Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons^™

A Critique Of Puritan Values And Social Restrictions, Laura Guebert

Scholars Week

This paper outlines and discusses Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter through the lens of feminist and social critiques. It attempts to draw attention to the fates of both male and females characters in the story according to their personality and status. Therefore, by examining the complex treatment and relationships between the four principle characters of The Scarlet Letter and their author, Hawthorne’s use of a feminist critique can be understood as a wider criticism of Puritan and, by extension, mid-nineteenth century social and moral restrictions and expectations.

Research And Study Of Fashion And Costume History Spanning From Ancient Egypt To Modern Day, Kaitlyn E. Dennis Miss

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Through a generous donation to Morehead State University, research has been conducted on thousands of slides containing images of artwork and artifacts of historical significance. These images span from Egyptian hieroglyphs to the inaugural dress of every first lady of the United States. The slides are in the process of being recorded and catalogued for future use by students in hopes of furthering academic comprehension and awareness of the influence of fashion and costume history through the ages. Special thanks to the family of Gretel Geist Rutledge, faculty mentor Denise Watkins, as well as the Department of Music, Theatre, and …

A Feminist Analysis Of Human And Animal Oppression: Intersectionality Among Species, Kelsey Brown

Scholars Week

In this paper I focus on animal exploitation as a feminist issue. I discuss reproductive exploitation in humans and domesticated animals, language as a tool of oppression, the power dynamics involved in hunting and consuming animals, and the barriers that are faced when people try to access health food such as environmental racism and food deserts. Using an anti-capitalist intersectional feminist framework, I expose how the current capitalist patriarchy aids in the oppression of all marginalized groups, including animals.

After Houselessness: Queer Youth Of Color Severed From Cultural And Spiritual Community, Carrie Fuentes, Miriam Abelson

Student Research Symposium

Within the Portland Oregon Houseless Youth Continuum, to what extent are the particular needs of Queer Youth of Color being served by existing programs? There is a gap between the nature of houseless youth services and the need for Queer Youth of Color to rebuild the missing connections resulting from cultural or spiritual rupture that creates a disconnection from their ancestry and community estrangement. Programs exist that offer assistance to QYOC in crisis but these programs lack in a positive connection to spiritual and cultural legacy that will support long term self-efficacy.

The proposed research goal is to examine these …

Analyzing Media Representations Of Male Rape And Debunking Myths On 'Law And Order Special Victims Unit', Ryan J. Stephens

Celebration

The project that I have done shows the importance of recognizing that male rape does exist and that it is more frequent than people think. By using Law and Order Special Victims Unit I am able to portray how myths about male rape are debunked and how the show creates new ways of thinking about male rape. Little research has been conducted about male rape and what we do know comes from the myths that are created in society and reinforced by false representations in the media. The research also concludes that we need more research to fully understand the …

A Look At Boys Love, Douglas Mejia

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

In an attempt to shed some light on the overlooked genre of graphic novels and, more specifically that of the homoerotic Japanese comic books of the Yaoi and Shounen Ai genre, this presentation examines multiple representations of the young male body ( i.e., the concept of Bishounen or "beautiful boy") in contemporary Japanese popular culture. My presentation demonstrates that Shounen Ai and Yaoi comic books, by women and for women, rely on the well-established concept of the Bishounen body to transcend traditional gender roles that restrict women from exploring their sexualities or experiences outside the domestic sphere. While retracing …

Swing It Sister: The Influence Of Female Jazz Musicians On Music And Society, Kirsten Saur

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Female jazz vocalists, both as soloists and in groups, and instrumentalists, both as solo artists and in ensembles, of the jazz era influenced music and society in their own times and in later times. They added new musical concepts, added new vocal styles, worked to change the society they lived in, and worked hard to find their place in music no matter what got in their way, making them inspirations for future generations of women striving to succeed in the world. This paper looks at how these women of jazz influenced music, society, and future generations of women through their …

Intersectional Feminism And The Latino Man, Donovan E. Hernandez Garcia

Scholarly and Creative Works Conference (2015 - 2021)

Various groups of people exist, each with their own religions, cultures, and practices that show the ingenuity of humanity. Yet, because of major events throughout human history, such as colonization, a certain societal structure was created to maintain power. Due to colonization, the prolonged exposure to numerous cultures, and the continuation of oppressive systems, people have been forced to band together based on characteristics similar to theirs, be it race, gender, or sexual orientation, creating divisions within society. It is because of such colonial mentality, subliminal and apparent, political and cultural movements, such as Feminism, have been created to combat …

Daughters Of The Sun: "The Birth" (An Excerpt), Megan Lynn

Scholarly and Creative Works Conference (2015 - 2021)

“You have never heard of me before. You have never heard of me, but my name has come out of your mouth thousands of times.”

So begins my novel, Daughters of the Sun, the story of Jesus’s twin sister, Alleluia. Using the narrative framework seen in Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children, Alleluia tells her story over one night—Saturday into Sunday morning—in an appropriated apartment facing a church. She weaves into her story another tale of women who have lived in shadows cast by the men around them, women whom history chose to vilify—Lilith, Adam’s first wife who was written out of …

The Life Of The Factory? Or The Life Of The Farm? That Is The Question., Adam C. Mcelwain, Bethany Lutwin

Migration in Global Context Symposium

Abstract: The focus of this lesson on Global Migration is the emotion behind young women’s decision to leave for the city and work in the factory, or stay in their hometown. Both have an opportunity cost for a life that may be better. The essential question is “Is it better to be a factory girl who has emigrated to the city or a country girl living and working on a farm?” Students will examine the motivation behind leaving the country for a factory job in the city or staying behind and working in a rural setting like a farm. They …

Women's Memoirs In The 20th Century, Alexandra Fradelizio

Scholarly and Creative Works Conference (2015 - 2021)

Memoirs have long been a valuable way in which individuals share and reflect on their past experiences. The genre of memoir writing especially had a tremendous impact on a range of American female writers. This thesis explores memoirs written by women throughout the 20^th century. With the shift in women’s roles during the 1900s and early 2000s, the memoirs examined emphasize the importance of feminine identity. The analysis provided within this thesis centers on each memoirist’s unique path in determining her sense of self. Moreover, the memoirists each use the process of writing to relay the value of personal …

Angels In America And Rent: Aids Through The Ages, Nicole Motahari

Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

“The Power Of Female Companionship: Following The Political And Activist Trail Of Mary “Molly” Dewson”, Brittany T. Walters

Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Eleanor Roosevelt's Role In American Politics, Tiana Taylor

Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

We Won't Be Erased: Queer Life In The Great Depression, Jacob N. Dreiling

Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Does This Spear Make My Butt Look Big, Katrina A. Judd

Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Lilith: Quintessential Bad Girl Or Simply Misunderstood?, Yvonne B. Wichman

South East Coastal Conference on Languages & Literatures (SECCLL)

In some cultures, the earth, moon, water, and love are associated with the feminine. In others, women and their divine counterparts rule over war, death, demons, and destruction. The duality of good versus evil in feminine figures has intrigued cultures for thousands of years. In fact, the dichotomy of feminine archetypes has provided a basis for speculation and research since the beginning of recorded history.

Lilith, who appears in the world’s oldest text, The Epic of Gilgamesh, is one mythological figure who remains a point of fascination. She is the oldest goddess-demon figure from the Sumero-Babylonian era and the sole …

But What Does “It” Mean: An Analysis Of Feminist & Mainstream Pornographies, Alexandra S. Melnick 2225930

SEWSA 2016 Intersectionality in the New Millennium: An Assessment of Culture, Power, and Society

In this project, I am interested in how we as a culture talk and make stories about heterosexual non-fetish pornography that contains fellatio scenes. Fellatio, being a site of social power and relation, can be conceptualized and portrayed in different ways based on the ideology and intentions of the context a text portraying fellatio it is created in. In this project I reasoned that mainstream pornography and feminist pornography would show fellatio in different ways, revealing the basic differences in each genre’s content and execution. To this effect, I analyzed six films from both feminist and mainstream pornographies and have …

Home V. Hospital: Power And Birth, An Examination Of Control Within Birth Models In The United States, Sarah W. Rosene

SEWSA 2016 Intersectionality in the New Millennium: An Assessment of Culture, Power, and Society

In this paper I examine why some women in the United States choose midwife attended homebirth over the medical model of birth. Why do women make this decision and what are the outcomes? I examined both qualitative and quantitative data on homebirths and have identified key reasons why women chose to give birth outside of the hospital. I focused on how the mother's feelings of control impacted her satisfaction with the birth experience, and how women’s control is affected in home versus hospitalized birth. My findings reveal that home births allow the woman more agency and an environment in which …

The Archaeology Of Appetites, Molly S. Schonert

SEWSA 2016 Intersectionality in the New Millennium: An Assessment of Culture, Power, and Society

Through use of examining how food is produced, stored, distributed and consumed, one can take a glimpse into the past, present and even future of this planet–to better understand the complexity of human identity and the social practices or roles that define an individual, community or society. So this begins an exploration of the archaeology of food as a gendered commodity throughout our evolutionary past, emphasizing the infinite ways in which foodway practices exceeds the nutritional value of what our ancestors, family, friends and ourselves consume(d) on a daily basis. Foodways practices is an invaluable tool in any archaeologists’ tool …

The Moral Obligation For Sex Worker Rights, Lori A. Durham

SEWSA 2016 Intersectionality in the New Millennium: An Assessment of Culture, Power, and Society

The female body is the site of endless controversy, with sex work as one of the most hotly debated issues. Historically viewed as an ethical and moral issue, arguments to criminalize sex work were dominant until the mid-to-late twentieth century when sex workers began to argue for decriminalization of adult “consensual” commercial sex. As one of the most marginalized populations in the world, sex workers are subjected to a multitude of violations against their bodies and their human rights. They routinely face physical and sexual violence, arrest and incarceration, extortion and harassment (frequently by police and other members of law …

Gender As A Socially Constructed Phenomenon, Jamie Smith

SEWSA 2016 Intersectionality in the New Millennium: An Assessment of Culture, Power, and Society

In the historical and social landscape that currently exists in America, the concept of gender, and especially the concept of women, has been created and enforced through societal expectations. From essentialism in the past, social and psychological theory has evolved to consider the social impact on gender construction. Foucault’s prison theory, Berger’s theory of surveying, and Mulvey’s theory of the Male Gaze can be used to show that gender, though it used to be viewed as inherent to a person’s identity, is actually a process of social conditioning. Women are shaped by society but continue to follow their roles because …

Clever On Sunday: A Visual Artist Interpretation Of The Post-Wwii Persuasion Of Consumer Marketing And The Gender Gap, Courtney L. Starrett

SEWSA 2016 Intersectionality in the New Millennium: An Assessment of Culture, Power, and Society

The visual arts transform concepts and philosophies into tangible and aesthetic depictions. Women’s studies and gender issues are common sources of inspiration for artists. This paper will unveil the process and development of an installation inspired by gender roles as defined by the post-WWII persuasion of consumer marketing. Clever on Sunday is an installation of custom, hand-cast, and functional silicone doilies. Each doily pattern is generated by sourced data and statistics reflecting selected information to be presented as implied substance for a potential narrative to be rendered by the viewer. The data sets used range from PhDs Earned by Women …

Did The Shrew Tame You: An Exploration Of Sexual Politics In Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew, Marisa Stickel

SEWSA 2016 Intersectionality in the New Millennium: An Assessment of Culture, Power, and Society

This paper explores the sexual politics present in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, examining the gender roles that influence the relationship between Katherine and Petruccio. By analyzing Petruccio’s attempts at taming Katherine, in comparison to the ending of the play where she is supposedly tamed, I will emphasize Katherine's abilities to manipulate a patriarchal society’s rule over women. While she seems to demonstrate acquiescing full sovereignty to her husband, my argument will pose that Katherine assumes the role of a proper wife to trick Petruccio, allowing her access to marital dominance. By examining the patriarchal society of the time …

Rebuilding A Bridge Burned, Lamonica J. Jones

SEWSA 2016 Intersectionality in the New Millennium: An Assessment of Culture, Power, and Society

The purpose of this essay is to explore intersectionaility and shine a light on the plight of marginalized groups of women. Much too often are women grouped together in this assumed sisterhood, and people automatically assume that just because we are all women, we are all the same. There are many factors that affect many different women, and the reliance on a common biological make up alone will not change that. A white woman will not experience the same struggle as a black woman; an upper middle-class woman will not experience the same struggles as a working-class woman; and a …

Exploring And Navigating Lgbt Identity In Fandom, Shannon Morrison, Idee Winfield

SEWSA 2016 Intersectionality in the New Millennium: An Assessment of Culture, Power, and Society

To date, very little qualitative research has been completed and published on how exactly those who identify as LGBT use the internet to explore and define their own identities. My research aims to fill this gap by studying how LGBT members of fan communities explore, navigate, and define their personal identities through their experience in the community and work in the realm of speculative fiction (“fan-fiction”). I will accomplish this through interviewing a number of LGBT-identified members of this community and asking about how their interaction with their community in addition to their personal work affected them in their personal …

Gay Doesn’T Begin To Cover It: Non-Binary Sexuality In Community’S Dean Pelton”, Jessica Mae Harmon

SEWSA 2016 Intersectionality in the New Millennium: An Assessment of Culture, Power, and Society

In modern media, characters whose sexuality lies outside of binary gender and sexuality representations are few and far between. Most queer characters in mainstream American television are labeled as either gay or lesbian, and in a few rare cases bisexual. Bisexuality, while least visible among sexual minorities that fit within the prescribed LGBT acronym, is most visible outside of the gay/straight dichotomy. Meanwhile the spectrum of non-binary sexualities is largely ignored. In this essay I will examine one character that breaks this mold and forces the modern viewer to consider non-binary sexuality, Dean Craig Pelton of NBC/Yahoo’s Community. The …

Femme-Ing The Fandom: A Cross-Cultural Approach, Lynslei Harris

SEWSA 2016 Intersectionality in the New Millennium: An Assessment of Culture, Power, and Society

In our ever-global society, fandoms, with their ability to reach and reproduce across cultures, have emerged as an important new media worthy of study. As the participatory practices of fans are explored, it is necessary to also apply the intersection of gender. Although each fandom constitutes a public, female members often participate in ways that allow them to form an artistic counterpublic. While male fans tend to gather data and act as gatekeepers of the fandom, their female counterparts engage in dress up or cosplay (costume play) and produce almost all of current fan fiction. These kinds of participatory practices …

Masks And Performance As Representations Of Gender Oppression And Repression In Edith Wharton’S The House Of Mirth And Nella Larsen’S Passing, Carrie A. Wilson

SEWSA 2016 Intersectionality in the New Millennium: An Assessment of Culture, Power, and Society

Edith Wharton and Nella Larsen’s literature focus on metaphorically representing gender oppression and repression as masked social performances that result in death being the ultimate release from the drama. Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth depicts the heroine Lily Bart who, in the public social realm, attempts to mask herself as a disturbingly superficial character. Wharton’s masquerade imagery demonstrates the extent to which Lily socially capitalizes her beauty. Lily fixates on "clearness" and "lucidity" in events leading up to her death, which shows how dying releases her from the dishonest social masquerade (260). Nella Larsen’s heroine Irene Redfield similarly uses …

Consumed By The Broken Staccato: A Feminist Reading Of Zelda Fitzgerald’S Save Me The Waltz, Caitlin Mcgraw

SEWSA 2016 Intersectionality in the New Millennium: An Assessment of Culture, Power, and Society

Zelda Fitzgerald’s Save Me the Waltz is a novel in which art, text, and body intersect to become one. Her writing techniques, though often criticized, preserve the artistic liberation and affective state for which Fitzgerald seems to strive. She eliminates the line between the artist and her work, creating a novel that opens up to aspects of feminist theory. Zelda Fitzgerald’s texts become performative, constructing her own identity through her writing and painting, just as Alabama, the main character of Save Me the Waltz, strives to do so with her dancing. Like Fitzgerald herself, Alabama removes the barrier between …