Saara Rajan is a third-year Sociology major and Health and Society minor. She is also concurrently pursuing my Master of Management degree at UBC. Her sociological interests include inequality, health, media, families, and sexuality. Saara Rajan’s research project won first place at the 2021 Sociology Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC).
What was it like winning 1st place at SURC? What was your project about? What are the main takeaways from your work?
UBC Sociology student Saara Rajan
At first, I was quite surprised, as this was the first Sociology conference I had ever presented at, but I am thrilled to have won and congratulate the other winners and presenters.
I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to present my research at this year’s conference and was fascinated by the work that fellow students are engaging in.
My project focused on the disparity in media coverage between male and female political candidates in the 2019 Canadian federal election. I was particularly interested in analyzing representations of female political candidates within a Canadian context.
“ As a first-time voter during the 2019 federal election, I wanted to be as informed as I possibly could. While reading and watching coverage of the political parties, candidates, and events, I began to notice a pattern emerging - many of the pieces hardly mentioned the female candidate.”
The biggest takeaway is that while Canada is often thought to embody the values of equality and just representation, a closer examination of gender representation in its media reveals that this may not always be the case. Female political candidates are at a disadvantage as they receive less and more negative coverage than their male counterparts.
Ultimately, this disparity in media coverage can have serious implications for a female candidate’s success in politics.
What inspired you? How did you get interested in this topic?
As a first-time voter during the 2019 federal election, I wanted to be as informed as I possibly could. While reading and watching coverage of the political parties, candidates, and events, I began to notice a pattern emerging – many of the pieces hardly mentioned the female candidate.
Thus, I decided to combine my interest in the election and media to specifically explore media coverage of the ongoing federal election.
“One of the most satisfying parts was being able to experience firsthand the process of conducting research and subsequently being able to share my research and findings with the Sociology community.”
What was the most difficult part of this learning journey? What was most satisfying?
The most difficult part of this learning journey was deciding and executing which methods to use for my research. Previously, I had only read other scholars’ work. Therefore, having to select a method and conduct the research myself was a real learning opportunity for me.
One of the most satisfying parts was being able to experience firsthand the process of conducting research and subsequently being able to share my research and findings with the Sociology community.
What skills did you develop or strengthen as a result of this project?
As a result of this project, I have been able to develop and strengthen my research and communication skills. Specifically, I’ve been able to hone my data analysis skills and practice presenting information clearly and concisely.
What assistance did your supervisor provide to help you succeed with this project?
While I did not have a supervisor for this project, I think each of my Sociology professors have helped me succeed by teaching me how to be a better sociologist and encouraging me to think critically, ask questions, and further explore topics that I am truly passionate about.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in a similar project (e.g. directed studies, honours thesis, quantitative or qualitative research)?
My advice to students who are interested in a similar project would be to not be afraid to pursue a project just because you haven’t done it before or aren’t very experienced.
A large part of being an undergraduate student is exploring different disciplines and opportunities and this means taking risks both personally and academically. While challenging, doing so can be extremely rewarding.
