<te: Because Fulbright Scholarships are announced at varying times depending on the invididual’s country of interest, The Carletonian will be covering them on a weekly basis. Stay posted!
Two more Carleton seniors—Shantrice King ’13 and Milan Cvitkovic ’13—have been announced as Fulbright Scholars for the 2013-2014 year, bringing Carleton’s total number of winners to four (so far).
King, a senior Women’s and Gender Studies major, will be traveling to France next year to conduct her project, titled “Malian Muslim Young Women and France’s Sex Education Curriculum.” She will be examining “if and how the sex education curriculum in France has influenced the current and future reproductive choices of young, first-generation Muslim women of Malian descent living in Paris,” she explained.
Her project builds upon the work of Carolyn Sargent, a medical anthropologist who has spent fifteen years conducting research on how polygamy, immigration and Islam played a major role in the reproductive choices of adult Malian Muslim migrant women in Paris.
“Her research participants had no formal sex education in their native country, and thus made decisions about reproduction based on Malian community expectations, even though they lived in Paris,” explained King. “My project picks up where Sargent left off,” examining “how the sense of power and agency over one’s reproductive choices has changed within the next generation.”
“I aim to examine how young Malian Muslim women who were born, raised, and have received, or who are receiving sex education in France think about their sexuality and control over their reproductive choices,” she said. “Two questions motivate my research: in what ways have the reproductive choices of young Malian Muslim women been, or will be, similar to or different from their mothers?’ [And second,] how do the young women reconcile the sexual and reproductive health norms they are taught in school with the ones they experience at home?”
Specifically, King will be working with the National Institute of Health and Medical Research’s (INSERM) Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health team. Her project will include performing a content analysis of the sex education curriculum, as well as participant observation in middle-school biology classes, sex education classes, health workshops and in a Family Planning Clinic. She will also conduct interviews and host focus group discussions with young Malian Muslim women. Finally, to build relationships with Malian Muslim women, she will attend cultural gatherings in the community, and, with permission, will join and attend the meetings of West African hometown associations and rotating savings and credit associations.
King was originally inspired by a paper she wrote in a class she took (SOAN 395: Ethnography of Reproduction, taught by Pamela Feldman-Savelsberg). Professor Feldman-Savelsberg introduced King to Sargent’s research, which provided a jumping point for King’s project.
“I wanted a project that combined my interest of reproduction, sexual [and] reproductive health, sex education curricula and the sexual socialization of youth. This project allowed me to do all those things,” she said.
Meanwhile, Cvitkovic, a double major in Chemistry and Mathematics, will spend next year in Singapore studying theoretical chemistry.
“I’ll be working with Professor Ryan Bettens at the National University of Singapore to develop a quantum-mechanical, many-molecule model of water based on some of Professor Bettens’ theoretical methods,” he explained.
“Scientific cultures vary widely throughout the world, and my motivation for pursuing the Fulbright was to get a chance to experience some of this variety firsthand.”
Cvitkovic decided upon Singapore because if its strong international scientific focus. “Singapore is a gathering point for scientists from all across the eastern hemisphere, so it was an easy choice of country,” he explained. “The specifics of the project came only after I contacted Professor Bettens, whose research seemed the most interesting of the people at the NUS, and brainstormed a project with him.” Bettens, originally from Australia, is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Singapore.
“Right now I’m mostly looking forward to the tropical weather,” he joked.
Both King and Cvitkovic cited the help of the Fellowships Office, specifically Elizabeth Ciner, Director of Student Fellowships.
“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to so many people, in particular the Fellowships Office, Fulbright reviewers, and the Chemistry Department. I could never have received this award without all their help,” said Cvitkovic.
King also specifically thanked Professor Feldman-Savelsberg and Kathy Evertz for their extensive assistance with her application. She also cited the support of French professors Cathy Yandell and Eva Posfay, “who have worked with and encouraged me to continue learning French over the years even though it was very hard for me,” she said. “They never gave up even when I didn’t seem to be progressing as fast as other students.”
Fulbright fellowships offer students a unique opportunity to spend a year abroad after graduation. In many ways the program is tailored for Carleton students who have a deep interest in experiencing a foreign culture at the same time that they either undertake a personal academic project or teach English to young adults. Such an experience can be, and often is, life-changing.”
Carleton has a long history of success with the Fulbright Program, and this year is proving to be no exception. Roger Paas, Carleton’s Fulbright Program Advisor, highlighted the importance of the Fulbright program at Carleton.
“Fulbright fellowships offer students a unique opportunity to spend a year abroad after graduation,” he explained. “In many ways the program is tailored for Carleton students who have a deep interest in experiencing a foreign culture at the same time that they either undertake a personal academic project or teach English to young adults. Such an experience can be, and often is, life-changing.”