Hey so I know this blog post is kind of late, but in my defense I don’t see as many people who remembered to blog about this on time, so I don’t feel quite as guilty for forgetting to post this up earlier. At least, that’s the excuse I’ll use if Elizabeth asks. 😛
ANYWAYS, my research project is conducted under Dr. Muniba Saleem’s Conflict Research Lab, where there is an overall focus on the role certain types of media play in interpersonal and intergroup conflict. It’s kind of an interesting blend of psychology with communication studies (specifically media studies). With my own research specifically, it compares and examines the portrayals of South Asian women in both South Asian and American media while also discussing the psychological and emotional effects that these portrayals have on South Asian women here in the university (cause the whole of United States might be a bit….much for my budget). I chose this line of research (despite being a pre-med nerd) partly because of my own fascination with various forms of media and the imprint it leaves in our daily lives along with discovering a shortage of research concerning South Asian women specifically and their psychological well-being. And, well…growing up as an Indian American woman myself, knowing the impression that both American and South Asian media has had in my life along with my peers’ lives, I can safely assure you that there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH EITHER MEDIA TYPE THAT COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN GROWING UP HERE.
Nope, nothing wrong here.
Or over here either.
Just ask Ashton Kutcher in this picture above, 0% wrong with anything in American or South Asian media concerning South Asians.
No stereotypes or assumptions could arise from it whatsoever.
Hopefully, my sarcasm made it through.
Continuing on, I’m currently using a survey methodology regarding negative portrayals in both media types to look at factors that might be affected psychologically for these women, such as self-esteem, mood, sense of agency etc. In terms of ethics, I’d have to be careful of using clips that wouldn’t trigger them or cause them great discomfort, so I made sure with my mentor beforehand that the clips we’d be using of negative portrayals wouldn’t cause them great mental or emotional strain. In terms of groups impacted the most, it’d be South Asian women (specifically around the ages of 18-22 since I’m in a university setting and they’re in my participant pool) and they’d be impacted the most since my project focuses on studying them and adding to the little research there is of this little-known demographic regarding this unique, interdisciplinary field. Groups impacted the least are just ones outside this subset obviously.
Alright, that’s all I’ve got for now. Feel free to comment if you all have any more questions about my research, what I’m up to, or what suggestions you have to improve it. I’m always open for ways to make the things I’m doing better. 😀