KPU Sociology
Student Symposium Program
April 12, 9am-2pm
KPU Surrey Cedar 2110 (Boardroom)
Time | Presentations |
8:45-9:10 | Welcome, Territorial Acknowledgement, and casual breakfast |
9:10-9:40 | Keynote Speech: Dr. Prof-Collins Ifeonu, “Race, Multiculturalism and International Student Mobility: Exploring the migration motivations of Black international students in Western Canada.” |
Session: Whispers of Belonging, Insights on the Mind, Societal Webs Unravel, and Influential Stars Align | |
9:40-10:30 | “Exploring the perceptions and attitudes of Punjabi Immigrants in Settler colonial Canada.” Jovan Birring <jovan.birring@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint |
“Nature vs. Nurture: A Debate on Intelligence” Kylee Kuan <kylee.kuan@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
“Social Barriers to Abortion Care in Canada” Joanna Le <joanna.le@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
“Charismatic Authority of Social Media Influencers/ Celebrities over Beauty Standards of their Followers” Leah Pottie <leah.pottie@student.kpu.ca> Format: Video | |
Session: Identity Ripples, Empowerment Waves: Teens Unveil, Chicanos Raise, Water's Embrace, Foster Love's Gaze, Mental Flourish, Holistic Ways | |
10:35-11:25 | “Who Am I: Finding Your Unique Identity in Teens” Mehreen Mundi <mehreen.mundi@student.kpu.ca> Format: Artwork/ Painting |
“The Chicano Movement: Power in Identity” Jalal Karim <jalal.karim@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
“Water as a Symbol of Emancipation and Hope” Eliana McFarlane <eliana.mcfarlane@student.kpu.ca> Format: Video and PowerPoint | |
“Foster Care and Adoption: The Unique Experience of Ethnic Minorities” Jessica Taggar <jaspreet.taggar1@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
“Promoting Holistic Mental Health: An Intersectional Approach” Utkarsh Mundi <utkarsh.mundi@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
Session: Dino Sociology, Privacy Dichotomy: Consumption's Strain, Marx's Legacy, Societal Weave, Worker's Symphony | |
11:30-12:20 | “A Reflection on Sociology Towards Dinosaurs” Kamla Brown <kamla.brown@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint |
“How do you Perceive and Understand Privacy? A Comparative Analysis of Canadian and Japanese Privacy Regimes in Modern Digital Society” Kodiak Cheung <kodiak.cheung@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
“Beyond Excess: Examining the Sociological Impacts of Overconsumption” Anna Speranska <anna.speranska@student.kpu.ca> and Coco Tian <coco.tian@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
“Karl Marx, The Man behind The Myth” Neo Randhawa <neo.randhawa@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
“Sociology at Work: Connecting Sociology to Worker’s Rights and the Role of Unions” Julie Diels-Neufeld Julie Neufeld <jd@juliediels.com> Format: PowerPoint | |
12:30-2:00 | Working Lunch |
12:45-1:15 | Keynote Speech: Tamara Aisake, “Putting the Human Back in Humanities” |
1:15-1:30 | CSA Outstanding Graduating Student Awards Presentations |
2:00 | Concluding Remarks |
Abstracts
9:40-10:30 | Session: Whispers of Belonging, Insights on the Mind, Societal Webs Unravel, and Influential Stars Align |
“Exploring the perceptions and attitudes of Punjabi Immigrants in Settler colonial Canada.” Jovan Birring <jovan.birring@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
For the presentation I have chosen to explore a capstone research paper that I wrote for a 4th year Asian Studies course last spring. Although I wrote the paper for an Asian Studies course it is sociological in nature. The title of the paper is “South Asian Punjabi Immigrants in the context of Settler Colonial Canada,” and I used qualitative research - i.e. conducting 6 one on one interviews, collecting data, and constructing thematic findings, all skills I gained from my sociology courses. Additionally, I critically engage with multicultural narratives and introduce the theoretical framework of critical multiculturalism. Concisely, critical multiculturalism is focused on the idea that multiculturalism can be assimilative, where Indigenous peoples/cultures and other minority groups are placed in relation to the majority group. Hence, the critical attitude towards multiculturalism produces the understanding that diverse groups are not necessarily practicing cultural exchange but are placed in relation to a dominant group hierarchy. In other words, my research project set out to explore the perceptions and attitudes Punjabi immigrants/settlers have in relation to Indigenous histories and what reconciliation looks like. I used two cohorts, one being first generation immigrants who were ‘older’ and the second being second generation immigrants who were ‘younger.’ I wanted to analyse how Punjabi immigrants learn about colonial history and on-going colonialism, which I then wanted to compare and contrast these findings with second-generation attitudes/perceptions. For my presentation I want to succinctly introduce the research project and then delve into the thematic findings. As well, I would like to touch upon some of the tentative conclusions and then end off with some of the limitations of the study. In short, I want to present the research paper in a way that discusses the process/construction of it but mainly focus on the thematic findings and tentative conclusions, as they are the most interesting parts of the, or any, research paper. | |
“Nature vs. Nurture: A Debate on Intelligence” Kylee Kuan <kylee.kuan@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
The piece of work I will present will be on my term essay. I intend to address the impacts that primary socialization has on one's intelligence, alongside acknowledging the nature/"biology" of humans. I want to create a thesis derived from: "To what extent does primary socialization and genetic factors impact our conception of intelligence?" I hope to address:
These 4 topics will be my guiding points to convey the message of intelligence being a fluid idea that reflects the culture and society we live in, rather than an individual developing their own sense of self through a biological mean...That the emphasis on intelligence cannot be its own variable, rather an outcome of multiple variables that shape an individual; not a way to measure an individual (therefore there is no possibility that the "intelligence" of an individual is left up to biology only) and the dangers that conceals itself within the nature argument. | |
“Social Barriers to Abortion Care in Canada” Joanna Le <joanna.le@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
Despite being a fundamental aspect of reproductive rights in Canada, the path to abortion care often leads to social barriers that disproportionately impact those who are seeking this essential service. My research explores the various existing social barriers that can impact those who are seeking abortion care in Canada. The social barriers I explore are financial constraints, geographic limitations, language barriers, lack of information, stigma surrounding abortion, and discrimination within the healthcare system. By incorporating my volunteer experience at a nonprofit organization in the Lower Mainland, and reflecting on my experience at Elizabeth Bagshaw clinic, my research draws from a combination of journal reflections and existing literature to provide a comprehensive analysis My research concludes by addressing how these social barriers can be dealt with on a micro-, meso-, and macro-level, which emphasizes on the importance of empathy, collective action, and policy changes to ensure safe and legal access to abortion care services in Canada. | |
“Charismatic Authority of Social Media Influencers/ Celebrities over Beauty Standards of their Followers” Leah Pottie <leah.pottie@student.kpu.ca> Format: Video | |
My Presentation’s aim is to explore how Marx Weber's theory of charismatic authority may shine light on the impact of social media influencers on definition of beaty standards and consequently youth lifestyle. Weber’s definition of charismatic authority is still very much alive today but has grown and changed as new types of influencers and leaders have arisen within the actual and virtual public spaces. Nowadays, with more active media platforms, leadership and authority have changed. Taking advantage of the social media platforms, social media influencers and celebrities can lead youth and others in society into doing certain things, especially purchasing products. The beauty space is one thing that has taken a big hit in this way. The form of connection and influence has become more individualized, though. As Gustafsson and Weinryb state: “This individualized form of charismatic authority is fundamentally focussed on personalized engagement, and simultaneously interconnected through the technological affordances of social media platform” (2019). Social media has become the new advertisement platform which allow celebrities and “social media influencers” to not only promote certain things to their audience (especially youth regarding beauty products), but also influence youth, lifestyle and definition of beauty. Within my project I’m going to see if/how applying concept of charismatic authority can illuminate the mechanism of youth “obedience” from beauty standards promoted by social media influencers. In doing so, I employ relevant literature and the result of my participatory observation and chat with some of my friends. | |
10:35-11:25 | Session: Identity Ripples, Empowerment Waves: Teens Unveil, Chicanos Raise, Water's Embrace, Foster Love's Gaze, Mental Flourish, Holistic Ways |
“Who Am I: Finding Your Unique Identity in Teens” Mehreen Mundi <mehreen.mundi@student.kpu.ca> Format: Artwork/ Painting | |
The painting captures the turmoil and complexities of adolescents, marked by the complex interplay between societal influences and identity formation. For boys, the societal pressure to conform to consumerist Western ideals drives them to seek status symbols. Also, peer pressure leads to deviant behavior, such as underage drinking and vaping. Here, the ideal values come in conflict with the actual values adopted by their "cool" classmates. For girls, the harsh and unrealistic beauty standards set by society lead to self-labeling, which perpetuates a toxic cycle of body shaming— contributing to unhealthy lifestyle choices. Teens develop a heightened sense of responsibility as they grapple with the pressures of achieving success and status. In a patriarchal and stratified society, the frustration with their ascribed status pushes them to seek agency via schooling. In conclusion, this painting uncovers the various societal forces that intertwine to shape the complex identity of teenagers. | |
“The Chicano Movement: Power in Identity” Jalal Karim <jalal.karim@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
My presentation is centered around the Chicano movement through the 1940s-60s in America, noting key figures such as Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Sol Castro, and Corky Gonzales. The paper draws on historical context to identify how political subjectivism was used against the Mexican Americans in the form of systemic racism. The paper also posits that this same subjectivization was inverted and used by Mexican American communities to establish and strengthen a unified Chicano identity, through symbolism, art, and the embrace of Neo-Marxist ideals. The presentation concludes with positive lessons from the movement and how the Chicano identity endures today. | |
“Water as a Symbol of Emancipation and Hope” Eliana McFarlane <eliana.mcfarlane@student.kpu.ca> Format: Video and PowerPoint | |
This presentation is brought forward considering the contextual histories of the global water crisis. With the capitalization of fresh water on the rise, necropolitical agendas between the government and private water and wastewater services are more prevalent than before. It is of the utmost importance to consider what populations are the most vulnerable to the privatization of water; as a body, we must adopt alternative ways of both conceptualizing and organizing ourselves around water. The aim of this presentation specifically attempts to highlight the African American community in the United States, and their early response to water and their (our) relationship to and with it. Despite being one of the many visibly targeted groups affected by environmental racism, they (we) are still able to see the beauty in and of water. They (We) recognize the power of renewal and the emancipatory components that water relationally shares with the human and non-human world. | |
“Foster Care and Adoption: The Unique Experience of Ethnic Minorities” Jessica Taggar <jaspreet.taggar1@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
Through a discourse analysis, I examine the different ways that those who are ethnic minorities face foster care differently than those who are not. I discuss the troubles that those who are ethnic minorities face versus those who are not ethnic minorities and the difference in troubles between the two different groups. I also touch on intersectionality and how existing in foster care and the experiences people have are very different and unique, however are often grouped together into a single narrative. In order to include a global perspective I will also discuss the way that colonialism has its part on the disproportionate amount of ethnic minorities in foster care and why there are differences in struggles based on race and ethnicity. | |
“Promoting Holistic Mental Health: An Intersectional Approach” Utkarsh Mundi <utkarsh.mundi@student.kpu.ca> Format: PowerPoint | |
I will focus on the connection between mental health and sociological concepts. I will discuss the following topics in sociology and their impact on mental health:
Furthermore, I will outline the resources KPU students may use for addressing various kinds of challenges. This comprehensive exploration aims to shed light on the sociological dimensions of mental health and equip students with valuable resources for support. | |