profile pic

Christine L

- Research Program Mentor

Industry expert at Brown University

Expertise

gender and sexuality studies, sexual and reproductive health, ethnic studies, disability studies, postcolonial studies, social justice, academic research, writing, theater arts, college access, food and environmental justice, mental health, harm reduction, critical pedagogy

Bio

Christine (Shio) Lim (they/she) is a sex educator in the San Francisco Bay Area interested in all things related to sexuality and desire. They graduated from Brown University in 2019 with a Bachelors of Arts in Gender and Sexuality Studies and Ethnic Studies and is a prospective Ph.D. student in the humanities. In grad school, Shio plans to continue expanding her undergraduate research on dating and mating preferences, desirability politics, and digital intimate platforms, also known as dating and hookup applications. On their free time, Shio loves to paint, make bookmarks, write letters, and find unique gifts for their loved ones. They also have a 10-pound maltipoo dog named Hiccup who they have raised and trained since he was 9 weeks old. Shio appreciates the time they get to explore natural parks with Hiccup and learn more about the landscape in the San Francisco Bay Area. When they are not taking walks outdoors, they are swimming in their local neighborhood pool or journaling.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Exploring Intergenerational Perceptions and Experiences of Gender and Sexuality

This project encourages students to interview individuals across generations on topics of gender and sexuality. Some research questions the student can tackle are: - How do individuals of older generations perceive contemporary gender and sexual culture? - How have individuals of older generations resisted normative constructions of gender and sexuality? How do they compare to those of younger generations? - In what ways can conversations between older and younger generations around gender and sexuality contribute to our current understanding on the topic? What are some barriers to having these conversations? Guided by these questions and with Shio's mentorship and research background, the student will not only be able to gain knowledge on the history of gender and sexuality through primary and secondary sources, but also acquire research skills in oral history and interviews. Specifically, the student will learn how to write a research proposal and determine the scope of the project, learn how to write an interview schedule, and figure out how to access different tools to record and transcribe interviews. Depending on the student’s capacity and preference, this research can result in an oral history project, podcast, research paper, and/or presentation.

The Impacts of COVID-19 on Adolescents' Mental and Social Health

This research project explores the impacts the pandemic has had on young people's mental health and interpersonal relationships. Shio is a health and sexuality educator in different schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, so they have been able to witness firsthand how students have been shaped by the pandemic and thus will be able to provide guidance on the research project. The student can investigate issues such as alternative avenues through which young people have sought social engagement and relationships (e.g. online platforms, video games, pets), changes in mental health before and during the pandemic, and how the pandemic has affected students’ academic performance and outlook on the future. Depending on what approach, theme, and population the student wants to focus on, they will be able to learn research skills, including survey design, best practices in outreach and recruitment, and facilitation in focus groups with their peers. This research project can lead to a personal essay that a student can consider publishing to magazines, newspapers, and websites; a scientific research paper; a podcast, video, and/or blog; or a letter to the student's school district to advocate for better resources and support for students based on research findings.

A Comparative Analysis of LGBTQ+ Media Representation

This research project examines LGBTQ+ media representation across different cultures and time periods to not only understand how people in the LGBTQ+ community have been represented in the media, but also how they are perceived and even perceive themselves based on their portrayal. To carry out this project, the student will strengthen their skills in critical media analysis; acquaint themselves with theories of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, and disability; and learn how to find materials through various databases and archives. Some methodological approaches the student can choose from that Shio can mentor them in include media and literary analysis, literature review, interviews, surveys, and/or statistical analysis. For the final outcome, the student can choose to write a research paper demonstrating their findings or create a video providing commentary on LGBTQ+ media representation.

Languages I know

Burmese (advanced: speaking only), Spanish (intermediate: speaking, reading, writing)

Credentials

Work experience

Health Initiatives For Youth (HIFY) (2021 - Current)
Lead Coordinator
Planned Parenthood (2019 - 2020)
Medical Assistant - Phlebotomist
Federation of Garment Workers Myanmar Union (2020 - 2021)
Union organizer

Education

Brown University
BA Bachelor of Arts (2019)
Gender and Sexuality Studies; Ethnic Studies

Interested in working with expert mentors like Christine?

Apply now