Social Science

Disparities in Female-Oriented Healthcare and Medical Research

There is a direct correlation between mental health and birth control usage, yet research in this field is vastly underfunded and minimized because it pertains to female health. The field of health is - and has been for centuries - dominated by men; research for ailments, diseases and medicine disproportionately gives precedence to men, proffering a lack of proper treatment for women. Birth control provides a potential remedy to a series of health affairs for women: mental (PTSD, depression, anxiety), reproductive, and even physical (acne, PMS, PMDD, weight loss/gain), etc. As hormone cycles perpetually affect women’s health, understanding and encouraging research into women’s physiology and endocrinology is of the utmost importance. An incorrect or improper understanding of women’s health brings forth serious, prospective risks and harm towards half of the population’s well-being. This advanced research project illustrates the disparities of treatment in medicine between the sexes and the collective, discriminatory regard towards female health. This project will illuminate these issues through the process of analyzing statistical and qualitative data provided by medical health professionals and will execute a survey for women and female high school students in the Bay Area who have experienced treatment with birth control.

Women's Access to Reproductive Health Care

Within the United States healthcare system, there are many health disparities affecting women and the level of care they receive that are based on many factors, including socioeconomic status. This project examines how women experience discrimination and health disparities within the reproductive health care system though a case study of many different women’s personal experiences and how their lives are affected by the lack of access to reproductive health care.

The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status And The Rate Of Concussion Diagnosis Among Bay Area High School Students (ages 14-18).

While concussions can be mild, delays or failure to treat them can have significant physical, mental, emotional, and social consequences. Some people never report or even recognize their concussion symptoms, resulting in what has come to be known as the “silent epidemic.” Because low socioeconomic status communities are affected by poorer access to healthcare information and services, youth in these communities may experience greater incidence of undiagnosed concussions and miss out on important opportunities to obtain the required care for optimal recovery. We need to better understand the incidence of concussions and its diagnosis more broadly in the general population. My research is correlational and seeks to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status and the rate of concussion diagnosis among high school students (ages 14-18). This research uses a self-report, multiple-choice response survey distributed to students from public high schools in the Bay Area, located in communities with a range of socioeconomic status. It is hoped that the results of this research will advance the knowledge on the incidence and diagnosis of concussions in adolescents and any relationship with socioeconomic status.

0

Why Students in a High Achieving Suburban High School Do Not Seek Mental Health Support

While the discussion of mental health is becoming increasingly normalized, it can still be a sensitive topic. Gunn High School offers many resources and programs that promote mental health awareness. However, according to the Wellness Center at school, many students still refrain from discussing their mental health issues, such as anxiety, stress, or depression, with professionals. But why? The purpose of this project is to find the main reasons why students choose not to talk to professionals through an anonymous survey. Based on the survey results, possible solutions or new programs can be developed to encourage more students to open up about their mental health.

0

Financial Inequality in SAT Scores

My research project focuses on how the SAT and ACT are heavily skewed to benefit students whose families can afford extra preparation for these tests. In order to look further into potential solutions for this problem, this project seeks to set up complimentary SAT prep courses that would be provided at Paly during tutorial and monitor its impact.

0

Impact of Music Education on the Achievement Gap

Numerous studies have shown that students who learn musical instruments perform better at certain executive functioning tests. At the same time, schools in low-income neighborhoods are cutting their art and music programs due to a lack of funding. This research project aims to answer whether the disparity in access to music education between low-income and wealthy students affects the achievement gap.

0

Impact of Gun Legislation on Gang-Related Violence

This project will be a multi-variable analysis of the root cause of gang-related gun violence in Chicago. It will examine how Chicago and neighboring states such as Indiana and Wisconsin view firearms and how that translates to their state legislature. In addition, the project will look at how and why gangs still operate in a city where firearm laws are stronger than surrounding areas.

0

Addressing Consequences On High School Student Sleep Health As A Result Of COVID-19

Although there has been extensive research on the detrimental impacts of not maintaining a healthy circadian rhythm on physical wellbeing and academic excellence, many are unaware of the prevalence of such issues. Especially during an unprecedented time like this, it is important to prioritize our health and wellbeing. Through extensive data gathering, I was able to obtain results that show the drastic and unhealthy change in sleep health among local high schoolers during this time.

0

Awareness for Battered Woman Syndrome

This project will be trying to find a way to change the criteria for battered woman syndrome so that it encompasses the whole experience of battered women. The narrow definition limits the amount of people who can use it in court to claim self-defense when killing an abuser preemptively. As a result, woman are being charged for murder. This project will focus on how to increase awareness for battered woman syndrome.

0

Strategies on Ending Child Marriage

Child marriage, or “any formal marriage or informal union where one or both of the parties are under 18 years of age,” is a human rights violation and must be stopped. What strategies to end child marriage have been the most impactful thus far? Moving forward, how can/should organizations dedicated to ending child marriage refocus their efforts? Is there opportunity for them to work more collaboratively?