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The Somatic Sex: Bodies In Beauvoir's Aesthetic Politics, Melissa Moskowitz
The Somatic Sex: Bodies In Beauvoir's Aesthetic Politics, Melissa Moskowitz
Honors Theses
In this thesis, I seek to complicate traditional readings of embodiment in the work of Simone de Beauvoir by positing an alternative reading that stresses somaticism. Positioning myself within the tradition of historical political thought I track Beauvoir’s intellectual development to demonstrate that reading Beauvoirian bodies within the framework of phenomenological embodiment only discloses part of Beauvoir’s theoretical interests. Whereas the traditional conception of Beauvoirian bodies largely derives from a phenomenological vernacular, primarily concentrated on the notion of embodied consciousness, I advance a complimentary but alternative reading located within contemporary somatic discourses. By reading Beauvoir’s early interests as somatic I …
Rape In World War Ii Memory, Sonia Tiemann
Rape In World War Ii Memory, Sonia Tiemann
Honors Theses
This thesis examines why mass wartime rape occurred during World War II, as well as examining the reasons for the denial or elimination of rape from public memory. For purposes of analysis, the thesis has been broken down into four cases: rape by Japanese soldiers ⎯ the “comfort women,” rape by German soldiers, rape by the Russian Red Army, and rape by American soldiers in France. The study looks at different reasons that could help explain why soldiers rape during wartime and what provokes them to rape. Rape was quite prevalent during World War II, yet it is rarely acknowledged …
The Impact Of Marriages And Extramarital Affairs On Political Careers: A Selection Of Roman Politicians And American Presidents, Shelby Cuomo
Honors Theses
This thesis explores four historical figures who engaged in extramarital affairs while holding political office. These figures include Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton. I assess the varied public responses to these men’s affairs by researching their relationships with women – that is, their wives and mistresses. In Ancient Rome, one politician was exiled from society and eventually killed in battle for his extramarital romance, whereas the other was – and still is – praised as one of the most successful politicians while he was sleeping with the wives of his allies and friends. Both presidents, …
The Ideological Reconstruction Of Southern Elite White Women Before During And After Reconstruction, Lindsey Halse
The Ideological Reconstruction Of Southern Elite White Women Before During And After Reconstruction, Lindsey Halse
Honors Theses
The purpose of my research is to reevaluate and extend the commonly understood time frame of Reconstruction by scholars to include Southern women’s ideological Reconstruction as well as provide a particular perspective on women during this era, which is underdeveloped in literature. Elite, white women during the Civil War began a journey towards independence and involvement in the public sphere. This evolution occurred approximately fifteen years behind similar actions taken by Northern women; this paper attempts to explain this lag. Additionally, my research asserts that Southern women were forced in a sense to become independent during the Civil War while …
Emancipating Modern Slaves: The Challenges Of Combating The Sex Trade, Rachel Mann
Emancipating Modern Slaves: The Challenges Of Combating The Sex Trade, Rachel Mann
Honors Theses
The trafficking and enslavement of women and children for sexual exploitation affects millions of victims in every region of the world. Sex trafficking operates as a business, where women are treated as commodities within a global market for sex. Traffickers profit from a supply of vulnerable women, international demand for sex slavery, and a viable means of transporting victims. Globalization and the expansion of free market capitalism have increased these factors, leading to a dramatic increase in sex trafficking. Globalization has also brought new dimensions to the fight against sex trafficking. Increasingly, governments and multinational corporations are collaborating with newly …
Redefining The "Reality Picture" By Reassessing Feminist Themes In The Early Cyberpunk Works Of William Gibson And Philip K. Dick, Samuel J. Williams
Redefining The "Reality Picture" By Reassessing Feminist Themes In The Early Cyberpunk Works Of William Gibson And Philip K. Dick, Samuel J. Williams
Honors Theses
As a literary genre, Cyberpunk permits the existence of characters, plots, settings, and styles that challenge heteronormative perceptions of gender. The representations of women in Neuromancer, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and A Scanner Darkly highlight a progression towards feminist ideals. Despite this progression, critics have classified these early manifestations of the Cyberpunk genre as non-feminist works that perpetuate misogynistic themes. These critics assert that the female characters in each work are Othered and heteronormative. The previous analyses of these works fail to consider the fictional context of the female characters. In this thesis, I closely analyze the major …
The Perception Of Literary Quality Differing As A Function Of Authorial Gender And Emotionality, Sarah Dean
The Perception Of Literary Quality Differing As A Function Of Authorial Gender And Emotionality, Sarah Dean
Honors Theses
Previous research suggests that gender acknowledgment yields significant consequences on subsequent judgments. In the current research, we examined whether gender of authorial names affected the perception of literary quality. Participants read a short story excerpt designated as male‐authored or female‐authored that contained either exaggerated emotional content or minimal emotional content. Following presentation of the passage, participants reported perceived quality and emotionality and then completed the 10-item short form of the Need for Affect Questionnaire (NAQ-S; cf. Maio & Esses, 2001) followed by the 18‐item Need for Cognition Scale (Cacioppo, Petty, & Kao 1984). Results indicated that participants rated female authors …
A Zine Of One's Own: Diy And Alternative Expression Among The Beats And The Riot Grrrls, Lauren Brown
A Zine Of One's Own: Diy And Alternative Expression Among The Beats And The Riot Grrrls, Lauren Brown
Honors Theses
In my thesis, I investigate the cultural, artistic and political effects of the Beat Generation and a subculture within Generation X known as the Riot Grrrls. Both groups serve as an alternative to their mainstream cultural counterparts-the Beats are a reaction to 1950s post‐war suburbia, and the riot grrrls subvert the pop‐culture overload and the backlash against feminism that is indicative of Generation X. Arising in the midst of the conformist 1950s, the Beats were a group of writers and artists, some of them women, who were willing to fight against the constraints of male‐dominated “Wonder bread” culture. Similarly, the …
Acting The Part: How Audience Problematizes Butlerian Performativity In The Films Of Darren Aronofsky Kathryn Bigelow And Lars Van Trier, Ryan Semerad
Honors Theses
Feminist and gender studies critics laud Judith Butler’s theory of the performative construction of identity because of its capacity to liberate gender from the biological essentialism entailed by previous identity theories. In this thesis, I show how six twenty-first century films demonstrate the importance and problematic nature of ‘audience’ in the performative construction of identity. Each film employs a dialectic model between their protagonists and the reception they receive from diegetic audiences within the film to describe performativity. Black Swan (2010) and The Wrestler (2008) demonstrate how performative identities require an audience to legitimize them. Antichrist (2009) and The Hurt …
Worth More Than Her Womb A Cross-Country Analysis Of Reproductive Rights, Brianne Fennessy
Worth More Than Her Womb A Cross-Country Analysis Of Reproductive Rights, Brianne Fennessy
Honors Theses
A woman’s empowerment derives from education, economic independence and political and social autonomy. Reproductive health is an extremely relevant and important concept for many reasons. Reproductive rights include basic elements; the ability to reproduce and to regulate fertility; proper prenatal care and safe childbirth; and ultimately optimal maternal and infant health outcomes. Gender inequality has become manifested in societies throughout the world as result of the lack of control over a woman’s respective fertility. While a woman’s unique biological ability to reproduce should be privileged and respected, it instead entails both additional responsibilities and even negative consequences for her progression …
The Politics Of Sex: Analyzing The Relationship Between The State And Gender Identity And Desire, Rachel Mayer
The Politics Of Sex: Analyzing The Relationship Between The State And Gender Identity And Desire, Rachel Mayer
Honors Theses
The disenfranchised experiences of women are central to feminist understandings of identity. Crucial to this understanding is the question of what is the cause of female oppression and how to remedy the situation. This introduces the concept of state power and its relationship to women. The state, as the seat of legal and political power, has the ability to serve as both protector and oppressor. The thesis is devoted to exploring feminist perspectives and critiques on state power such as arguments for state intervention in the protection of women through concrete action such as gender-specific laws. Opposing this view is …
The Ideal Woman: The Changing Female Labor Force And The Image Of Femininity In American Society In The 1940s And 1950s, Carlie Seigal
The Ideal Woman: The Changing Female Labor Force And The Image Of Femininity In American Society In The 1940s And 1950s, Carlie Seigal
Honors Theses
In 1943 the image of Rosie the Riveter personified what the ideal American woman was supposed to be. Rosie supported the war effort and did her patriotic duty for her country, earned a high wage, enjoyed her newfound independence, and showed America that she could do a man’s job, and do it well. However, Rosie and the many American women that she represented never dreamt that when the American servicemen came home two short years later, they would be forced out of their jobs and back into their homes to devote themselves to household chores and their families. In 1957 …
Sexy Songs: A Study Of Gender Construction In Contemporary Music Genres, Lea Tessitore
Sexy Songs: A Study Of Gender Construction In Contemporary Music Genres, Lea Tessitore
Honors Theses
This study focuses on gender construction in contemporary music genres, including Rap/Hip-hop, Country, and Punk Rock. Although all these genres are vastly different, each genre creates unique masculinities and femininities which impact the way listeners view male/female relations in politics and their everyday lives. Rap/hip-hop creates a construct which results in the objectification of women through their “pornification” and “commodification” in the lyrics of popular songs. Country, on the other hand, has complex masculinities and femininities which create a complex network of gender characteristics which reinforce and complement each other. Lastly, this thesis looks ‘back’ to Punk Rock, whose prime …
Laura Bush And Hillary Clinton: Helpmates To Resident Or Role Models For Nations Women?, Majorie Brooke Donnelly
Laura Bush And Hillary Clinton: Helpmates To Resident Or Role Models For Nations Women?, Majorie Brooke Donnelly
Honors Theses
In spite of the fact that First Ladies are usually depicted as just helpmates to their husbands, they can in fact be very powerful figures, even if only as symbols. Indeed, First Ladies are free to mold, shape and define their role how they choose. Throughout history, we have seen First Ladies act in a variety of ways: some use the platform as a way to promote non-partisan issues; others focus on being symbols for the perfect American mother and wife; and there are few activist First Ladies who get involved in partisan politics. But although free to shape their …
Fox-Kuzunoha: The Actor Print And The Expression Of Female As 'Other' In The Late Edo Period, Kara Jefts
Fox-Kuzunoha: The Actor Print And The Expression Of Female As 'Other' In The Late Edo Period, Kara Jefts
Honors Theses
Stories of the supernatural are a rich part of Japan’s cultural history, and one way to explore the popularity of these tales is through the widely produced visual medium of Ukiyo-e prints. By the eighteenth century, kabuki theatre became a dominant theme in Ukiyo-e, and kabuki plays provide a way to access diverse folk traditions involving the supernatural, often based on Shinto beliefs or Buddhist principles. Confucian values, at the core of Edo Period society, commonly frame these subjects in contrast to traditional familial relationships. Using the visual language of the stage, moments of dramatic climax in kabuki are emphasized …
Les Femmes Mythiques: Ce Que Ces Symboles Révèlent De La Société Française Et Les Valeurs De La France, Rachel Mayer
Les Femmes Mythiques: Ce Que Ces Symboles Révèlent De La Société Française Et Les Valeurs De La France, Rachel Mayer
Honors Theses
In history, women have always played traditional roles and - in general - submitted. However, there are women who are developing symbolic and powerful images in French society. These women have a mythical and symbolic quality. But what do they symbolize? Every woman who resonates with French society plays another important role: to unveil the dimensions of French values that they represent in French society. Moreover, the way they have established their roles and places in culture unveils the status of women across the story. We can examine mythical and symbolic women of different ages to understand the role of …
Leadership Is Passion: Understanding The Changing Experiences Of Women Student Leaders At A Co-Educational Liberal Arts Institution, Aleena Paul
Honors Theses
The traditional definition of leadership emphasizes the actions of individual leaders with culturally-ascribed masculine personality traits and behaviors who control all aspects of an organization. A new post-industrial paradigm, in contrast, defines leadership as interpersonal relationships. This evolving paradigm, with its emphasis on culturally-attributed feminine traits such as collaboration and participation, has allowed for a broader conceptualization of leadership that brings forth discussions on women leaders and their experiences. According to current research, while there is increasing involvement and empowerment of women leaders, their experiences continue to be hindered by gender stereotypes. This study attempts to explore the experiences of …
Féminisme Français : Fait, Fiction, Jennifer Granina
Féminisme Français : Fait, Fiction, Jennifer Granina
Honors Theses
What gives power to an idea? What makes it real in the hearts and minds of people who believe in it? What creates the desire to struggle for this idea, an ethereal and elusive conception? These are the questions that must be considered by philosophers, by those who believe enough in an idea to make it a reality. It was the mission of feminists in France since the beginning of the 19th century. For them, feminism was not a movement that had a beginning and an end, it was a force, present in the world since the creation of the …
To Be Alive - Is Power: Fullers Feminine Ideal Realized In Dickinsons Poems, Emma A. Krosschell
To Be Alive - Is Power: Fullers Feminine Ideal Realized In Dickinsons Poems, Emma A. Krosschell
Honors Theses
This thesis examines the relationship between nineteenth-century American feminism, transcendentalism, and poetry through an analysis of Margaret Fuller’s essay Woman in the Nineteenth Century in tandem with Emily Dickinson’s collected poems. Fuller presents an original type of feminist optimism influenced by the precepts of the American transcendentalist movement. Her essay employs the transcendental belief in the possibility for human semi-divinity in order to proclaim that women, rather than men, possess unique potential for transcendence. As a result, Fuller theorizes that with women’s social, sexual, and intellectual liberation, a certain ideal woman will be able to transcend not only women’s limited …
The Girl In The Postfeminist World: Rethinking The Impact Of Chick-Lit Fiction, Sarah T. O'Connor
The Girl In The Postfeminist World: Rethinking The Impact Of Chick-Lit Fiction, Sarah T. O'Connor
Honors Theses
This thesis discusses “chick-lit” series in relation to popular culture, adolescent development, and feminist theory. The role of the female in the United States is currently dominated by both neo-liberal and conservative postfeminist ideology. Postfeminism advocates female empowerment via consumption, sexual attractiveness and physical beauty, while at the same time valorizing passive femininity and the roles of wife and mother. Chick-lit fiction provides a means by which postfeminist messages can be examined as they are presented to adolescent girl audiences, and reveals that the influence of this discourse over female subjectivity is inherently patriarchal. As a genre, chick lit is …
Une Approche Lourde Ou Légère? : Les Habitudes Alimentaires Malsaines Et La Proposition Du Valérie Boyer Contre Le Niveau Maigre, Eva M. Pogosian
Une Approche Lourde Ou Légère? : Les Habitudes Alimentaires Malsaines Et La Proposition Du Valérie Boyer Contre Le Niveau Maigre, Eva M. Pogosian
Honors Theses
It's no secret that in today's society, one of the main concerns among women is the way they look. Although society tells us from a young age that "inside that counts", women, and now even young girls as five have a concern about their appearance. Society tells us to be happy with who we are and to be true to ourselves, but in fact we want to please the world. Where does this worry come from? And maybe this question is more important. Why is we consider thinness as the ideal of beauty. It was only 60 years ago that …
Fashion And Cosmetic Advertising In Three Magazines In The 1950s: How Advertising Shaped Societal Expectations Of Beauty, Lindsey B. Sloan
Fashion And Cosmetic Advertising In Three Magazines In The 1950s: How Advertising Shaped Societal Expectations Of Beauty, Lindsey B. Sloan
Honors Theses
Since its creation, print advertising has affected how women perceive beauty and has shaped the trend of consumer purchasing, as well as the social status of women. This thesis analyzes three women’s magazines—Life, Ladies’ Home Journal and Ebony and evaluates how the advertising of fashion and cosmetics portrayed ideals of beauty in the 1950s and how the advertisements may have shaped or reflected class differences and racial perceptions in mid 19th century America. In order to accomplish this analysis and to evaluate how fashion and cosmetic advertising may have differed based on targeted demographic, advertisements from the months April and …
Femmes Politiques En France : Une Comparaison Des Femmes Politiques De La France Et Des Antilles Françaises, Sarah F. Stiles
Femmes Politiques En France : Une Comparaison Des Femmes Politiques De La France Et Des Antilles Françaises, Sarah F. Stiles
Honors Theses
Les femmes françaises et antillaises se sont battues interminablement au cours d’une longue histoire des luttes féminines pour qu’elles puissent avoir de l’égalité dans la société et dans la politique. Cette lutte a pris beaucoup de formes selon les cultures des femmes, et une étude sur la situation des femmes révèle que ces différences culturelles aussi bien que les stéréotypes et les vues traditionnelles des femmes, en plus d’une domination des hommes en politique, ont créé ses barrières redoutables pour les femmes qui s’intéressent à s’engager dans la politique. En même temps, il existe une tendance, notamment en France, d’oublier …