191S Winter Quarter 2026
SocGen 191S Winter Quarter 2026
Evolution of Perspectives on Intellectual Disability
By Katja Brion and Lucy Dewart
This zine traces changing American perspectives on intellectual disability from 1840–1930 through legal, medical, scientific, and educational developments.
Fear, Identity, Obsession – How Contemporary Media Reflects and Shapes Genetic “Common Sense”
By Vanessa Richards and Greta Gillmor
This project examines how contemporary media, from advertising and entertainment to politics and gaming, shapes modern “common sense” about genetics.
How Sympathy Struck — A Study of American Public Opinion
on Eugenics Surrounding WWII
By Shannon Shams
This project zooms in on how the public’s opinion of eugenics changed over the course of the war by following the discussion around eugenics and Nazi Germany through New York Times articles spanning from 1930-1950.
The Promise of a Cure: An Analysis of the Social Construction of Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease
By Shivani Mohapatra
This Capstone project explores the social construction of science through the contradictory narrative of the SCD gene therapy CASGEVY.
Media, Mistrust, and the Genome: How Media Shapes Public Perceptions of Genetic Data Collection
By Cassidy Lo
This project examines how media narratives shape public trust, participation, and ethics in genetics research, highlighting historical injustices and pathways to rebuilding trust.
Genes on Trial: MAOA-L, The Legal Interpretation of Behavioral Genetics
By Violet Webber
This paper examines how behavioral genetic evidence has been used in criminal cases to shape ideas of violence, intent, and legal responsibility.