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Honors Thesis Contest
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Honors Thesis Contest
For many years, CSI has held a contest for the Best Honors Thesis on an inequality-related topic. All seniors completing the Minor in Inequality Studies and writing an honors thesis in their home departments have had the opportunity to be recognized with a cash award for the best thesis on inequality. Beginning this year, AY2020/2021, CSI will also offer an additional award and prize for the best undergraduate honors thesis on racial inequality.
Starting with the 2021 graduating class, the undergraduate thesis competition will have two award categories:
Best Honors Thesis on Inequality
Best Honors Thesis on Racial Inequality
To be eligible for the first award, your thesis should address the causes, patterns, or consequences of inequalities in economic, social, or political resources. To be eligible for the second award, your thesis must focus on racial or ethnic inequalities, alone or in combination with other sources of social difference or social identities (e.g., social or economic class, gender, religion, sexual orientation, dis/ability, citizenship status, urban or rural background, etc).
Both award competitions are open to any undergraduate Minor in Inequality Studies, from any major or college at Cornell. When you submit your thesis, please indicate whether you would like it to be considered for the general “best thesis” award, the “best thesis on racial or ethnic inequality” award, or both. The deadline for submissions is the last day of classes. Please email submissions to inequality@cornell.edu and feel free to contact us for more details!
2020 Winners
First Prize
Benjamin Fields, Global and Public Health Sciences & Development Sociology '20
“Black Students in the Ivy League: Evidence of the Double Consciousness”
Abstract: There are challenges to diversity and inclusion in post-secondary education in the U.S. While structural issues and inequality amongst black and white students are understood, our knowledge does not extend to how black students are reacting to this difference in everyday life. To measure their experience, I created a survey to compare the sense of belonging and engagement between black and white students at Cornell. Drawing on responses from 250 undergraduate students, answers about occurrences of perceived microaggressions, self-initiated engagement, and resource use were obtained. After analysis, black students had higher rates of perceived isolation compared to white students; strangely, both groups are willing to engage on-campus at similar rates. This is consistent with data that shows black students face more issues but does not explain why engagement is similar amongst groups. I argue that this paradox may be an indication of the existence of Du Bois’s double consciousness amongst black students.
Hannah Hyams, Industrial and Labor Relations ’20
“Toward a More Equitable World of Work: Analyzing the Implications of Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Religious-Based Protections Under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act”
Abstract: This thesis analyzes the implications of Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, both in letter and in spirit, with the hope of uncovering what these implications mean for people with disabilities and religious individuals in the workplace. Through an examination of the respective statutes’ intent, breadth of coverage, and statutory provisions, I argue that while both laws were crafted with social justice goals at their cores and for similar purposes, the ADA’s restrictive definition of disability and limited coverage of its intended protected class have made it a less wide-reaching and social justice-oriented law than Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. I compare the mandates for reasonable accommodations and thresholds for undue hardships under the statutes in the secular workplace. In the religious workplace, I study the tension between religion and disability embodied in the ministerial exception. Ultimately, I recommend both legislative action and extrajudicial interventions to create a more inclusive world of work.
Luz Martes, Economics & Sociology ’20
“Dare to Dream? A Qualitative Analysis on the Impact of Mothers' Marital Status on Occupational Aspirations”
Abstract: This study examined not only the Wisconsin Model's effectiveness in predicting educational aspirations but tested the hypothesis of the various impacts of marital status, race, and gender. The purpose of this study is to examine the progression of the status attainment model and answer the following questions: Does the addition of mother’s marital status to the model assist in improving the estimates for occupational aspirations? Within the realm of differences of mother’s marital status, what role does gender and race have? In addition to mother’s marital status, does parental involvement and school environment further contribute to possible disparities? Through its proximity to educational aspirations, not only were measures of educational aspirations and achievement significant predictors for occupational aspirations, but there were variations found for gender, race, and marital status.
Past Winners
First Prize
Carúmey R. Stevens, Human Development ’19
“Exploring Ethnic Identity as a Psychological Resource for First-Year College Students Experiencing Social Anxiety”
Ruby Bafu, Sociology ’18
“It’s Never Just Hair: Pelo Melo and the Modern Racialization of Black Women’s Natural Hair in the Dominican Republic and the United States”
Morgan Palmiter, Government ’18
“The Reinvention of an Age-Old Truth: An Analysis of Discriminatory State Policies after Shelby County v. Holder.”
Beatriz Barros, Sociology & Government ’17
“Mind the Gap: A Study of Inequality in Public Transportation Access in Baltimore City, Maryland”
Emma Korolik, Sociology & English ’17
“When Diverse College Classes Fall Short Social Class Diversity: Examining the Effects of Socioeconomic Status on Students’ Choice of Undergraduate Major”
Michael Sun, College Scholar ’16
“The Cultural Hegemony of Finance Capital: Implications for Financial Reform in the Twenty-First Century”
Samantha Wilhelm, Government ’16
“Is the Roberts Court-ing Business? Class Action in the Wake of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes”
Jessica Barragan, Sociology & Government ‘15
“Hispanic Disadvantage In Criminal Jury Trials: A Multi-Method Study of Juror Bias Against Hispanic Defendants in Four Urban Counties”
Zoe Otedola, Sociology ‘15
“The Impact of Aspirations on Educational Attainment”
Dominique Corley, Sociology & Linguistics ‘14
“Sounding Guilty: African American English and Racial Inequality in the Courtroom”
Fiona McCabe, Sociology ‘14
“Persisting Educational Inequality in a College for All Era: Aspirational Fulfillment of Community College Students”
Patrick Nowak, Government & College Scholars Program ‘14
“Group Positioning and Racialized Drug Policy: The Association of African Americans with Drug Use and Its Implications for United States Drug Law Enforcement”
Kayla Richards, English ‘13
“The Role of Legal Consciousness: A Study of Law through the Experiences and Perceptions of Real and Fictional Everyday Citizens”
Honorable Mention
Rachel Chiu, Industrial and Labor Relations ’19
“Understanding Sexual Harassment in Early-Stage Startups and Small Nonprofits”
Karen Monique Loya, Sociology ’19
“A Feminist Analysis of Title IX Enforcement Against Campus Sexual Violence”
Lala Xu, Economics ’18
“The Effect of Race and Gender in Risk Assessment Algorithms”
Caroline Markowitz, Government ’18
“A Feminist Analysis of Title IX Enforcement Against Campus Sexual Violence”
Alize Hill, Human Development ’18
“The Context of Race in the Perceptual-Response to Fear and Anger”
Kennedi Williams-Libert, Sociology & Government ’17
“Still Linked? Afro-Carribean Immigrants and the Politics of Incorporation”
Marc Masson, ILR ’17
“The Labor Market Integration of Asylum Seekers in France: An Economic and Social Argument”
Yooha Park, Sociology ’17
“Examining the Contribution of Different Social Relationships to Immigrant Health Inequalities in the United States”
Jocelyn Lee, Biology & Society ’16
“Decentralizing Forest Management and Addressing a ‘Historic Injustice’ in India: Implementation Trends of the Forest Rights Act”
Jingyi Li, Sociology ’16
“The Effects of Neighborhood Context on Life Satisfaction: A Comparative Study of Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States”
Shivali Haribhakti, Industrial and Labor Relations ‘14
“The Invisible Workforce”
Jana Wilbricht, Communication & Development Sociology ‘14
“Bridging the Digital Divide: Access and Use of Internet and Mobile Technology for Health Information among Hopi Indians”