By: Sahar Faizan, University of Missouri, Kansas City
Hi, my name is Sahar Faizan. I’m originally from Pakistan; my family immigrated to the United States when I was about 9 years old. English wasn’t my first or second language but I’ve come to deeply appreciate the unique diversity that comes with my background. I’m a senior at the University of Missouri, Kansas City majoring in Political Science and minoring in International Relations. I would describe myself as a little bit of everything, I love to try new things, and working to perfect the hobbies I’m currently pursuing. I’ve been baking since I was 12 and I still genuinely enjoy experimenting with new recipes. I’ve been doing Pilates for about three years now and I will be serving as an instructor on campus during the upcoming fall semester. Recently, I had the exciting opportunity to compete in and complete a 40 mile bike race, and I also teach children bike and pedestrian safety as well as advocacy through BikeWalkKc. Last semester, I was fortunate enough to be able to present at the Midwest Political Science Conference in Chicago for which I’ll be continuing the research with Dr. Vonnahme this summer.
As for my project for the Tyler Center, I wanted to focus on two distinct areas that correlate in an almost perfect fashion of my interest. Women’s politics has always been fascinating to me for the range of policy issues that are brought up and considered. In addition to that, international or foreign policy piqued my interests of ethical principles, humanitarian cooperation, and policy making. With everything combined, I decided to investigate Women’s impact on foreign policy. Specifically, I will be examining how Spain’s 1978 constitutional transition altered the way in which women impact Spain’s foreign policy. This research matters to Political Science, International Relations, and me for three main reasons. First, it challenges the idea that writing equality into a constitution automatically changes policy. Instead, it highlights the crucial difference between having legal rights on paper and holding actual power in practice. Second, most gender studies focus on domestic issues such as healthcare or education. By focusing on foreign policy, my project aims to expand the understanding of how women influence areas such as security and diplomacy. Finally, Spain serves as an optimal example of a country moving from dictatorship to democracy. My findings aim to help understand how laws and political culture work together to empower marginalized groups.
I plan on going to Madrid, Spain sometime early July and conduct my research there for about a month. I’m expecting to travel within the city for various contacts, as well. Since I am planning to interview individuals from a different background, I expect to gain appreciation as well as professionalism. I’m looking forward to building relationships with local residents, participating in traditions, and learning to navigate a foreign city!
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