Laura Neff | American University (original) (raw)
Papers by Laura Neff
Women’s equality in the United States is still a somewhat recent concept. Less than one hundred a... more Women’s equality in the United States is still a somewhat recent concept. Less than one hundred and twenty years ago, there were still states that did not allow women to own land or control their personal savings. Less than one hundred years ago women were not allowed to express their political opinions with the right to vote. Finally, as recent as five decades ago there was no law preventing women from being paid a lower wage as a man who was doing the same exact job. Women have made great strides towards empowerment and equality in the last century, but how far are women from still truly having the same rights, opportunities and successes as men?
More than eight million people around the world die every year simply because they are too poor t... more More than eight million people around the world die every year simply because they are too poor to remain alive (Sachs 1). Despite all of the advances in technology, conservation, and development efforts, the statistics on global poverty are still staggering. As the economically prosperous countries get richer, the poverty-stricken ones get even poorer and their situations more dire. Jeffrey Sachs views economic development as a ladder, with the top rungs representing economic success, and the bottom one sixth of the world defined as the group who are too poor to even make it to the bottom rung on the ladder. These people survive on $1 a day, live in extreme poverty, destitute conditions, with no access to healthcare, education, or economic opportunities. As the world advances, the divide between the richest people and the poorest people in the world is quickly becoming further and further apart. This is not because people do not care about developing countries. There are more NGO’s, international organizations, and funds spent on international aid than ever before in history. Since this is the case, how is it possible that with all the billions of dollars spent on Official Development Assistance (ODA), countries are still not advancing economically? To investigate this issue, this paper will examine three developing nations, Kenya, Cambodia, and Pakistan, that have received a significant amount of aid and observe how this has affected the country’s economy.
In the world of development there are many different aspects of a society that need to be analyze... more In the world of development there are many different aspects of a society that need to be analyzed before any development efforts can be made. In a socio-cultural analysis it is important to examine the education system, how political decisions are made, what their main source of livelihood is, along with many other factors. Two of the elements of a socio-cultural analysis that are becoming increasingly important in the development world are religion and gender relations. These are two parts of development that are extremely intertwined and essential to examine because they are instrumental factors in whether or not a society is capable of reaching its full potential. In Maasai culture their devotion to spirituality greatly affects the opportunities that Maasai women will have access to.
There is an old traditional Cambodian proverb that says, “If Heaven could cry, then Cambodia woul... more There is an old traditional Cambodian proverb that says, “If Heaven could cry, then Cambodia would never know drought” (Batstone 29). Cambodia has a complex and tragic history that has lead to its state in the world today. In June 2006 Cambodia was ranked as one of the worst countries in the world for human trafficking. The U.S. State Department reported, “Cambodia is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor” (Batstone 21). The problem of sexual exploitation in Cambodia is extensive and putting an end to it is a daunting task. Despite the seemingly impossible task ahead, it is essential to investigate what can be done to put an end to the issue of sexual exploitation of girls in Cambodia? This paper will examine the scope of the problem, what is being done to solve this issue, and what other areas need more attention. This will be accomplished through examining three case studies. The first is on girls in Cambodia who have been shown in sexual websites worldwide. The second is concerning an organization that is helping to put a stop to these problems through legislation and raising awareness. Finally, the last is a study on an NGO that is helping to heal the wounds of those girls who were sexually abused. In order to change the way these systems function, there needs to be analysis done on programs that have existed in the past and what has worked and what has failed, in order to attempt to enact new legislature, programs, and efforts to end the exploitation of girls in Cambodia.
In order for a country to properly develop, the citizens of the country must have access to a pro... more In order for a country to properly develop, the citizens of the country must have access to a proper education. The development field realized the importance of education and made achieving universal primary education number two on the list Millennium Development Goals. Although this goal was set to be achieved by 2015, with only a month left in that time frame, it does not appear that this is going to be possible. According to UNICEF, in Kenya only about 48.4% of girls ever make it to secondary school. There are many reasons for this, but one of the most disturbing causes for the lack of attendance is a practice called female genital mutilation (FGM), or cutting. In Kenya girls are perceived as sexual beings who need to 'cleaned' through the act of female genital mutilation to control their desires. This traditional practice prevents girls from attending school because of health complications and societal pressures to get married after being cut. How can education be used as a tool to change the perception of girls in Kenyan society and stop this archaic act?
In the developed world when one has an idea for a business there is almost always the option of t... more In the developed world when one has an idea for a business there is almost always the option of taking out a loan in order to fund the idea. The biggest, and most successful businesses in the world would not have been possible if it were not for the concept of loans. Traditional loans require putting down some form of collateral and charging an interest rate on the money taken out. The idea is that in order to make money, one must first have money. The question this raises, is, what happens if one has no access to capital of any sort? If there are no funds to buy equipment necessary to start-up a business, such as paying for rent on an office or storefront, buying products to sell, paying employees, or securing materials needed to make food, or clothing, how can one be expected to ever have a chance at making more money? This is often the reality in many developing nations. There is no infrastructure or funds to provide people with loans, leaving them unable to start or expand their business and keeping them in a poverty trap. Realizing that this is a problem, development economics has begun looking into ways in which people in impoverished parts of the world can secure small loans in order to provide more economic stability. From this concept rose the idea of microfinance, which is “the supply of credit, saving vehicles, and other basic financial services made available to poor and vulnerable people who might otherwise have no access to them or could borrow only on highly unfavorable terms” (Todaro 741). Bringing this model to the developing world has helped millions of people around the world start up businesses, making them able to provide better lives for their family and their community. The World Bank advocates for microfinance as a necessary tool to break into the commercial capital that is needed to bringing in the estimated 2.5 billion impoverished people who do not have access to a formal financial system (Schwittay 510). Most importantly, these loans have provided opportunities to women who would not have had a chance otherwise. Through examining four different case studies of microfinance initiatives set up to improve the lives of women, this paper will determine the tools needed for a successful program, the problems with various microfinance programs, and how they are changing the lives of women around the world.
Right now, over half of the world’s population live in urban areas. Additionally, studies have sh... more Right now, over half of the world’s population live in urban areas. Additionally, studies have shown that urban poor populations will have an increased growth in the coming years. Roughly 50- 70% growth will occur in city slums. In low income countries, the urban population will grow 94% in future years. Urban population is critical to research because the human development outcomes for the urban poor are similar to or worse than their rural counterparts (Save the Children, 2014). At Save the Children, the vast majority of their projects are identified as exclusively or almost exclusively implemented in urban communities that were deemed by the local country offices to be well adapted to the urban context. On the other hand, projects with a balanced urban and rural focus, or with a small urban component were generally assessed by country offices as not being well adapted to the urban context. Therefore, this would suggest that there is a specificity to urban programming that is not always acknowledged or accommodated when programming is developed for a joint rural/ urban environment (Save the Children, 2014).
In September 2014 the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) released a recruitment video on YouT... more In September 2014 the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) released a recruitment video on YouTube featuring a modified version of the popular video game Grand Theft Auto, with the tagline "do the things you do in games, in real life on the battlefield." This was not the first or the last video in ISIS’ social media campaign to recruit new members into their movement. Since the early 2000’s terrorist groups have been using the Internet as a way of spreading their message and reaching people that were not accessible before this forum. Although the Internet has been used as a tool for as long as it has been around, the growing popularity of social media has completely changed the way terrorism groups are able to interact with people around the world. In this day and age, youth spend a significant amount of their time on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. Terrorist organizations have discovered that this is the most effective way to reach their target audience. In the ever-changing age of Internet advancement, how has social media changed the way in which terrorist groups can recruit youth?
Recent studies show that tourism in developing countries, like many in Africa can help with econo... more Recent studies show that tourism in developing countries, like many in Africa can help with economic development because barriers to entry into the international market are lower than for most external trade sectors (Christie 1). Tourism expenditures can provide a significant stimulus to other production and service sectors, and it has the ability to alleviate poverty, preserve and honor cultural heritage, help protect the environment, and international tourism is a relatively high growth industry (Christie 1). Countries like Kenya are in a position to reap the benefits of economic development through international tourism because people are interested in experiencing the ancient Maasai culture, going on a safari to see the “big five” and experiencing what extreme poverty looks like. This draw to tourist can be beneficial to Kenya because it has the ability to boost their GDP, create jobs amongst many different sectors, and help with environmental protection.
Women’s equality in the United States is still a somewhat recent concept. Less than one hundred a... more Women’s equality in the United States is still a somewhat recent concept. Less than one hundred and twenty years ago, there were still states that did not allow women to own land or control their personal savings. Less than one hundred years ago women were not allowed to express their political opinions with the right to vote. Finally, as recent as five decades ago there was no law preventing women from being paid a lower wage as a man who was doing the same exact job. Women have made great strides towards empowerment and equality in the last century, but how far are women from still truly having the same rights, opportunities and successes as men?
More than eight million people around the world die every year simply because they are too poor t... more More than eight million people around the world die every year simply because they are too poor to remain alive (Sachs 1). Despite all of the advances in technology, conservation, and development efforts, the statistics on global poverty are still staggering. As the economically prosperous countries get richer, the poverty-stricken ones get even poorer and their situations more dire. Jeffrey Sachs views economic development as a ladder, with the top rungs representing economic success, and the bottom one sixth of the world defined as the group who are too poor to even make it to the bottom rung on the ladder. These people survive on $1 a day, live in extreme poverty, destitute conditions, with no access to healthcare, education, or economic opportunities. As the world advances, the divide between the richest people and the poorest people in the world is quickly becoming further and further apart. This is not because people do not care about developing countries. There are more NGO’s, international organizations, and funds spent on international aid than ever before in history. Since this is the case, how is it possible that with all the billions of dollars spent on Official Development Assistance (ODA), countries are still not advancing economically? To investigate this issue, this paper will examine three developing nations, Kenya, Cambodia, and Pakistan, that have received a significant amount of aid and observe how this has affected the country’s economy.
In the world of development there are many different aspects of a society that need to be analyze... more In the world of development there are many different aspects of a society that need to be analyzed before any development efforts can be made. In a socio-cultural analysis it is important to examine the education system, how political decisions are made, what their main source of livelihood is, along with many other factors. Two of the elements of a socio-cultural analysis that are becoming increasingly important in the development world are religion and gender relations. These are two parts of development that are extremely intertwined and essential to examine because they are instrumental factors in whether or not a society is capable of reaching its full potential. In Maasai culture their devotion to spirituality greatly affects the opportunities that Maasai women will have access to.
There is an old traditional Cambodian proverb that says, “If Heaven could cry, then Cambodia woul... more There is an old traditional Cambodian proverb that says, “If Heaven could cry, then Cambodia would never know drought” (Batstone 29). Cambodia has a complex and tragic history that has lead to its state in the world today. In June 2006 Cambodia was ranked as one of the worst countries in the world for human trafficking. The U.S. State Department reported, “Cambodia is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor” (Batstone 21). The problem of sexual exploitation in Cambodia is extensive and putting an end to it is a daunting task. Despite the seemingly impossible task ahead, it is essential to investigate what can be done to put an end to the issue of sexual exploitation of girls in Cambodia? This paper will examine the scope of the problem, what is being done to solve this issue, and what other areas need more attention. This will be accomplished through examining three case studies. The first is on girls in Cambodia who have been shown in sexual websites worldwide. The second is concerning an organization that is helping to put a stop to these problems through legislation and raising awareness. Finally, the last is a study on an NGO that is helping to heal the wounds of those girls who were sexually abused. In order to change the way these systems function, there needs to be analysis done on programs that have existed in the past and what has worked and what has failed, in order to attempt to enact new legislature, programs, and efforts to end the exploitation of girls in Cambodia.
In order for a country to properly develop, the citizens of the country must have access to a pro... more In order for a country to properly develop, the citizens of the country must have access to a proper education. The development field realized the importance of education and made achieving universal primary education number two on the list Millennium Development Goals. Although this goal was set to be achieved by 2015, with only a month left in that time frame, it does not appear that this is going to be possible. According to UNICEF, in Kenya only about 48.4% of girls ever make it to secondary school. There are many reasons for this, but one of the most disturbing causes for the lack of attendance is a practice called female genital mutilation (FGM), or cutting. In Kenya girls are perceived as sexual beings who need to 'cleaned' through the act of female genital mutilation to control their desires. This traditional practice prevents girls from attending school because of health complications and societal pressures to get married after being cut. How can education be used as a tool to change the perception of girls in Kenyan society and stop this archaic act?
In the developed world when one has an idea for a business there is almost always the option of t... more In the developed world when one has an idea for a business there is almost always the option of taking out a loan in order to fund the idea. The biggest, and most successful businesses in the world would not have been possible if it were not for the concept of loans. Traditional loans require putting down some form of collateral and charging an interest rate on the money taken out. The idea is that in order to make money, one must first have money. The question this raises, is, what happens if one has no access to capital of any sort? If there are no funds to buy equipment necessary to start-up a business, such as paying for rent on an office or storefront, buying products to sell, paying employees, or securing materials needed to make food, or clothing, how can one be expected to ever have a chance at making more money? This is often the reality in many developing nations. There is no infrastructure or funds to provide people with loans, leaving them unable to start or expand their business and keeping them in a poverty trap. Realizing that this is a problem, development economics has begun looking into ways in which people in impoverished parts of the world can secure small loans in order to provide more economic stability. From this concept rose the idea of microfinance, which is “the supply of credit, saving vehicles, and other basic financial services made available to poor and vulnerable people who might otherwise have no access to them or could borrow only on highly unfavorable terms” (Todaro 741). Bringing this model to the developing world has helped millions of people around the world start up businesses, making them able to provide better lives for their family and their community. The World Bank advocates for microfinance as a necessary tool to break into the commercial capital that is needed to bringing in the estimated 2.5 billion impoverished people who do not have access to a formal financial system (Schwittay 510). Most importantly, these loans have provided opportunities to women who would not have had a chance otherwise. Through examining four different case studies of microfinance initiatives set up to improve the lives of women, this paper will determine the tools needed for a successful program, the problems with various microfinance programs, and how they are changing the lives of women around the world.
Right now, over half of the world’s population live in urban areas. Additionally, studies have sh... more Right now, over half of the world’s population live in urban areas. Additionally, studies have shown that urban poor populations will have an increased growth in the coming years. Roughly 50- 70% growth will occur in city slums. In low income countries, the urban population will grow 94% in future years. Urban population is critical to research because the human development outcomes for the urban poor are similar to or worse than their rural counterparts (Save the Children, 2014). At Save the Children, the vast majority of their projects are identified as exclusively or almost exclusively implemented in urban communities that were deemed by the local country offices to be well adapted to the urban context. On the other hand, projects with a balanced urban and rural focus, or with a small urban component were generally assessed by country offices as not being well adapted to the urban context. Therefore, this would suggest that there is a specificity to urban programming that is not always acknowledged or accommodated when programming is developed for a joint rural/ urban environment (Save the Children, 2014).
In September 2014 the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) released a recruitment video on YouT... more In September 2014 the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) released a recruitment video on YouTube featuring a modified version of the popular video game Grand Theft Auto, with the tagline "do the things you do in games, in real life on the battlefield." This was not the first or the last video in ISIS’ social media campaign to recruit new members into their movement. Since the early 2000’s terrorist groups have been using the Internet as a way of spreading their message and reaching people that were not accessible before this forum. Although the Internet has been used as a tool for as long as it has been around, the growing popularity of social media has completely changed the way terrorism groups are able to interact with people around the world. In this day and age, youth spend a significant amount of their time on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. Terrorist organizations have discovered that this is the most effective way to reach their target audience. In the ever-changing age of Internet advancement, how has social media changed the way in which terrorist groups can recruit youth?
Recent studies show that tourism in developing countries, like many in Africa can help with econo... more Recent studies show that tourism in developing countries, like many in Africa can help with economic development because barriers to entry into the international market are lower than for most external trade sectors (Christie 1). Tourism expenditures can provide a significant stimulus to other production and service sectors, and it has the ability to alleviate poverty, preserve and honor cultural heritage, help protect the environment, and international tourism is a relatively high growth industry (Christie 1). Countries like Kenya are in a position to reap the benefits of economic development through international tourism because people are interested in experiencing the ancient Maasai culture, going on a safari to see the “big five” and experiencing what extreme poverty looks like. This draw to tourist can be beneficial to Kenya because it has the ability to boost their GDP, create jobs amongst many different sectors, and help with environmental protection.