Caitlin Fisher
Abstract
Despite numerous legislations in America providing equality and opportunities for women, there still remains a dissonance in the present-day in certain regions of the country. More specifically, the urban setting is defined by its landscape: large buildings, unique architecture, and formulaic divisions of housing and businesses. Similarly, femininity is also impacted by the landscape it is assessed in. Certain buildings and subdivisions of the city do not accommodate female presence. Femininity is not only a social construct, the environment plays a major role in its creation and application. Being a woman in the urban sphere connotes sexuality and deviance. Wilson asserts that being a woman in the city can be compared to that of a Sphinx in the city, which was a woman’s head on a lion’s body who would kill anyone who could not solve her riddle. This dissertation analyzes the landscapes, structures and ultimately, the forces within the city that create these concepts of femininity. Ethnographies as well interviews provide excellent insights into the self-perception of femininity and the current view of female presence in the city. Washington, DC is an eclectic city where its diversity is only outshined by its history. By further analyzing the reason for the dissonance between femininity in the city and elsewhere, we can avoid continuing to build the oppressive landscapes and connotations that shape the meaning of femininity in the future. (232 Words)
Could you explain how femininity is a social construct and why it needs to be that way? Also, how will the interviews help and who would they be with? Other than that, I like this! Very fitting with your paper.
ReplyDeleteVery detailed! I like your ending. It leaves the reader knowing there is much more to come.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. You've done a really good job of defining your topic, and your abstract makes me curious how you will examine femininity in this context.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget you're title! It's the first impression someone when gets when finding your research.
ReplyDeleteYou provided good details of your methodology and importance of your topic, but I was a little thrown off by the Sphinx quote. I get the metaphor, but it didn't seem to fit perfectly in the body. Maybe rephrase it or post it near the beginning to grab the readers attention
This is overall very good. Inequality in gender is a topic that is very important and I think you do a great job in going over that in your abstract, and it's great that you mentioned DC so people knew where exactly you are looking.
ReplyDeleteGood job! This is well written and thought out. Can't wait to read the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteThe ethnography's, are they from a ranging time period to showcase evolving ideas towards femininity?
ReplyDeleteNice work! I especially liked the word "dissonance" that you used, perfect word choice. You might be able to do away with the quoting though
ReplyDeleteI like how you are focusing on D.C. since it is so close to UMBC, it is relevant to scholars in the vicinity as well as scholars who analyze women/ gender differences in society.
ReplyDeleteGood Job! My only suggestions are to explain what the interviews will bring to your paper and how they will help further your researh. Also while I really like the quote you used I think it is a bit out of place, maybe you could start your abstract with it. It would make a good attention grabber.
ReplyDeleteGood work! Women are so often the forgotten minority, I think it is always good to better understand feminine issues.
ReplyDeleteI think this topic is really awesome, I like how you are focusing on just one area because gender differences can vary so much from one location to another.
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