Master Theses & Projects (FSSH)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10155/530

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Connecting neoliberal ideology and incel ideology
(2022-08-01) Allison, Beverly M.; Alvi, Shahid
Incels are an online transgressive subculture holding misogynistic views of women, including the belief that women unfairly refuse them sex. While there have been few heinous physical attacks by individuals self-identifying as incels, their ideologies also pose a significant threat to the struggle to end misogyny. This thesis explores and identifies connections between neoliberalism and incel ideologies. A netnographic method was employed to collect qualitative data from a range of social media communities. Six major themes emerged from these data: resentment, hopelessness, coping with ontological insecurity, inauthentic women, significance of sexual relations, and the sexualization and objectification of women. These themes are connected to contemporary features of neoliberal ideology, and finds that incels either acknowledge but reject these neoliberal expectations or incorporate them into their own belief systems.
A content analysis of women's safety websites: rape myths and the internet
(2012-09-01) Tzotzes, Kamille; Alvi, Shahid
Women’s sexual victimization is perceived as a one sided problem that emphasizes women’s choices and neglect men’s accountability. Rape myths support an explanation of rape that allows women to remain fearful of sexual victimization. This thesis questions whether contemporary websites regarding women’s safety reinforce rape myths. Components of rape myths include the idea that women’s safety is her responsibility alone, echo traditional gender role expectations, perpetuate dependence on others and security products, and suggest that women’s fear of victimization is normal. A content analysis of thirteen websites regarding women’s safety is the subject of this study. Findings suggest that websites regarding women’s safety are perpetuating components of rape myths through safety suggestions. Key
A criminology of catastrophe: a critical analysis of imperialistic state crime and the Haiti earthquake
(2011-07-01) San Antonio, Jaclyn Tricia; Perry, Barbara; Ammar, Nawal; Alvi, Shahid
Despite the devastation caused by environmental catastrophes, these phenomena have yet to garner significant attention as a subject of criminological inquiry. This thesis is framed by the following question: How can we problematize the notion of “natural” disaster to arrive at a criminological understanding of human culpability in the production of harm? I argue that the degree of human suffering caused by natural disasters is aggravated by imperialistic state crimes, which predispose populations to conditions of vulnerability and dependency. I substantiate this argument with an analysis of Haiti and demonstrate how its history of imperialistic exploitation by the US amounted to a pattern of state crime victimization that marginalized Haitians and, consequently, shaped their suffering from the 2010 earthquake. The story of Haiti exemplifies the relationship between the contemporary hardships of a natural disaster and the historical injustices of state crime, thus illuminating the relevance of a criminology of catastrophe.
Formerly incarcerated women’s online accounts of pathways to criminality and incarceration: a contribution to feminist pathways theory
(2023-11-01) Arabzadah, Sabrina; Alvi, Shahid
Some feminist scholars argue that pathways research is not truly representative of girls’ and women’s pathways to crime. This paper uses the gendered pathways theory that recognizes and highlights some of the unique factors that can influence women's pathways into crime. Pathways theory has been criticized because it does not recognize the interconnectedness of risk factors (e.g., substance abuse, familial relationships, and mental health struggles), and two being that the research focuses on only a select few risk factors. This study uses narrative criminology to present women’s stories to understand their pathways to criminality in their own voices. Using first-person accounts from the blog, My Story in a Women’s Prison, female offenders’ own perspectives and perceptions of their pathway to criminality and incarceration were analyzed. This paper concludes that women’s own voices online can highlight how they perceive their risk factors, providing legitimacy to the gendered pathways theory.
A lot of these things nobody talks about: South Asian Muslims' perceptions of dating behaviours and abuse
(2011-07-01) Couture, Amanda; Alvi, Shahid
The unique meanings people of varying cultures and religions assign to dating behaviours/abuse along with the context in which these meanings are created are largely neglected in dating abuse research. Applying intersectionality, I examine understandings of dating behaviours/abuse from the perspective of South Asian Muslims in Canada. To unravel the context in which these perceptions are formed, I use intersecting characteristics that emerged as themes in 11 qualitative interviews, which include: individual identities, influences of South Asian Muslim and mainstream Western cultures, and personal perceptions of dating. The majority of participants used religion, cultures, and nations as identifiers, perceived their communities to be opposed to dating, and felt pressure to date stemming from Western society. I argue that these intersect to shape their personal perceptions of dating and the meanings and significance of dating behaviours/abuse, which revolved around: significance of exposure and sexual behaviours, control, relationship attachment, and psychological behaviours/abuse.
Mothers of children with autism: current challenges and intricate dynamics influencing the quality of life and mental health of mothers caring for children with autism
(2024-09-01) Kokkoros, Peter; Alvi, Shahid
This study investigates the social, personal and institutional challenges faced by mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from their perspectives, aiming to understand these challenges, their strategies for negotiating these challenges and the impact on their mental health and quality of life. Employing a qualitative approach, the study utilizes Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and Young's (1999) framework on social inclusion and exclusion to contextualize societal attitudes towards autism over time. The analysis revealed four main themes: high caregiver burden, stress from the emotional toll of advocating for their child, difficulties in accessing resources, and a lack of coping strategies for dealing with the diagnosis. Despite increased awareness and advocacy for autism, mothers still experience significant stress and life disruptions due to societal acceptance issues and resource limitations. The findings highlight the need for a deeper understanding of caregivers' daily struggles to inform more effective support strategies and emphasize the necessity for tailored support systems to address these unique challenges.
Perceptions of criminalization towards sex education among a generational sample of Canadian Pakistani Muslims
(2018-04-01) Arif, Mehek; Zaidi, Arshia; Alvi, Shahid
Of late, the Liberal government and the Ontario Ministry of Education implemented revisions to the provincial sex education curriculum, such as gender expression and same-sex relationship dialogue. These revisions led to intense debate of sex education in Ontario. At the forefront of these protests were South Asians, specifically those of Muslim descent belonging to the Pakistani community. The content as well as age of learning was awkward and unconventional, and threatened the collectivistic patriarchal family life and social order creating, at times, a generational divide. The aim of this thesis is to qualitatively explore 16 Canadian Pakistani Muslims perceptions and process of stigmatization, marginalization and criminalization towards the revised sex education curriculum by generation using Berger’s (1967) Heretical Imperative and Crenshaw’s (1991) Intersectionality perspective. Research in this area is scarce and limited and my thesis aims to reconcile gaps in the scholarship and mobilize knowledge to educators and policy makers.
Poverty, structural violence, and harm in Ontario
(2016-04-01) Earle, Benjamin; Alvi, Shahid; Fernando, Shanti
This study examined the experiences of those living in poverty in Ontario through the lens of social harm and structural violence. This research revealed that the experience of poverty is characterized by material hardship, chronic stress, poor physical and mental health, inadequate and unsafe living conditions, hunger, social exclusion, and violence. I argue that these conditions are largely the result of the structural violence, brought on by what may be described as criminal social systems. This argument is built up from the qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews and focus groups with people living in poverty and those who service them through frontline social and health service organizations. By engaging in qualitative analysis, I am better able to give voice to these experiences, helping to develop a more robust and accurate picture of poverty and the violence wrought on the lives of individuals and families.
Reporting unwanted sexual behavior at a post-secondary institution: an examination of campus policy
(2017-08-01) Ostridge, Lindsay; O'Connor, Christopher; Ammar, Nawal; Alvi, Shahid
The Ontario government has made recommendations and proposed legislation to mandate all universities and colleges in Ontario, Canada to create a sexual assault policy that involves student input. Using a small commuter university in southwestern Ontario as a case study, this thesis examines student perceptions of the policy. This research includes two parts. The first part consists of online qualitative research with seventeen students using an open-ended inductive exploratory instrument which asks students to read and define aspects of policy. The objective of this instrument was to verify if students adequately comprehended the language of the policy, knew how to report, who to report to, felt safe reporting, and found the reporting process supportive of their needs. The second part uses Allan’s (2008) policy discourse analysis to investigate replicated power and gender inequalities within the policy as well as policy silences and absences. Student recommendations to the policies are discussed.
With a little help from my friends: Exploring the perceptions and utility of partners of drug crime.
(2013-07-01) Cowan, Joseph William; Alvi, Shahid
Co-offending and drug crime scholarship have rarely crossed paths. Whenever co-offending and drug crime are investigated together, the work is almost always quantitative. Thus much remains unknown about why drug dealers cooperate criminally. To provide a modest contribution to what is otherwise a noticeable void, I investigate the decision making processes among a sample of 8 drug dealers who regularly partner up with others. Findings suggest participants believe co-offenders increase the overall success of drug crimes by either providing access to criminal capital, or by providing strength in numbers. Trustworthiness and skill were two factors that heavily weighed on a decision to co-offend with another drug dealer. While participants acted instrumentally with regards to co-offending, they were not greedy or impulsive. Gains were usually split equally among all partners. Interestingly, the gains of drug crime were occasionally donated to a partner who was perceived to be in need.

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Browsing Master Theses & Projects (FSSH) by Author "Alvi, Shahid"