Veronica Torres
McNair Scholar 2023
- Major(s): Digital Communication and Media
- Classification: Junior
- Anticipated Graduation Date: Spring 2025
- Career Aspirations: After attaining a bachelor’s degree, Veronica plans to continue her education and attend Texas Tech University to pursue a master’s in Mass Communication.
“The best part of my McNair experience was definitely gaining knowledge about research. With the support of my fellow cohort, Victoria, Kirbi, and mentor, Dr. Emily Kinsky, I became more confident in my research and my writing. The skills that I have learned through this program will help me later on in life as I further my education and career.”- Veronica Torres
“The K-Pop Industry and Gender Discrimination toward Female K-Pop Idols”
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Emily Kinsky
K-pop has become a global phenomenon. Behind the music genre’s catchy songs and memorable choreography is a flawed and exploitative industry toward its female idols. This research sheds light on the discrimination that many female K-pop idols face and aims to answer the question: How do female K-pop idols feel about their treatment within the K-pop industry? In this study, three sample songs were examined: “Tomboy” by (G)-IDLE, “Nxde” by (G)-IDLE, and “I ≠ DOLL” by HUH YUNJIN. Each song was analyzed using rhetorical analysis. The songs were examined by identifying the rhetorical situations and appeals of each song. The findings suggest that the members of each group have very strong feelings toward the industry. They express their feelings to the audience by appealing to the audiences' emotions (pathos) and morals (ethos).