Women's Studies Commons^™

The Impact Of Empire On Native American Women And Mothers, Rebecca J.M. Yowan

Student Publications

No one doubts that the colonizing forces of the dominant, Euro-American culture have had an extreme and enduring impact on Native American cultures. However, the specific impact that empire has had on Native American women is a salient topic for research. Drawing on examples of environmental degradation, stolen agency, and psychological suffering, this essay illustrates the numerous and distressing effects that the philosophy and practice of empire have had and continue to have on Native American women.

The Ideal And The Real: Southern Plantation Women Of The Civil War, Kelly H. Crosby

Student Publications

Southern plantation women experienced a shift in identity over the course of the Civil War. Through the diaries of Catherine Edmondston and Eliza Fain, historians note the discrepancy between the ideal and real roles women had while the men were off fighting. Unique perspectives and hidden voices in their writings offer valuable insight into the life of plantation women and the hybrid identity they gained despite the Confederate loss.

"Women Have The Right To Fight!": The Contested Legacy Of Second-Wave Feminism And Anti-Rape Politics In The Trials Of Inez Garcia, 1974-1977, Megan Elizabeth Feulner

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

My paper takes as its central focus the trials of Inez Garcia, a woman who was charged with the murder of a man who helped rape her in Soledad, CA in 1974. Garcia's trial in 1974, in which she was convicted of second-degree murder, and her retrial in 1977, in which the ruling was reversed, is often remembered as a cause célèbre of the second-wave women's movement that united diverse activists and yielded a major feminist legal victory. However, I argue that close examination of the trial and the feminist activism around it reveals a more paradoxical legacy. First, I …

Mapping Italian Women's Filmmaking: Urban Space In The Cinema Of The New Millennium, Laura Di Bianco

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

My dissertation lies at the intersection of Italian studies, film studies, women's studies, and urban studies. Applying gender studies and feminist theoretical perspectives, I trace a thematic map of contemporary Italian women's cinema (2000-2012) that investigates female subjectivity in urban contexts. Examining the works of the filmmakers Marina Spada, Francesca Comencini, Wilma Labate, Roberta Torre, and Alice Rohrwacher, I identify a common tendency to treat locations like characters, apply similar modalities of incorporating city-views into the narration, and recurrently construct parallels between physical journeys through cities and inner journeys of the self. As a prism through which to look at …

Latina Political Leadership In Massachusetts, Center For Women In Politics And Public Policy, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

This Fact Sheet offers an analysis of Latina leadership and political representation in the Massachusetts, as of the 2014.

Gendered Construction Of The Female Identity, Julie L. Lemley

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Since Garfinkle’s ground-breaking work on labeling in the 1950’s, the link between identity formation, specifically as constructed by external social messages intentionally directed by authority, and resultant behaviors has been well established. This research has extended upon this assumption, applying critical media and rhetorical methods to advertising aimed at adolescents, a particularly vulnerable group at a point of transition and identity formation. The adolescent negotiation of the transition from childhood (child identity) to adulthood (adult identity), has always been a uniquely critical stage of development. Moreover, the research has indicated that adolescents are particularly susceptible to influence by those in …

The Decision To Run: The Stories Of Women In The Minnesota Legislature, Danielle M. Thomsen

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

The underrepresented status of women in legislative positions is an entrenched flaw in the American political system. Although past research has investigated the obvious gender gap, the spotlight has recently shifted toward the preliminary factors affecting a candidate's political ambition. It has been noted that women have little aspiration to run for office, and are unlikely to even consider themselves as viable candidates. Encouragement offered by political parties and external supporters such as family, friends, coworkers, and community organizations plays a vital role in creating a female candidate. This paper evaluates the impact of outside forces on the female candidate …

Christian Feminism: Female Pastors And Feminism, Amanda A. Slowinski

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Christian feminism is a belief system, ideology, and an identity of feminism that combines Christian beliefs with feminist theory. Using the methodology of oral history, I interviewed two female pastors in southern Minnesota. I wanted to know how they dealt with issues such as women’s place in the church, abortion, sexist behavior, sexuality, gender roles, the gender of god, and inclusive language while being a pastor. I also investigated why the two women I spoke with either chose to identify themselves as a Feminist or not. I analyzed the interviews using theoretical perspectives from Christian feminist, feminist, and religious texts …

Challenges Facing Women In Us Higher Education: The Case Of Faculty Of Color, Fredah Mainah

International Conference on African Development

Despite a myriad of challenges such as the slow pace of rising to the top, and the low compositional diversity in most university leadership, women of color are increasingly becoming visible in top positions in higher education. This paper investigated the phenomena of increasing numbers of women in top positions with the aim of debunking the myth of invisibility of black women in leadership positions in higher education. The findings indicate that although women in the US earn the majority of post-secondary degrees, with 26.4% of college presidents being women (4.5% of them being women of color), they still have …

Breaking Social Confinement: An Analysis Of Eighteenth-Century Women In The French Economy, Meghan Turok

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

The study of single women in early modern Europe (1500-1800) has become a focus of scholarly examination during the past ten years. Historians have recognized that female singleness was often detested as it rejected the societal expectations of women that included domesticity and submission. But what they have yet to identify are the valuable economic contributions single women as a whole provided to society. In order to offer further research to this study, I examined 1795 census records from the Archives départementals de la Côte d’Or in Dijon, France that I translated from French to English. The census I examined …

Covering The 1972 Chisholm Campaign: Shaping Perceptions And Postponing Progress, Andrea Diekman

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

In order to get their voices heard, groups with different interests and needs, often racially, socially, and economically marginalized groups, must take an active role in developing policies. Political representation is essential in articulating the need for change and then creating that change. Both women and African Americans have different significant problems gaining political office that their White male counterpoints do not. African American women are especially disadvantaged because of their challenges with the interlocking oppressions of both racism and sexism. A specific woman and candidacy that this study examines more closely was for the presidency. In 1972, Shirley Chisholm …

La Psicología Como Conexión Entre Las Obras De Gilman, Lispector, Y Valenzuela, Sarah Singsank

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

Using the psychoanalytic approach, I examine The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, A imitação da rosa by Clarice Lispector, and Cambio de armas by Luisa Valenzuela, particularly noting a common use of defense mechanisms between the stories. Additionally, I propose an expanded use of the psychoanalytic approach that includes the theories of other psychologists (not just Freud) and use it to inform alternative interpretations of the texts.

Un Análisis De Personajes Menores En La Novela De Cómo Las Muchachas García Perdieron El Acento Por Julia Álvarez: ¿Cómo Representan La Idea Del Transculturación Laura García Y Chucha?, Molly Donovan

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

This work explores the identities and experiences of two minor characters (Laura García and Chucha) in Julia Alvarez' iconic work, How the García Girls Lost Their Accents. The essay compares and contrasts their experiences as women, as 'otras', and as immigrants. In studying how identities and perceptions change as borders are crossed, one can see how arbitrary status and social position can be. The characters examined in this essay exemplify two very different immigration experiences, which allows readers to remember the unique circumstances of all migrants. Written in Spanish.

A Critical Analysis Of Media Images Depicting The New Athletic Body Ideal And One Woman's Experience With Them, Kelsey Mischke

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

The ideal body type for women in the United States is morphing into one that not only requires a thin physique, but visible muscle definition and fitness. The athletic body type must still possesses feminine qualities such as large breasts, a smaller buttocks, and soft curves. Advertisements, fitness magazines, and internet memes have created a new level of perfection. However, this new ideal body type is still computer generated, created from parts of multiple women, and largely unobtainable. Since its emergence, little research has critically assessed these images and their effects of women’s self-evaluations. A feminist perspective was used to …

Becoming Mom: Understanding Challenges And Presentations Of Self Among Mothers, Annakeiko Frink Reichel

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

When a woman becomes a mother it is arguably one of the most life changing and defining moments of their lives. Becoming a mom and the emotions that are involved in the process are often a neglected topic in the United States. It is clear that the social world assumes mothers will automatically adjust to the role of being a mom without asking questions such as, what are the challenges moms face after having children? Or more importantly, how is a mother’s identity shaped after having children and while adjusting to the role as mom? The first author (AR) became …

Beyond Limits: Exploring Motivation And The Lack Of Women In Ultramarathoning, Amy Harris

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

An ultramarathon extends beyond the traditional 26.2-mile marathon (Tharion, Strowman, & Rauch, 1988) and includes 50 kilometers (31 miles), 100 kilometers (62.1 miles) and 135 miles. Participants must train for substantial periods of time and oftentimes in rough off-road terrain while dealing with dramatic changes in elevation and weather. Despite these challenges, participation rates are increasing; yet, most of these participants are men. For instance, for every woman participant, five men participated in the Western States 100 (Soderland, 2011). Very few researchers have examined the motives to participate in this unique sport or investigated the gender barriers of ultramarathons. This …

The Politics Of Black Womens' Hair, Vanessa King, Dieynaba Niabaly

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Historically, black women’s image has been subjected to high scrutinization that rendered every choice they made for their body and hair important. Black women have undergone many pressures that shaped their hair choices in various ways. However, there is a general tendency in the literature to homogenize all black women’s experiences and disregard their ethnic diversity. In this study, we explored both African and African American college women’s feelings about the motivations to straighten (relax) or wear their hair without chemical treatment (natural). For this qualitative approach, we utilized a cross-cultural approach and interviewed 12 African and African American college …

Promote Gender Equality And Empower Women: The Big Picture, Delylah Rasugu

Capstone Collection

This Capstone investigates the effectiveness of promoting gender and women’s empowerment policy. The Millennium Declaration adopted in the year 2000 by the United Nations member states lists the fundamental goals and objectives agreed in various international forums and summits. From this Declaration eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were born. The mandate was to provide standards to gauge the advancement towards global poverty and to achieve them by the year 2015. The third MDG aims to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment through political representation, employment and education. My capstone will use a macro perspective to analyse the impact of the …

The Under-Representation Of Minorities In Political Careers, Chelsea Barr, Ina Pae

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Numerous studies have found that people of color, women, and those with physical challenges are significantly under-represented in political careers due to societal barriers. For example, women’s participation in politics shows some improvement while women occupy only 12% of the political careers. To explore whether students and professors interested in political careers have experienced under-representation of minorities, a mixed-method approach with both surveys and interviews of Minnesota State University, Mankato, students and professors from the departments of Government and Gender and Women’s Studies were utilized. These students were selected because both fields study political institutions, and are likely to seek …

Book Review: Migrant Women Of Johannesburg: Life In An In-Between City, Mandi Maodzwa-Taruvinga, Chiedza R. M. Taruvinga

Journal of International Women's Studies

Review of Migrant Women of Johannesburg: Life in an in-Between City by Caroline Wanjiku Kihato, Wits University Press, 2013.

Book Review: Sheherazade’S Daughters: The Power Of Storytelling In Ecofeminist Change, Neelam Jabeen

Journal of International Women's Studies

Review of Sheherazade’s Daughters: The Power of Storytelling in Ecofeminist Change by Barbara Bennett; Peter Lang (publisher), 2012.

Book Review: Performing Democracy In Iraq And South Africa: Gender, Media And Resistance, Lindiwe D. Makhunga

Journal of International Women's Studies

Review of Performing Democracy in Iraq and South Africa: Gender, Media and Resistance by Kimberley Wedeven Segall; Syracuse University Press, 2014.

Book Review: Women And Entrepreneurship: Female Durability, Persistence And Intuition At Work, Caitlin Blaser

Journal of International Women's Studies

Review of Women and Entrepreneurship: Female Durability, Persistence and Intuition at Work by Mirjana Radović-Marković and Beatrice E. Avolio Alecchi; Gower Publishing, Ltd., 2013.

Women’S Liberation In Turkey Before The 1980s: The Case Of Nezihe Kurtiz, Fatma Fulya Tepe

Journal of International Women's Studies

A favorite argument for explaining the situation of women in Turkey is the one about emancipated but unliberated women published by Binnaz Toprak in 1982. Here, Toprak defended the idea that the legal reforms which were launched with the Westernization movement in 1923 emancipated women but could not liberate even the urban and educated ones. In 2000, this line of thought was extended to include the argument that women became both liberated and emancipated in the 1980s due to their feminist public and collective activism. While the former argument focuses more on the structures restricting women, the latter argument gives …

Wife, Mother, Vampire: The Female Role In The Twilight Series, Lauren Rocha

Journal of International Women's Studies

This article explores a feminist critique of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series (2005-2008), analyzing the ways in which the series is a symbolic backlash against feminism. Whereas previous vampire works depicted vampires as threats and outsiders to society, the Twilight series depicts the vampire characters as accepted in society, integrating their lives into mainstream society; as such, they highlight modern society’s fascination with female beauty ideals and physical beauty. In this article, I examine the ways in which Meyer’s portrayal of the Cullen vampires is reflective of repressive beauty ideals targeted towards women, arguing that Bella devalues herself because as a …

Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun: A Historical Survey Of A Woman Artist In The Eighteenth Century, Evangelia Karvouni

Journal of International Women's Studies

Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun may be considered one of the most celebrated women artists of eighteenth century France. The elegance of her style and her ability to produce idealized images of her noble sitters made her increasingly popular within royalist circles. She was particularly favoured by the Queen Marie Antoinette whom she painted in a manner that provoked controversy among the critics and the public. Vigee Le Brun’s approach to her royal subject was very sentimental as it can be seen from her statements in her autobiography, the “Memoirs”. After the outbreak of the Revolution, Vigee Le Brun fled …

Dowry In Bangladesh: A Search From An International Perspective For An Effective Legal Approach To Mitigate Women's Experiences, Afroza Begum

Journal of International Women's Studies

For some 40 years, Bangladesh has fought a losing battle against the existence of dowries and their associated abuse with no indication of even a minimal impact as dowry demands inflate and violence increases. In one year alone, dowry related violence claimed the lives of 325 women and contributed to 66.7 per cent of the violent incidents against women. This article aims to investigate the appropriateness and effectiveness of legal approaches to dowry and propose a different standard for redressing women’s disadvantaged situation in the traditional culture of Bangladesh.

Involvement And Labor Efficiency Of Rural Women In Agricultural Sector: A Study In Darrang District Of Assam (India), Ghana Kanta Sarma, Purabi Sarmah Baruah, Pabitra Kr. Bordoloi

Journal of International Women's Studies

Agriculture plays a very important role in the economic development of rural India. It is well known that the contribution of rural women in agricultural sectors is very significant. A study was conducted in the Darrang district of Assam with the objectives to explore the involvement of rural women in decision-making of different agricultural activities and to find out the labor efficiency of rural women in agricultural activities. Purposive sampling technique was used for selection of development blocks and random sampling technique was used for selection of villages in the study. The study revealed that in case of sericulture and …

Gender Difference And Poverty In The City Of Douala, Nanche Billa Robert

Journal of International Women's Studies

This article examines how gender disparity in terms of education, occupation and a person’s income influences poverty. The main question we asked was: how has Cameroon’s depressing economy for the past twenty-five years affected the present gender gap?

We use the relative method to measure poverty. We discovered the psychological and social essentials for ordinary living patterns in Douala which we used to construct our questionnaire. It was self-administered using the systematic sampling method.

The following results were obtained: 25.74 percent and 7.5 percent of men and women respectively earn above the poverty-line: 177,000frs CFA. Men earn an average salary …

Safety In The Urban Outdoors: Women Negotiating Fear Of Crime In The City Of Kolkata, Piyali Sur

Journal of International Women's Studies

This article examines women’s negotiation of potential risks in public spaces in the urban city of Kolkata. The deliberate focus on the public is to demonstrate that the city has different meanings for women than men in terms of risk so that fear of rape in the city becomes a virtual threat in the lives of women. The fear may not be linked to the actual violence but to the potential for harm that is experienced by individual women. Feminist scholars have pointed out that narratives of crime and violence have always constructed the city as the space of danger …