Language, Lineage, and Lost Time: Assessing the Quality of Life for Refugee Families in Canada
This paper reviews research on immigrant and refugee families’ quality of life in Canada. I highlight material wellbeing, intergenerational dynamics, and cultural identity. Then, I identify service gaps, especially in language acquisition, to propose future directions for policy and research to support newcomer integration.
The Male Loneliness Epidemic is Killing Women: Exploring the Dangers of Hegemonic Masculinity in Friendship
This essay examines male friendships, and how traditional masculinity contribute to loneliness in men that places disproportionate emotional and physical burdens on women. It explores the roots of male isolation, the resulting emotional labor expected of women, and how these dynamics can escalate into gender-based violence.
Fight On: A Profile of Stephen Lapre
For my final assignment in creative nonfiction, I interviewed my first kickboxing coach on his journey in martial arts and building Dragon's Den Elite Combat Sports over 35 years.
The Fire Behind Femicide: Analyzing the Causes of Gender-Based Violent Crime
In this essay, I examine how harmful masculine norms fueled by patriarchal ideals and sexual entitlement fuel gender-based violent crime. I unpack two major cases of femicide, the Santa Barbara massacre and the Pulse nightclub shooting.
Viral Voices: How Social Media is Democratizing Global Activism
In this essay, I discuss the advantages and drawbacks of social media as a tool for mobilizing political involvement at a global scale, using recent events like the Black Lives Matter protests and the Fridays for Future climate strikes as key examples.
Controversies to Commitment: Exploring the Complexities of Amnesty International
This is an analysis of human rights organization Amnesty International. I explore its history and significant global impact while criticizing its issues with workplace culture and internal racism. Through analyzing Amnesty's complexities, I learned about the importance of accountability and reform in human rights advocacy.
To Be Beautiful or Not to Be Beautiful: Analyzing the Value of Feminine Beauty
As I study gender relations through the lens of my own womanhood, I ponder whether to embrace femininity or to reject traditional beauty standards? I answer this question using the films Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and The World of Suzie Wong (1960) to explore how media perpetuates the idea that women’s worth is largely determined by their appearance.
Policy Brief: Migrant Workers and the Working for Workers Act
As a sociology student, I am developing my policy analysis skills. This practice policy brief looks at the role of migrant workers in Canada's economy and the exploitation they face. I explore Ontario's Bill 27, the Working for Workers Act, which aims to combat illegitimate recruiters. I highlight its shortcomings and make recommendations to better protect migrant workers and strengthen the bill's effectiveness.
The Great Resignation: How the Pandemic Incited a Quiet yet Salient Worker Rebellion
In this paper, I explore the post-pandemic phenomenon of the Great Resignation in the labour force and what it means for long-term deteriorating worker conditions. I begin to unpack workplace power dynamics and shifting priorities, topics that set the foundation of my understand of the labour movement.
Behind the Ride: The Precarious State of Uber Drivers in Canada
Despite the success and popularity of ride-sharing apps like Uber, the gig economy is not the 'be your own boss' dream that it claims to be. In this essay, I explore the precarity of platform work and discuss unionization and legal reform as potential solutions in this precarious sector of work.
Gatekeeper: The Exploitation and Commodification of Women in Music
In this essay, I use sociological theories from Marx, Benjamin, and Perkins-Gilman to analyze how economic pressures, mass production, and gender imbalances lead to the mistreatment of female artists. Using Canadian artist Jessie Reyez and her song "Gatekeeper" as a key example, this essay shines a light on the challenges and resilience of marginalized musicians.
Connecting Childhood Stories to Career Realities: A Vocational Reflection
This is a reflection on my personal journey growing up in an activist household, where I was inspired by my father’s work in labor unions and social justice. It explores my passion for social change, my aspirations in the non-profit sector, and the challenges I anticipate in pursuing a career focused on humanitarian work.
Statistics in Conversation: A Demographics Study of the English Conversation Program
In my co-op work term as the English Conversation Program Assistant at the UBC Learning Exchange, I looked into the demographics of our active learners to examine how the ECP's demographics have changed since the pandemic. In particular, I studied the increasing intake of refugees and the key differences between the refugee and non-refugee learners. I presented this project to the LE staff at the end of my term.