Global Development & Design: Research Publications for the Development Ethics Toolkit

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/32194

This is the research repository for published works of the Development Ethics Toolkit. The toolkit is an interactive, open-access, online toolkit that activists in your community and professionals around the world can use to design social impact projects, where each stage of the design process will be infused with the imperatives of ethical, inclusive development. Global Development and Design explores what ethical development around the world really means and needs. We will look at the values-based differences between “good” and “bad” development and the technological and design tools that can help program designers do their jobs better.

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Start date: 2020

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    Breaking Barriers: Arab Women and Social Media Activism
    (2020-12-14) Merrill, Madeline; Sheth, Roma; Huffman, Benjamin
    This paper explores how social media facilitates activism, specifically among Arab women in Egypt, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia. This research builds off previous examinations of social media usage during the Arab Spring uprisings, as well as findings pertaining to female activity on these platforms. This research takes a complete qualitative approach by analyzing different case studies and academic journals. The collective evidence of the findings is assessed by identifying common trends and themes that point towards how Arab women are utilizing social media to engage in activism. Findings showcase how specific social media facets reduce cultural and social barriers to activism participation. A primary finding is that the online option of anonymity allows women to participate in activism safely without using their real names or facing real-world backlash. Further identifiable trends are that social media helps Arab women escape government censorship, spread information, educate themselves and others, and organize protests. Arab women tend to use social media platforms less than Arab men but show higher levels of organizing and community-building. The findings—based on a comprehensive literature review—demonstrate that Arab women in all three focus countries were beneficiaries of social media during the Arab Spring. This research can serve as the basis for encouraging other regions of the world to expand their access to this technology in order to further development on a global scale.
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    Language and Policy: Preservation of Minority Languages in China
    (2025-04-10) Senturia, Margaret; Kuske, Rowan; Jordan, Alexandra; Stojkovic, Milenko; Phillips, Aidyn; Chau, Ashley; Huffman, Benjamin
    This paper explores the effectiveness of language preservation initiatives in China, a nation rich in linguistic diversity and home to 128 spoken languages, 107 of which are minority languages or facing endangerment. Language loss threatens cultural diversity, educational quality, social mobility, and social identity. Prior research discusses the importance of language preservation, the advantages of language policy, as well as how language policy has developed over time. Building upon that research, this research examines ineffective language policy, considering what factors may contribute to its decreased impact. This research was conducted using content analysis performed on existing literature, as well as narrative analysis on two interviews conducted with members of the affected groups. It concludes that language policy is ineffective due to the failure to account for the social and economic circumstances of the affected groups, reinforcing the necessity of inclusive language policy and preservation efforts to support cultural inclusion, identity, mobility, and education.