Aim to integrated sources throughout and have your sources ‘interact’ with one another; for example, how might they support each other or challenge each other?

WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES

• Paper should be analytical and not descriptive.

• Create an effective thesis statement that makes an argument/claim about a

particular area/component/aspect of a classic or contemporary discourse in WGST.

• Use academic research to support claim/argument and demonstrate a logical, thoughtful argument throughout that demonstrates effective and accurate use of 5 scholarly sources.

• Paper must attend to intersectionality.

• Use first person only; “I argue…” “From hooks (2000), I understand that…”

• Avoid phrases such as “society” “economy”, etc., as these say too much and not enough; be specific—patriarchal capitalism, for example, is more specific.

• Avoid generalizations and sweeping claims. Attend to nuisances.

• A maximum of two short (less than 40 words) quotes or one (longer than 40 words) quotes can be used (see OWL Purdue for how to do block quotes for longer quotes).

• Direct all APA, citing, formatting questions to the OWL Purdue Writing Lab or the various resources listed on SAKAI.

• Use author’s last name, not book/chapter/article titles in essay. Example, “hooks (1989) argues…” as opposed to “In From Margin to Centre (1989), hooks argues…”

• NOTE: 5.5 pages is not considered 6. While you can go over slightly, try to adhere to 6 pages (7 pages would be acceptable).

Required sources:

• Minimum of 5 scholarly sources must be used effectively. Sources should be academic books, journal articles from peer reviewed sources. If using more than 5 sources, ensure each is used effectively.

• Aim to integrated sources throughout and have your sources ‘interact’ with one another; for example, how might they support each other or challenge each other?

• Additional sources include that can be included in addition to the 5 scholarly sources: lecture content may be used in limited amounts (i.e., information from one or two lectures, maximum); videos/documentaries can be used but only in addition to the 4 academic sources.

• Start with course sources! If having trouble, please contact WGST Librarian, Jennifer Thiessen, for more help on relevant academic sources.

Non-exhaustive suggested essay topics:

1. Feminist discourses around the concept of equality; select a particular time frame or area of focus and address how the concept of equality has been understood.

2. Problems and limitations with the notion of a universal concept of womanhood and/or shared oppression. Focus on a specific area or way that this universalizing has been evident and critiqued.

3. How has Crenshaw’s concept of intersectional thinking forced new discourses in WGST? Be specific in focus.

4. Anti-colonial discourse in WGST and the importance of this discourse for the discipline.

5. Challenges to the representation of women as victims within certain feminist theoretical frameworks.

6. Feminist discourses in WGST focusing on activism around ending sexual violence against women.

7. Feminist discourses around the intersections of racialized and gendered violence.

8. Feminist discourses and challenges to the law; focus on a particular topic and how feminists have discussed the topic and the significance of their work to the discipline.

9. Feminist discourses and discussions around the ‘waves’ metaphor.

10.Contemporary third wave feminist discourses around social construction of gender.

11.Discourses in WGST around sex work; focus on a particular aspect of sex work or a particular discourse in WGST around sex work.

12.Contemporary third wave feminist discourses around sex work as work.

13.Discourses around the linguistic shift toward the term ‘sex work’.