BIO

I am an aspiring sociologist concentrating on marriage/family, gender, and sexual behavior. I have a strong interest in the study of queer family units in particular, especially transgender and lesbian parenthood. I am graduating this semester with a dual degree in Political Science and Women's Studies with additional minors in Child Development and Sociology. I hope to contribute to the growing understanding of gender and sexuality as queer youth in particular are becoming increasingly targeted by state governments across the nation and to create meaningful research that uplifts women and the queer community.

Pregnancy Discrimination in Higher Education : A Structural Approach

Abstract

It is my argument that pregnant students at public and private universities are systematically disenfranchised by university systems, not primarily through individual interactions that involve prejudice and discrimination, but through the common structure of universities themselves. The primary research question this thesis will attempt to answer is how do structural aspects of universities disadvantage pregnant students? Perspectives of feminist theory and conflict theory will be utilized to look at what makes a group minoritized and what makes discrimination structural as opposed to interpersonal. Using these theories as guides, I will argue that pregnant students function as a minoritized or disenfranchised group at universities because there are structural elements, such as universitywide policy and societal views of natalism/pregnancy, that put them at a disadvantage. Through a combination of theoretical analysis and fact collecting about the average American university’s resources and policies regarding pregnant students, it is clear that, on average, institutions of higher education are structured in a way that inhibits the success of pregnant students.

Keywords: Gender, Feminism, Pregnancy, Discrimination, Sociology