like the separation from the American Board of Medical Genetics and subsequent formation of the American Board of Genetic Counseling was the crucible in which the future of genetic counseling blossomed. It placed the ability to chart the course and direction of this field into our own hands. This agency is crucial in facing the current and future challenges that will shape this field. Change is our constant across generations and adaptation is necessary. While the demands we face have changed, this agency, sense of community, and pioneering mentality are traits that have and can continue to serve us in achieving greater heights