topic
I am thinking about doing a paper that investigates instances of genital mutilation and female circumcision in the United States. I would want to focus on laws and legislation within the United States that would or would not allow this practice, cross-cultural differences that would support this act, and some different feminist perspectives on the topic, as they apply. I will try to research the occurences of this practice in the United States, as well as I can, considering the procedure has to be done by underground doctors and my not be done by choice. There are websites and different resources that show that there are some women in the US that desire to get this procedure done so I might delve into what would drive women to do that to themselves, from a feminist perspective. I will also try to look at the movement against this practice in the United States and our views in society on the topic and how that relates to cultural relativism.
Women's Studies
I started off my college career in Watauga College, which is how I know many of you fine people and was also how I was first introduced to women’s studies. I really enjoyed the Interdisciplinary approach that I was “experiencing” in my Watauga classes and through these classes I was able to find interest in learning about women’s rights and gender issues throughout history into today. I was actually so involved in women’s studies classes that I finished my required amount of classes my junior year so I decided to pursue a minor in political science. My main focus of interest is international women’s issues and politics so taking political science classes has helped to broaden my approach to my major.
I am currently working on applications for the Americorps and the Peace Corps. My ultimate dream job would be to travel and work for a branch of the UN focusing on the advancement of women’s rights or work for an international women’s organization. More than likely I will end up working with NPO’s. Now I just need to figure out how I can feasibly apply this major into the real world to something other than volunteer and intern positions because, as we all know, people are beating down the door for women’s studies majors. ;)
