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Erika Casburn, Ph.D. is a 2026 graduate of the PhD Program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University.
Erika Casburn at her Dissertation Defense.
From L-R: Dr. Emily J. Knox, Committee Member, Dr. Christopher Voparil, Committee Chair, Dr. Diane Richard-Allerdyce, Committee Member.
Dissertation Committee
- Christopher Voparil, PhD, Committee Chair
- Diane Richard-Allerdyce, PhD, Committee Member
- Emily J. Knox, PhD, MSLIS Committee Member
Keywords
book bans, censorship, moral polarization, digital discourse, literary politics, democratic dialogues
Document Type
Dissertation
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
The issue of book bans has moved to the forefront of public and political debate over the past few years. Anti-censorship advocates who defend against these challenges have yet to be studied. The purpose of this study was to examine the beliefs and worldviews as expressed by those defenders in a public forum—Reddit. Data in the form of Reddit threads was collected from subreddits belonging to states that have seen the greatest number of book challenges. This data was subjected to discourse analysis, first manually, then by qualitative analysis software (MAXQDA). Analysis revealed that defenders spent a majority of discursive space on Reddit constructing a challenger “other.” As a result, the morally polarized lines between challengers and defenders became the explicit takeaway that framed the beliefs and worldview of defenders. The morally polarized debate places the discussion of book bans in the realm of High Conflict. The de-escalation of polarizing discourse can be approached in several ways. Some of those ways are represented in the data set for this project. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).
Recommended Citation
Casburn, E. (2026). Righteous Defenders and Evil Challengers: The Morally Polarized Battle for Books on Reddit. https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/1240
Included in
Applied Ethics Commons, Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Psychology Commons, Rhetoric and Composition Commons, Social Media Commons
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Erika Casburn
ORCID No.: #0009-0000-9956-2262
Erika Casburn has a deeply invested interest in literary studies and intellectual freedom. She earned her B.A. in English from College of Charleston, and an M.A. in English Literature from University of Colorado Denver. Erika also earned a Ph.D. from Antioch University’s Graduate School of Leadership and Change with a concentration in Humanities & Culture, and certificates in Creative Writing, and Philosophy & Ethics.
Her dissertation “Righteous Defenders and Evil Challengers: The Morally Polarized Battle for Books on Reddit” explores how those who strive towards anti-censorship aims express themselves in public forums. Ultimately, this writing is a meditation on how to build bridges in times of deep moral and political polarization.
Erika is a wife, and proud mother of three amazing children who inspire her to work for a better future. She lives in Aurora, Colorado with her family.