Gender and Sexuality

Your paper must be at least 6 pages, typed, double-spaced, in 12-point font with one-inch margins and should be formatted in proper MLA or APA style.

Your research paper must include 8 outside sources. This means you will actually need to use the research in your paper, not simply list it on a works cited or bibliography page. Primary research (films, books on an artist, interviews) can count for half of your research sources.

At least four sources must be from feminist or social scholars found in an academic source, like an academic journal or database. Ask a librarian for help if you’re having trouble finding appropriate sources.

You must have proper in-text citations and a works cited page in MLA or APA format. See the Purdue Online Writing Lab MLA or APA page for help citing sources. The writing center can also help with this.

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Step #1: Choose a Topic
It is essential that you choose a topic that will hold your interest for the term, since your work will be focused around this topic for some time. Though I will suggest several options below, you are also free to develop your own topic, but it must be approved by me, and I suggest that you check with me before the paper proposals are due. Here are some possible ideas for final papers:

Choose a film or genre of films (3-4 films of the same type) and do a feminist analysis of those films. Are the portrayals of women in these films sexist, racist, or otherwise problematic? What roles do women occupy in the film? You might also choose to narrow it down to a specific group of women, like women of color, lesbians, or women of size. Consider including links to a short clip of one or more of the films with your assignment.

Research a female artist (painter, photographer, poet, singer, writer, sculptor) and describe how her work is feminist. What does the artist’s work have to say about women and/or their place in society? Include samples of the artist’s work in your paper.

Do a collage of images of women in advertising, then write your paper based upon that collage and accompanying research. Look at how these images impact women: are these portrayals negative or positive? Are women in these ads being stereotyped, discriminated against, sexualized, or dehumanized in any way? You may also choose to explore the way a specific group of women is portrayed in advertising.

Interview 2-3 women of your generation, 2-3 women of your parents’ generation, and 2-3 women of your grandparents’ generation about the issues that they think were most important for young women of their generation. (Depending on your age, you might choose to interview people from the generations above and/or below you.) This will work best if you choose a specific topic to discuss, such as sexuality, birth control, abortion, women’s roles in the home or workplace, or education for women.
Step #2: Write the Proposal
Your proposal paper will be 1 page discussing your topic, how you will focus your topic, what resources you intend to use, and why you chose this topic. You should do some preliminary research before writing this paper to make sure you are able to find enough material to meet the requirements of this assignment.

Step #3: Complete the Research
Don’t wait until the last minute to do your research. The library has several different academic databases (EBSCO, ProQuest, Gale), which are a good place to look for academic sources. Make sure you check the “scholarly/peer reviewed” box when you are searching to find the appropriate materials. You should also check “full text” to return results that are full articles only. You can access the library from home using your student ID/login. I highly recommend asking the librarian for help if you are not doing well in your search. You can also ask the librarian about inter-library loans, but make sure to do this early on so the material arrives in time for you to complete your project. Remember you will need a total of 8 resources, and at least four must be from scholarly sources. Also make sure that you record all of the source information, including author’s name, title of the article, title of the larger work, pages, editors, publisher, where it was published, website addresses, and the date you looked at the material. If you have a source without all of this information, you won’t be able to use it in your paper unless you are able to find it again, so write everything down as you are doing your research. Ask me or a librarian for help if you are confused about any of these instructions.

Step #4: Write the Paper
The final paper will be at least 6 pages. Make sure to follow the guidelines given above very carefully. Read the syllabus carefully and pay attention to all due dates. If you’d like additional help with your paper, please make use of campus resources, such as the writing center.