Isobel Wastler

Effective student committed to learning and developing skills in Women's and Gender Studies. Self-directed and energetic with superior performance in both autonomous or collaborative environments working independently and collaborating with others on group projects. Hardworking student offering part-time work experience and extensive knowledge of core subject matter. Meticulous and detail-oriented with excellent observational, organizational, and communication skills. Experience in handling delicate subject matter and in conducting ethical research practices.

"Disability and Sexuality" Theory and Praxis Project (2024)- Involved a theory paper examining the various theoretical methods of inquiry surrounding disability and sexuality, and exploring what spaces are the most "safe" and "free" for disabled people to explore their sexuality and their disabled bodyminds. The praxis project portion involved a pamphlet I created featuring interviews with a couple of disabled people talking about their journey navigating dating and sex, as well as information surrounding the topics. The goal was to create a document where people could see themselves reflected, and find spaces where they might feel comfortable exploring their sexuality. 

"Triple Erasure: Disability in Asian American Families" (2024) - Research examining the intersection of disability, gender, and the Asian identity, and examining the cultural aspects of Asian households, particularly East Asian households, and how that can affect the mindset surrounding the formation of a disabled identity. 

"Notes From a Funeral" (2024) - Short essays inspired by research on Asian disabled identities, discussing the complexity of being disabled at a Korean cultural event, and the complexity of grieving when in chronic pain.

"A Voice for Hapa Women: Where Mixed-Race Asian Women Fit In Feminist Discourse" (2023) - Paper with an unusual format where I created a hypothetical discussion between major feminist theorists, mainly theorists about Asian American feminism, discussing the places of mixed-race Asian women in traditional feminist discourse, and discussing how to further insert ourselves into the narrative. 

"Where's My Representation?": The Erasure of Multiracial East Asian Identities in the American Film Industry (2021) - Research paper examining the ways that a multiracial identity is overlooked and ignored, and referencing media examples of this, such as in the film To All The Boys I Loved Before. I identified major factors contributing to this and argued that when it comes to the American film industry, multiracial identities and individuals are often erased through casting choices. 

"A Picture Says A Thousand Words: The Effect of Graphic Fetal Imagery in Pro-Life Campaigns on Public Opinion on Abortion (2019) - In this, I surveyed people at my university to assess the effect of graphic fetal imagery that was displayed in our quad on their opinions on abortion. I found it had little effect, with it making it more likely for individuals to have a bad interpretation of the pro-life movement. 

Enjoys reading, especially romances, feminist literature, and contemporary novels. An avid K-drama watcher and sit-com enthusiast. Enjoys playing cello, doing crossword puzzles, and DIY art projects to relax. 

Taking a course in Elementary Korean at the Korea Society Fall of 2024. Committed to advancing language abilities in this area.