Feminism and dissertations

[ChaoticAngel]

Hi, I've just seen the other thread from a poster doing a dissertation and I was wondering if you could help me with some suggestions too.

I'm doing a BA(hons) degree in cultural studies, which includes literature, language, psychology, sociology, religion, art history, politics, media, popular culture and philosophy. I would like to include feminism as part of the dissertation but have no idea what to do.

I hope you don't think I'm being patronising (the one question I always get asked when I say I'm doing cultural studies is "What is it?") but to explain the degree a little bit more it consisted of five fields with the following titles:

Language, Politics & Society
Literature, Art & Modernity
Philosophy, Religion & Ethics
Popular Culture & The Media
Turbulent Texts (Cultures of Desire and Abject Voices)

My dissertation has to be connected to the degree somehow and feminism was one of the theories we did in the core module on level two.

Two of the 'politics' modules were 21st century Britain, which despite the title started from the Thatcher years and Global Politics After 9/11. There is also, in the second semester of the third year, a module titled Contemporary Ethical Issues which comes under the P,R,E field. I was thinking maybe something along those lines but have no clear idea what.

Maybe someone on here can help :)

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

well, what kind of feminist issues are you interested in (vaguely)? Or general issues? You need to be interested if you don't want it to be a massive chore.

[ChaoticAngel]

The feminist theory we did was one of my favourite parts of the course so I don't think it would be a massive chore.

When I've been reading threads on here and articles on other sites I've always found rape and abortion to be interesting issues. I hope that doesn't sound insensitive. Also sex discrimination has a tendency to raise my blood pressure.

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

what were your other favourite modules? just trying to get an idea if you could smoosh two things together.

[ChaoticAngel]

Sorry had to take the dog for a walk.

I did enjoy 'Text and Echoes' which looked at texts and their modern counterparts eg Pride & Prejudice and Bridget Jones diary. 'The Quest for the Sublime' which examined 'sublime' culture emerging from Romanticism in the 18th and 19th centuries. 'The Craving Vacancy' - the expression of female desire. The theory of women being forced into the role of 'angel in the house' contrasted with the view that the 18th century was a time of female pleasure.

I enjoyed most of the modules I took but they were the most enjoyable, along with the two political ones.

[ChaoticAngel]

Btw your first post has made me start thinking and has already given me a few thoughts about the dissertation so thanks for that.

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

Funny I was thinking about The Angel in the House earlier WRT another thread.

Mm, you could look at the idea of backlash - have you read the Susan Faludi book? And try to trace episodes of feminist advancement followed by backlashes in an era you like?

You could look at the relationship between sexual freedom/libertinism and assertiveness in female characters. I'm thinking of the fact that IIRC most 'feisty' female characters are actually prostitutes (Moll Flanders) or their virtue is in question (Roaring Girl etc)...

[ChaoticAngel]

I've dipped into the Susan Faludi book but haven't read it all, I will do though.

I like those ideas, especially the second one. I remember seeing the tv adaptation of Moll Flanders, starring Alex Kingston, although I haven't read the book itself but could easily do so.

Thanks, you've been really helpful :)

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

Just an idea :)

I am thinking along the lines of - why do strong female characters have to have an element of ambiguity about their sexual purity? Is sexual purity incompatable with strength of character? (although you have strong virgins like e.g. Pamela but even her virginity is in doubt at some point IIRC).

"Adventuress" is a word that IIRC is applied to prostitutes, but also women who make their own way in the world. Why is the self-supporting woman synonymous with the prostitute? How did it start? How did it break down? (Women have always run businesses etc but these people are invisible in nearly all literature until...late 19th century?)

Just some ramblings!

[ChaoticAngel]

Thanks again :)

I'm off now to read some more of Lolita, for another module. Night.

[chocolatestar]

I did my dissertation on representations of rape in film. It was hard going at times but interesting and I got a first. Good luck whatever you decide!

[ChaoticAngel]

Some more excellent ideas, thank you :)