VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Erased: The Invisibility of Somali Women in the Diaspora

AbstractSomali women navigate multiple levels of oppression when they choose to relocate to Canada through refugee status, but Somali women’s individual perspectives are largely absent from the literature on the diasporic experience. Research examining the lived experiences of these individuals is helpful not only for better understanding their specific challenges and difficulties, but also for understanding how their status as refugees in the diaspora has influenced their conceptions of their identity. This dissertation examines the theoretical basis for academic assessments of lived experience, but also allows for the development of critical frameworks that will allow policy makers to use academic research to align outcomes with intentions. The main research question is as follows: can different theoretical frameworks including anti-racist theory, Black feminist theory, anti-colonial theory, and Indigenous ways of knowing explain why Somali women’s experiences have been rendered largely invisible in the published literature? This question is explored through a metasynthesis of the literature using grounded theory. The dissertation also provides an assessment of Canadian federal policy. The findings demonstrate that current discursive traditions in theory do not easily capture the lived experiences of Somali refugee women in the diaspora, especially in Canada. Anti-colonial and anti-racist theories fail to capture these experiences to their fullest. While Black feminist thought can help to illuminate the pathways forward for Somali women, such as the use of self-definition, self-valuation, and the creation of social and cultural change through praxis, Indigenous ways of knowing may be best positioned to critically examine Somali refugee women's lived experiences.

Advisor: Wane, Njoki N
The Paradox of Equity in Ontario's Public Education System: The Making of an Epistemology of Ignorance

This dissertation research examines equity work in the Ontario public education system from 2009 to 2020. This work forwards the category of “equity leader” to draw attention to educators who are tasked with teaching entire school boards about equity and inclusion work. The dissertation demonstrates how school boards in Ontario profess through equity discourse, polices, and publications that they support notions of equity and inclusion, yet the barriers to equity work continue to be reproduced. Equity leaders’ experiences provide a rich platform for highlighting the paradoxical nature of equity work and systemic racism in education, and how organizations are complicit in systemic racism even while they profess to believe in equity principles. In Ontario, equity leader roles span the associate director, superintendent, principal, teacher, and consultant positions. Their daily duties include supporting equity and inclusion work from junior kindergarten to Grade 12 as well as supporting business staff and working with school communities. Through interviews with twenty-one equity leaders from the Toronto District School Board, Peel District School Board, and York Region District School Board, as well as document analysis, the study demonstrates how equity leaders do equity work in education systems that are racist and colonial. Equity leaders’ knowledge and skills demonstrate how people navigate, resist, and contend with systemic racism, and exert agency within institutions that are racist. Using Charles Mills’ racial contract conceptual framework, which posits that white supremacy is predicated upon an epistemology of ignorance and a commitment to a racial fantasyland, the multifaceted paradox of equity work is explored.

Keywords: Education
Equity
Ignorance
Race
Racism
School
Advisor: Bakan, Abigail
The State at the Margins: The Politics of State Social Assistance and Citizenship in Rural Kenya and Tanzania

This dissertation leverages both inter-state and intra-state comparisons to interrogate why cash transfer programs in Kenya and Tanzania have had profoundly different impacts on recipients’ perceptions and practices of citizenship. First, it leverages intra-state comparisons to compare Luo communities receiving government cash transfers with those not receiving cash transfers to examine the impacts of cash transfers of citizens’ perceptions of and access to the structures of the state. It finds that cash transfers have had transformative impacts for citizens’ perceptions and practices of citizenship in Kenya but not in Tanzania. Second, it leverages inter-state comparisons amongst these Luo communities on either side of the Tanzania-Kenya border, who have a shared history language and culture, to elucidate why similar cash transfer programs have had profoundly different impacts on citizenship. This dissertation argues that the impacts of cash transfer programs are mediated by post-colonial histories of national building which structure the formal institutions through which cash transfers are implemented and the informal institutions that shape commonly held understandings of the state’s role vis-à-vis the citizen. Where citizens have been historically excluded from the central resources of the state, the state provision of cash transfers can provide citizens new avenues through which they can interact with and make demands on the state. In Tanzania, the post-colonial nation-building project created an inclusive sense of citizenship that is deeply rooted in a cohesive national identity, perceptions of community and norms of reciprocity. The introduction of means-tested cash transfer programs in Tanzania, then, did not challenge commonly held understandings of citizenship and of the state’s role vis-à-vis the citizen. In contrast, in Kenya, a post-colonial era marked by the distribution of state resources through patronage networks, exclusionary economic and political policies that discriminated based on ethnicity created an exclusive, sense of citizenship, which is directly tied to the individual and their relationship to various patrons. However, the introduction of cash transfer programs, distributed based on need rather than patronage, has led to a gradual reconceptualization of citizenship towards one rooted in reciprocal rights and duties.

Keywords: Cash Transfers
Citizenship
Kenya
Social Policy
Statebuilding
Tanzania
Advisor: Wong, Joseph
The Role of Self-regulation Interpersonal Emotion Regulation in Explaining the Link Between Parental Childhood Maltreatment History with Parenting Coparenting Outcomes

This study investigated whether self-regulation and interpersonal emotion regulation mediate the link between parents’ childhood maltreatment history and their parenting stress and coparenting outcomes.This model was tested using an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) and Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM) with mothers and fathers recruited from the community and from child protective agencies. Collectively, the results of the study support that both parents’ childhood maltreatment histories and emotion management abilities are important for parenting andcoparenting relationship outcomes, with some nuances found depending on which mediator and outcome was examined. Specifically, fathers’ partner-reported emotion dysregulation mediated the relationship between his self-reported childhood maltreatment history and his partners’ self-reported coparenting and parenting stress outcomes. In addition, mothers’ ability to manage her partners’ emotions (as reported by fathers) mediated the relationship between her self-reported childhood maltreatment history and both her own and her partners’ self-reported coparenting relationship quality. Furthermore, mothers’ behaviorally coded hostility/negativity served as a mediator between her self-reported childhood maltreatment history and her partners’ self-reported parenting stress, albeit only when discussing an issue of concern for her. There were also some notable gender differences in study variables which are discussed in more detail in other parts of this dissertation. Overall, these findings highlight the associations between child maltreatment and subsequent emotion management, parenting stress, and coparenting outcomes and suggest that clinicians consider the influence of emotional management abilities on parenting stress and coparenting functioning for maltreated individuals and their coparenting partners.

Advisor: Scott, Katreena L
Between Silence and Resistance: Kurdish Women in Colonial Turkish Prison Diyarbakir Military Prison 1980-1984

This study traces Kurdish women’s contestation of the carceral colonial Turkish State and challenges us to re-examine Kurdish women as historical subjects. It centres on the stories of Kurdish women who were incarcerated in the Diyarbakir Military Prison (DMP) beginning on September 12, 1980 following the military coup in Turkey. The DMP’s history is currently discursively shaped by male-dominated hegemonic narratives and archives from the colonial Turkish State and the Kurdish Movement itself. In this context, Kurdish women’s stories as political prisoners demand further scholarly exploration, and I argue that they must be prioritized as academic knowledge in their own right. This dissertation deals with the issues that have largely remained outside the concerns of existing scholarship on the Kurdish women in Turkey and the larger Middle East. The main analytical concerns of this study are incarceration, gender, politics of silencing and resistance. I draw on Kurdish women prisoner’s experiences from the DMP to demonstrate prisons as micro spaces of Turkish colonialism as well as spaces of resistance and knowledge production for the Kurdish Women’s Movement. Kurdish women reconstruct themselves within these historical, colonial, carceral spaces and reconstitute their own subjectivities through their understanding of what political incarceration meant for themselves, their families, and communities. I use feminist narrative inquiry and anti-colonial feminist framework as a methodological approach to trace the stages of Kurdish women’s voice to resist both internalized gendered shame and colonial sexual violence placed within the framework of the Kurdish women’s own history decade by decade: in the 1970s leftist activist women’s adherence to anti-colonial Kurdish organizations, the specific experiences of female social silencing coupled with State’s mechanisms in Kurdistan, followed by their prison activism and participation of hunger and death strikes as resistance in DMP. This study reveals hidden voices, stories and forgotten memories of Kurdish women political prisoners and the silencing mechanism that renders their voices unheard. Finally, by returning to the site of women’s resistance in the Kurdish women’s movement 40 years ago, this thesis will serve to expand the ideological and political theories that ground the current contemporary reality. Focusing on their strategies to resist what I call revolutionary gendered resistance in the DMP, this research highlights its impact on Kurdish women’s politics.

Keywords: colonial sexual violence
gender
incarceration
Kurdish women
resistance
silencing
Advisor: Gorman, Rachel
Wane, Njoki
Lean In or Don’t Lean Out? Opt-Out Framing Attenuates Gender Differences in the Decision to Compete

Research has documented a persistent gender gap in the upper echelons of organizations, which is in part attributed to gender differences in the propensity to compete and apply for promotions. In this dissertation, I argue that, rather than being the product of “dispositional” differences between men and women, this gender gap is due to the organizational contexts or organizational designs in which competitions take place. Most competitive selection processes (e.g., promotions) require self-nomination via an application (opt-in frame), which could disadvantage women. I propose that utilizing an opt-out frame for competitive selection processes will attenuate gender differences in potential candidates’ likelihood of applying. To test the theoretical underpinnings and practical implications of employing opt-out interventions to mitigate gender inequality, I develop a comprehensive set of laboratory and field-based experiments. The findings of these experiments provide compelling evidence that this gender difference can be eliminated by changing the default framing of a competitive task from one wherein applicants must actively choose to compete to one wherein applicants are automatically enrolled in competition, but can choose to opt out. Changing the default framing affects perceptions of prevailing social norms relating to gender and competition, as well as perceptions about the performance or ability threshold that is required in order to apply. This research contributes to theory by suggesting that gender differences in competition are not absolute, and by building on the conceptualization of inequality as a macro, system-level problem. On a practical level, the findings of this research have relevance for organizations aiming to close the gender gap in career advancement.

Keywords: Choice Architecture
Competition
Gender
Intervention
Organizational Design
Advisor: Kang, Sonia K
Examination of Practical and Discursive Knowledge Related to the Hospital Admission of People Living with HIV Who Use Drugs: Disrupting Our “Common Sense” Knowledge

This three-paper dissertation examines the self-reported experiences of people living with HIV (PLWH) who use drugs specific to their time spent in an acute care hospital and the perspective of healthcare professionals (HPs) that deliver care to this population. The dissertation is guided using a structuration theoretical framework. Structuration theory examines recursive practices that create and re-create the structures a person is always responding to or resisting. Structure, as understood via Giddens’ structuration theory, consists of the rules and practices that constrain and enable a person’s actions. Thematic analysis was conducted using a six-phase approach put forward by Braun and Clarke. The first paper explores the discursive knowledge of 26 HPs (physicians, nurses, dietician, pharmacists, and social workers) who deliver hospital-based healthcare to PLWH who use drugs. As there is little discussion in the research literature that articulates the self-reported experiences of PLWH who use drugs specific to their time in hospital, the second paper investigates the “rules” 24 PLWH who use drugs identified as influencing their hospital admission experience. The third paper demonstrates the relevance of structuration theory to hospital-based social workers for the purpose of progressing practice approaches to issues that frame hospital care provided to PLWH who use drugs and other marginalized populations. Through reflexive monitoring of the intentional/unintentional consequences of action(s) taken by PLWH who use drugs and HPs it is possible to better utilize agency to ensure provision of equitable hospital care for marginalized populations. The completed dissertation includes an abstract, introduction, and a conclusion that synthesizes the findings from each paper.

Advisor: Brennan, David J
Cardioprotective Effects of Combined Treatment with Sodium-glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitor and Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist in a Mouse Model of Ischemia-reperfusion Injury

Following myocardial infarction (MI), reperfusion of coronary flow is necessary to rescue the ischemic myocardium, limit infarct size and improve prognosis. Paradoxically, reperfusion results in additional ‘ischemia-reperfusion injury’ (IRI), accounting for ~50% of infarct size. Despite several Phase II/III trials of candidate treatments, there remains no approved therapy against IRI. Recently two anti-diabetic drug classes, the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) have independently demonstrated cardiovascular benefits in subjects with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, it is not known whether the cardiovascular effects of SGLT2i and GLP-1RA are through shared or distinct mechanisms, and whether combining these agents would result in additive effects. Thus, this Dissertation examines whether combined treatment with SGLT2i dapagliflozin (Dapa) and GLP-1RA exenatide (Ex-4) would be more cardioprotective than treatment with either agent alone, in non-diabetic and diabetic mouse models of IRI. Chapter 3 demonstrates combined pre-treatment with Dapa+Ex-4 better protects against infarct remodeling in a non-diabetic mouse model of IRI, than treatment with Dapa alone. Mice pre-treated with Dapa+Ex-4 exhibited the greatest reductions infarct size and improvements in ejection fraction (EF) on d-28 post-IRI. Cardiac proteome/ phosphoproteome and systemic metabolome analyses demonstrated distinct enrichment of mitochondrial electron transport chain metabolism with Dapa+Ex-4 treatment. The effects of in vivo treatment extended to isolated cardiomyocytes which demonstrated enhanced aerobic respiration uniquely following Dapa+Ex-4 treatment—plausibly contributing to the greater cardioprotective effects of combination therapy. Chapter 4 demonstrates pre-treatment with Dapa+Ex-4 preserves EF to a similar extent as single agent, in an obesity-induced diabetic mouse model of IRI. However, pressure-volume loop analysis revealed improved cardiac loading conditions exclusively with Dapa+Ex-4 treatment. Systemic effects of in vivo treatment and T2D-induced metabolic disturbances characterized by metabolomics, once again extended to the myocardium, as isolated cardiomyocytes exhibited increased aerobic metabolism accompanied (and plausibly blunted in benefit) by elevated glycolytic metabolism uniquely following Dapa+Ex-4 treatment. Taken together, this Dissertation begins to elucidate the complex cardioprotective actions of combined SGLT2i+GLP-1RA in IRI with or without T2D, and provides rationale for their combined use in a condition (IRI) for which there remains no approved therapy.

Keywords: Cardioprotection
Cardiovascular sciences
Diabetes
Ischemia-reperfusion injury
Metabolism
Myocardial infarction
Advisor: Husain, Mansoor
Variation In Immunization Post-implementation Policy-making in Canada: A Comparative Case Study of Four Provinces

Post-implementation immunization policy-making are complex evidence-informed deliberative processes aiming to optimize existing programs. In Canada, however, lack of explicitness, limited transparency, and substantial variation in vaccine decisions taken across jurisdictions have raised questions regarding the way these processes unfold and the rationale used to inform decisions. In this dissertation, I examined how and why immunization post-implementation policy-making varies across Canadian provinces with the aim of increasing knowledge on competing factors influencing these processes and their outputs, so that support could be targeted to enhance their transparency, timeliness, consistency, and rigor in the future. A comparative case study design was employed to examine these processes using the experience of four Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec) during two post-implementation decisions, selected as instrumental cases. Guided by a realist approach and a multi-level post-implementation immunization policy-making conceptual framework, I examined the role of structural, procedural, and contextual factors on the variation observed. For each province and decision, information from documents and interviews were analyzed using descriptive and interpretative approaches. Results from these cases were subsequently compared during a cross-case synthesis, allowing the identification of key insights and actionable lessons. Findings from this study underscore the complexity of immunization post-implementation policy-making in Canada, where variation across provinces appears to be multifactorial, but largely influenced by non-technical contextual factors (i.e., values, interests, and risk-tolerance of individuals and organizations involved in these processes). While it is important to continue ensuring that high-quality relevant scientific evidence is readily available for vaccine policy-making in a timely way, increasing attention should be paid to how decisions are made and to the role of individuals and organizations in influencing the way evidence is ultimately used to inform policy. Moving forward, immunization post-implementation deliberation processes should be transparent and include explicit discussion of the values, logic, assumptions, and trade-offs considered when examining the relative importance to be assigned to evidence, ethics, economics, and political considerations. This could enable more systematic/rigorous assessments and more nuanced discussions, potentially enhancing the overall policy-making process, and its outputs.

Keywords: Canada
Comparative policy analysis
Immunization Policy
Policy-making
Vaccines
Advisor: Upshur, Ross
Signaling Mechanism and Pharmacological Manipulation of Bcl-2 Family Proteins in Apoptosis

Programmed cell death (apoptosis) dysregulation can drive disease pathologies in humans. Too much cell death is an unmet issue in neurodegenerative disease, is associated with decreases in tissue engraftment success, and is a hurdle in biotechnology applications. Conversely, too little cell death is partly associated with the formation of cancer and resistance to chemotherapy treatments. In a single cell, Bcl-2 family proteins orchestrate the life-or-death decision by complex interactions at the mitochondrial outer membrane. Anti-apoptotic proteins like BCL-XL can sequester activator proteins (BID), and pore-forming proteins (BAX and BAK) to keep the cell from undergoing apoptosis. Sensitizer proteins such as BAD, can bind to anti-apoptotic proteins leading to the activation of pore-forming proteins by free activator proteins. When a BAX/BAK pore is formed on the outer membrane of the mitochondria, the cell is committed to apoptosis with no return. Pro-apoptotic factors released from the mitochondrial intermembrane space trigger an apoptotic cascade. Here, I aid in the discovery of a novel inhibition mechanism at the mitochondria where homodimerized BCL-X¬L¬ can also act as the scaffold for a “trigger like” activation of a pro-apoptotic signal. Although Bcl-2 family proteins have been studied for about 40 years, we are still observing novel mechanisms, understanding the function of structural domains, and developing small molecules as future therapies. The first success in clinic to target Bcl-2 family proteins is the anti-apoptotic protein inhibitor, Venetoclax, used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The purpose of Venetoclax is to repress inhibitory proteins to cause activation of apoptosis in cancer. However, little is known about inhibiting cell death to treat disease. BAX and BAK form pores that commit the cell to death, and by blocking pore formation we can keep cells alive for longer, allowing stressed cells time to recover. Here, I aid in the development of small-molecule BAX/BAK inhibitors to save cells from an apoptotic stimulus. I found that pyrimidine or quinazoline based, FDA-approved kinase inhibitors have low-micromolar affinities for BAX and BAK. With aid from synthetic chemists, I was able to predict chemical changes that removed kinase binding while maintaining the propensity to inhibit BAX and BAK.

Keywords: Apoptosis
Bcl-2
cell death
Advisor: Andrews, David W