Disease and Culture ​
ANT4532
​
This course delves into the cultural dimensions of illness, shedding light on how diverse societies perceive, interpret, and respond to diseases. Understanding the cultural frameworks surrounding health is essential for effective healthcare delivery, as it influences patterns of disease transmission, healthcare-seeking behaviors, and treatment adherence.
Moreover, this class facilitates a nuanced comprehension of the social determinants of health, addressing disparities and highlighting the significance of cultural competence in healthcare practices. Ultimately, exploring disease within cultural contexts enriches my perspectives, fostering empathy and critical thinking in navigating the complex intersections of health and culture.
​​
Papers and Projects
Living with Leprosy: Analysis of the Psychological and Social Consequences of Leprosy Stigma in India
This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of leprosy stigma, integrating both historical and contemporary perspectives. It delves into the social and psychological dimensions of stigma, elucidating how persistent stereotypes and misconceptions adversely affect individuals with leprosy. The study further explores the legislative dimension, revealing how outdated laws perpetuate discrimination against those with the disease. Through a detailed examination of these factors, the paper highlights the urgent need for a transformation in public perceptions. It emphasizes the critical role of education and awareness in dismantling myths and fostering a more inclusive and compassionate societal approach. This research advocates for systemic change to reduce leprosy stigma and improve the lives of affected individuals.
University of West Florida
ANT4525: Disease and Culture
The Development and Use of Whistle Speech and Whistle Languages for Long Distance Communication
University of West Florida
ANT3610: Language and Culture
This paper was written during the Spring 2023 Semester. This was my final research paper in the class Language and Culture. In this paper, I address the advantages of long-distance communication, specifically addressing the whistle languages Silbo Gomero and KuÅŸ Dili. These languages were developed due to the communities living in regions where long-distance communication was a necessity. I chose to highlight this paper because I feel that this paper is a good representation of my studies in cultural and linguistic anthropology. I learned about adaptations to language for long-distance communication. This paper was able to teach me about human adaptations to their environments.
UWF 3 Forensic Case Report
University of West Florida
ANT4525: Human Osteology
This forensic report presents the findings of an osteological examination into UWF 3, and individual part of the University of West Florida's skeletal collection. The report outlines the methodologies and analysis of skeletal remains. The report also discusses the implications of these findings in relation to the ongoing investigation or legal proceedings, offering insights into how the evidence supports or refutes various aspects of the case. This comprehensive analysis aims to contribute valuable information to the judicial process and assist in the resolution of the case.
​Stories and Myths: Their Effects on Local Culture and Behavior
University of West Florida
IDH4030: Study Abroad
​
This artifact is a PowerPoint I completed while I was studying abroad with the Kugelman Honors Program. I traveled to Greece, Italy, France, Spain, and Montenegro. This PowerPoint holds the ethnographic research I conducted in various countries to determine how local stories and myths influence culture and behavior. I wanted to highlight this artifact because it was my first research project that I conducted in person out of the country. It is an example of cultural anthropology and taught me the importance of stories in everyday life. This research allowed me to understand ethnographic research, and I hope to be able to conduct similar projects and strengthen my skills.
Health of the Homeless: Navigating Health Disparities and Inequalities in Homeless Populations
University of West Florida
ANT4945: Anthropology Capstone
This research paper examines the health disparities experienced by the U.S. homeless population, focusing on the interplay between homelessness, infectious diseases, high mortality rates, chronic illnesses, mental health conditions, and stigma. It explores how systemic inequalities and disparities exacerbate poor health outcomes for homeless populations. By analyzing existing trends and policies, it is possible to identify the key barriers to health equity and propose potential interventions to improve their overall well-being and access to care.
Research
Social and Structural Determinants of Oral Health in New Mexico
The research poster visually explores social and structural determinants of Oral Health in New Mexico. Our research group has collected CT imagery of 350 anonymized forensic case decedents from the New Mexico Decedent Imagery Database (NMDID). Each decedent's next of kin provided contextual information about their gender, race, and socioeconomic status during childhood and adulthood. This research studied the correlations between these social variables and dental outcomes, hypothesizing that individuals who experienced social marginalization will show more signs of dental disease than those with more social privilege.
Living With Leprosy: Psychological and Social Consequences with Stigma in India
The research poster on leprosy stigma visually explores the historical and contemporary issues of stigmatization surrounding leprosy. It presents findings on the social and psychological impacts of stereotypes and misconceptions, and highlights outdated laws that perpetuate discrimination. Overall, the poster advocates for reducing leprosy stigma and promoting a more inclusive and compassionate societal approach.
Health of the Homeless: Navigating Health Disparities in Homeless Populations
The research poser examines the health disparities experienced by the U.S. homeless population, focusing on the interplay between homelessness, infectious diseases, high mortality rates, chronic illnesses, mental health conditions, and stigma. It explores how systemic inequalities and disparities exacerbate poor health outcomes for homeless populations. By analyzing existing trends and policies, it is possible to identify the key barriers to health equity and propose potential interventions to improve their overall well-being and access to care.
Oral Health as Evidence of Embodied Social and Structural Inequality in a New Mexico Forensic Sample
This presentation was presented at the Mountain Swamp and Beach Forensic Anthropology Conference. This presentation discussed data which suggests a link between SES and rates of antemortem tooth loss across most race-and-sex-matched comparisons, excluding high SES Native American males. Our results also support the significance of regional, sociocultural contexts on dental health outcomes, suggesting the need for comprehensive, culturally responsive strategies. This presentation discussed social inequality and privilege, showcasing how dental and skeletally embodied experiences might otherwise be mischaracterized as biologically-determined human variation.