SOAR Volume 2 (2018)

 

Recent Submissions

  • The Effect of a Hierarchy in Workplace Sexual Violence
    Martins, Kaitlin (2018)
    Center of Social Science Research Student Paper Award Winners (2018) Sexual Assault is the most unreported act of violence in the United States (Holland, 2014). Both sexual harassment and sexual assault violence by men against women can happen in any setting, especially that of a workplace. Assault in the workplace will go unreported for several reasons, like fear of the humiliating institutional procedures that follow a sexual assault report, the harassment endured following the attack and the possibility of getting fired from their workplace (Alexander, 1994. Schneider, 1991. Petrocelli, 1998). In this review, it is evident that a hierarchy in the workplace is a major precursor to a sexual assault incident. It is also clear, despite limitations in the reviews, that there is a positive correlation between sexual assault and depressive symptoms.

  • NGO Effectiveness: The Impact on Bolivian Youth Education
    Belush, Kayla (2018)
    Center of Social Science Research Student Paper Award Winners (2018) The dialogue on the effectiveness of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is extensive, but largely inconclusive. Context of each individual NGO significantly alters the variables that have the greatest impact on their individual effectiveness. However, there are variables that are consistently mentioned as vital to the overall success of NGO activity, which are examined in detail in this research. This study specifically analyzes NGO effectiveness in education programs for Bolivian youth. Based on previous literature analyzing NGO effectiveness in Bolivia, three important variables are discussed; dependence on funds from international donors, NGO organizational values and structure, as well as institutional limitations on poverty alleviation in Bolivia. In particular, three Bolivian NGOs largely dedicated to youth education are compared based on these variables. These organizations include Save the Children Bolivia, UNICEF Bolivia, and CARE Bolivia. Using data from the annual reports and campaign data for these organizations within the last ten years, this study draws comparisons between NGOs to evaluate which variables are most important to them. Additionally, this study takes data from the Bolivian Education Policy Data Center as well as the World Bank Bolivian Education Statistics to analyze the effectiveness of each Bolivian NGO, focusing on youth education. Data contains evidence showing that literacy rates in Bolivia generally increased from 2005 to 2015, with a sudden drop in completion of both primary and lower secondary education for both sexes in the past two years. This paper searches for a relationship between NGO variables linked to effectiveness and the rates education completion of Bolivian children. This study aims to demonstrate that large sources of international funding from the north do not guarantee NGO effectiveness in youth education. Additionally, organizational structure tends to reflect donors’ wishes rather than the opinions of the served target populations, which can lead to a decrease in NGO credibility and accountability to the target populations.

  • The Impact of Banking Regulations and Deregulations on the Stock and Housing Markets
    Vecere, Anthony (2018)
    The November 8, 2016 election results have boosted stock market performance due to possible upcoming policy changes. The likelihood for even more gains come because of plans to increase government spending, cut corporate taxes, and deregulate the banking sector once again. By looking at the regulations from 1995 to 2017, I assess the effect of changing bank regulations through movements in stock returns and housing prices. By running regressions on these and other variables, I found the regulations’ impact on house prices, the returns of the stock market, and the stock market’s volatility. I argue that deregulations are only beneficial up to a certain point, which is especially important given that there is much debate about whether the government should repeal the Dodd-Frank act since Donald Trump’s election victory.

  • Sex Work in the 21st Century
    Mitzelman, Tracy (2018)
    In the twenty first century, pornography and its impact on society have become evident; specifically, there is a changing shift in moral judgments surrounding pornography. A recent example is adult film star Belle Knox. Knox, her stage name, was a Duke University student, where she studied law and women’s studies. Knox was revealed in class as an adult film star and was ostracized by her peers as well as the media. Knox explained that she turned to pornography in order to pay college tuition because loans would not cover the expenses. The media had a frenzy with Knox and she was coined, “The Duke Porn Star”. Knox defended her line of work by warranting her actions with a higher education. Knox backing her unconventional career choices has shifted society’s view on sex work, pulling it out of the bedroom and into the mainstream media. Society is more accepting of the sex industry as a profession than it has been in the past.