Poster Session
Doing TIME in Athens: A Photovoice Journey with Adolescents in Search of Social Change and the Unintended Benefit of Positive Mental Health Outcomes View Digital Media
Poster Session Michael A Robinson, Vanessa Robinson Dooley, Michelle Bachelor Robinson
Doing TIME (This Is My Environment) in Athens is a Photovoice project that involves adolescents from the town of Athens Georgia. The purpose of the TIME study was to educate a group of adolescents on how to enact social change in their community using photovoice methodology. The youth were charged with taking photographs that best represent 1) What they like about their community and 2) What they would like to see changed. There were a total of 67 photographs taken which was methodically narrowed down to 26 using a combination of open-ended discussion questions and semi-structured interview questions. The final photographs were separated into five themes: 1) Economic justice, 2) separation by race and class, 3) Animal rights and neglect, 4) Love of the arts, and 5) A sense of belonging and pride. The final captioned photographs were then framed and displayed at a local historic art gallery where local residents, university officials, and policy makers were invited to discuss the concerns of the youth.
Examining the Deficits LGBQ+ High School Student-athletes Experience : Campus Experiences that May Hinder Them from Achieving Success View Digital Media
Poster Session Lindy Valdez
The purpose of the study is to examine the environmental deficits that are present on high school campuses for high school LGBQ+ student-athletes and how they differ with their heterosexual counterparts. The current problem in the high school environment for LGBQ+ students is that not all of these students feel that they are treated or supported equally in comparison to their heterosexual peers (Human Rights Watch, 2016). The students who are a part of a sexual minority who are also involved in sports at their school may not only experience this marginalization in the educational setting, but in the athletic setting as well. Aspects that can have a critical effect on a student’s life at school may involve peers, coaches, faculty, teachers, support groups, and equitable school rules. Fixing these deficits that are present on these student’s campus will help them to achieve athletic and educational success, especially being a part of a sexual minority. This quantitative study design used an anonymous survey forum to get perspectives, ideas, and perspectives from high school LGBQ+ and heterosexual student-athletes from high schools in the greater Sacramento area. Perspectives from the LGBQ+ and heterosexual participants differed significantly. The study was developed specifically to offer insights for readers on and off high school campuses about LGBQ+ student perspectives with what a high school campus could improve on to help them succeed.
SHEro Barbies & (Un)Woke Mattel: Who Benefits from Special Collection/Special Edition Barbies Celebrating Successful but Marginalized Women? View Digital Media
Poster Session Karin Haberlin, Diana Rios, Mary Helen Millham
Mattel, Inc. is an American multinational toy manufacturer with numerous well known brands and products including the Barbie doll franchise. In 2018, in advance of International Women’s Day, Mattel introduced two new lines of Barbie: one, “Inspiring Women”, features historical figures, including Ida B. Wells, Rosa Parks, and Maya Angelou; the other “Shero” line focuses on contemporary women, including poet Julia Alvarez and athlete Naomi Osaka. The Barbie brand’s recent turn towards increased diversity is at once compelling and thought-provoking. What are the aims of these new toy lines and what does Mattel hope to gain from its most recent evolution in this iconic line of toys? As communication experts and women with younger females in our lives, we pose questions regarding particular “Inspiring” and “Shero” dolls - especially those that are based on real-life, groundbreaking women of color. Is Mattel clout chasing on social media? By introducing these toy lines- with special editions that are often not available in brick and mortar stores- is the corporation more focused on positive press over sales? The authors draw on textual analysis of Mattel’s website over time, existing marketing scholarship, and industry statistics. Professional knowledge and experience with store-level/point-of-purchase marketing is also incorporated into our analysis. We conclude with suggestions on how corporations might authentically engage with their customer base with increased awareness and sensitivity of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
