Gender and Sexuality Commons^™

Culture Shock, Hannah M. Frantz, Stephanie K. Adamczak, Elizabeth A. Rupert

SURGE

Take one week living in our culture:

Monday: A student quotes other students on Overheard at Gettysburg.

“In the commons at 8:50am. Two girls. Completely serious.

Girl 1: Have you been outside? Girl 2: Yea! It’s rape weather. Girl 1: I know. A girl could totally get raped out there.” [excerpt]

Fearless: Casey Butrico And Melanie Emerson, Casey E. Butrico, Melanie P. Emerson

SURGE

Casey Butrico (‘16) and Melanie Emerson (‘16) recently started a discussion group called Students for Reproductive Justice. This group is dedicated to the belief that women should control all aspects of their reproduction, including education about and access to safe birth control. They also aim to focus on gynecological care, pre-natal care, and abortion as human rights. These two fearless first-years have made a mission to educate and raise awareness about local and national issues that relate to women’s reproductive autonomy and the legal restrictions threatening it. [excerpt]

How To Look Like A Lesbian Without Even Trying, Laura J. Koenig

SURGE

“Ugh. I hate those pictures. I look like such a lesbian in them,” my cousin explained to me while her family and I sat around their kitchen table. After she said this, her younger brother laughed into his chicken noodle soup and she hit him over the head. “Shut up. I’m telling you. They’re so bad,” she said. As the conversation went on, I learn that she was referring to pictures that had been taken at one of her lacrosse practices. The important part is that she was displeased with the photos. And it’s certainly not because someone had caught …

Fearless: One Billion Rising, Center For Public Service

SURGE

One Billion Rising is the annual global celebration associated with the kick-off of the Vagina Monologues. It is a day that encourages women to dance, taking ownership of their bodies, of the space they occupy, and of the rights to expression that they deserve. Over 200 men and women joined in the celebration which took place in the Junction on Feb 14th. Speakers included Professor Stephanie Sellers and Terri Hamrick (CEO of Survivors, Inc.), a student choreographed performance by Elle Rupert (’13) and Riccardo Purita (’13), and ended with a group zumba dance to ring in One Billion Rising! [ …

Wajma (An Afghan Love Story), Dereck Daschke

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Wajma (An Afghan Love Story) (2013) directed by Barmak Akram.

The Feminine Peter Pan, Felicia Jones

AWE (A Woman’s Experience)

Cross-casting in performances has effected outrage and social dilemmas in audiences, despite the important cultural messages those characters display. Since its beginning as a play, women have been cast as the young boy Peter in Peter Pan. J.M. Barrie wrote Peter Pan through inspiration from the young deaths of his brother and childhood friend, who will always remain in their youth. In order to capture that youthful innocence, females have been cast as Peter. This choice in casting was also made to achieve androgyny and transcend gender by blurring gender lines.

The “Reproductive Destiny” Of Women: Constructing Women Solely As Reproductive Entities In Oral Contraceptive Medical Texts, Andrea Carson

Cultural Analysis and Social Theory Major Research Papers

This major research paper analyzes the representation of women and sexual reproduction in Western oral contraceptive medical texts. Drawing on previous feminist and sociological literature on the medicalization of women’s sexuality and reproduction, I suggest that these texts draw upon a particular discourse that confines/restricts the social construction of women as reproductive entities. This study is based on a discourse analysis of 10 oral contraceptive medical texts, published between 1965 and 2007. Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of feminism and medicalization, I interrogate how womanhood and motherhood become inexplicably linked and how women are homogenised based on their reproductive capacities. …

The Va-Jay-Jay Revolution

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings and art about beauty standards, the portrayal of lesbians on television, a critique of the word bitch, organized religion as a violation of women's rights, harassment in public spaces, and the representation of women in various countries as observed by studying abroad.

The Beauty Mark, Annie Bruington, Connor O'Brien, Jackie Topete

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings and art critiquing television programming, sexual harassment experienced on campus, and racism experienced by a Mexican-American woman.

The Feminist Hollywood, Stephanie Fasi, Guillaume Beaudoin, Shane Dicristina

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings and art examining feature films thought to represent feminist values, the evolution of female Disney characters, and female musicians who challenge the patriarchal music industry.

Femjam: A History Of All-Girl Bands, Kelsey Hart, Yelena Liepelt, Mackenzie Smith

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings and artwork depicting a feminist history of female- and queer-fronted music.

Speculation And The Emotional Economy Of 'Mansfield Park', Laura Vorachek

English Faculty Publications

At the midpoint of Mansfield Park (1814), the Bertram family dines at the Parsonage, and card games make up the after dinner entertainment. The characters form two groups, with Sir Thomas, Mrs. Norris, and Mr. and Mrs. Grant playing Whist, while Lady Bertram, Fanny, William, Edmund, and Henry and Mary Crawford play Speculation, This scene is central not only because Speculation reveals certain characters' personalities, but also because another type of “speculation” occurs during the game as the players contemplate or conjecture about one another. Moreover, “speculation” in the sense of gambling functions as a metaphor for the vicissitudes of …

Buffy Vs. Dracula: Feminism And Its Fanged Foe, Amethyst Hethcoat, Leah Chole

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings and artwork critiquing popular vampire culture and "strong female characters" in popular media through a feminist lens.

Women In Media, Lindsay Taylor, Hadley Dion, Shelley Dehekker

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

No abstract provided.

Rogue, Annie Hornung, Eva Mcavoy, Sara Knobel

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

No abstract provided.

W.O.C. In Da Biz, Graeme Aegerter, Ellen Butterworth, Katie Davidson

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings and art addressing intersectionalities of music, gender, and race, focusing on M.I.A., Janelle Monae, and Ciara Princess Harris.

The Handbook Of Self-Loathing, Haley Bresnahan, Kristen Pagnan, Katie Dumas

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings and artwork on body image and dieting (including "fat phobia").

Wonder Woman Complex, Camellia Khalvati, Sarah Dawson, Kathleen Doll

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings and artwork deconstructing the institution of marriage, beauty standards, motherhood, and work ("the glorification of busy").

What You Need To Know About Sex, Lauren Gardner, Paula Pearl, Jessie Roth, Cristina Smith

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings and artwork examining messages about sex and contraception in the media, intimate partner violence, sexuality and gender in popular music, and sexuality.

Potpourri, Jasmin Sanchez, Jessica Swaney

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings, artwork, and activities addressing rape culture and victim blaming, a feminist perspective of crocheting, gendered titles for women professionals, reclaiming language (particularly the word bitch), and the music of Claire Boucher (a.k.a. Grimes). Original zine contents include a CD and crocheted "FemPower" bookmark.

I'M A Barbie Girl, In A Barbie World, Sydnee Goodman, Brenda Haug, Nicole Winkler

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings and artwork examining beauty standards in advertising and fashion (including "The Disney Effect"), eating disorders, dieting, and cosmetic surgery.

Pussy Pride, Andy Fab

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings and art about Riot Grrrrl history and culture, written from the perspective of a self-proclaimed "gay boy."

The Feminist Technique, Nate Woodward, Jessica Rabalis, Emily Risbrough

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings and artwork on male feminism and masculinities, dating, rape culture, and interpersonal consent.

50 Shades Of Feminism, Debbie Urimolchai, Chontelle Vargas, Ariel Jean Chaklai

Women’s Studies, Feminist Zine Archive

Writings and artwork on white privilege and Westernized feminism, intersectionality, and purdah (or pardah).

Grounding The International Norm On Women, Peace And Security: The Role Of Domestic Norm Entrepreneurs And The Challenges Ahead, Ma. Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza

Political Science Department Faculty Publications

One of the gaps in the study of international norms is the process by which they are institutionalized and accepted at the national level. As the international norm negotiates its way through various national (and even grassroots) levels, a point of inquiry would be how domestic norm entrepreneurs have enabled its localization. This study looks at the narrative of a loose network of peace and women’s human rights groups that worked together to localize United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women, peace and security in the Philippines. Specifically, it reviews how the network evolved to become a domestic …

Feminism, Breastfeeding, And Society, Jen Bracken-Hull

AWE (A Woman’s Experience)

A dichotomy exists among feminists regarding the views and contributions of breastfeeding. Across several waves of feminism women have argued for and against breastfeeding. Until recently, breastfeeding (regarding the bearing and nurturing of children) was seen as a responsibility that prevented women from participating in public circles. This article delineates the general contributions made by women who breastfeed including biological, social, emotional, and personal factors. Changes and accommodations are required for women who choose to breastfeed to not be disadvantaged.

The Importance Of Female Choice: Evolutionary Perspectives On Constraints, Expressions, And Variations, David Frederick, Tania A. Reynolds, Maryanne L. Fisher

Psychology Faculty Books and Book Chapters

This chapter introduces the reader to some of the influential perspectives on female mate choice in human evolutionary biology, including parental investment theory. We then present two key theories in evolutionary psychology that have been applied to understand variations in women’s mating preferences and choices: sexual strategies theory and strategic pluralism theory. Although the importance of female choice has gained widespread acceptance in the biological sciences, the influence that female choice has on mating systems can be limited by many factors, such as control over mating decisions by parents and men’s control over women’s sexuality. Despite these constraints on female …

Women's Mobilization In Latin America: A Case Study Of Venezuela, Brianna Russell

Master's Theses

Abstract

I examine the following elements in regards to women’s mobilization in Latin America and Venezuela from the late 1950s to the present: (a) the influence of the state and economy on times when women mobilized (b) class division within the movement (c) women’s demands during different time periods (d) the ways in which women were successful in working towards gender equality. This thesis reviews the literature on women’s mobilization in Latin America during the second half of the twentieth century. I find that women mobilized across class lines with the masses to end dictatorships. Women demobilized during transitions to …

Why Eu Work-Family Reconciliation Policies Fail In Italy: A Feminist Legal Analysis, Chrystal Orozco

Master's Theses

Following the establishment of the European Parental Leave Directive (96/34/EC), the female employment rate in Italy is still ranked the third lowest in the European Union (EU) and Italian women continue to do twice as much household work as Italian men. Parents, especially women, struggle to find a balance between professional work and their family lives in a society that encourages the traditional gendered roles of the housewife and the breadwinner. The following study is a theoretical analysis of the Parental Leave Directive and the potential domestic influences that may prevent Italy from progressing socially towards gender equality. This study …

Why Chinese Neo-Confucian Women Made A Fetish Of Small Feet, Aubrey L. Mcmahan

Grand Valley Journal of History

Abstract for “Why Chinese Neo-Confucian Women Made a Fetish of Small Feet”

This paper explores the source of the traditional practice of Chinese footbinding which first gained popularity at the end of the Tang dynasty and continued to flourish until the last half of the twentieth century.[1] Derived initially from court concubines whose feet were formed to represent an attractive “deer lady” from an Indian tale, footbinding became a wide-spread symbol among the Chinese of obedience, pecuniary reputability, and Confucianism, among other things.[2]^,[3] Drawing on the analyses of such scholars as Beverly Jackson, Valerie Steele …