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• 11. [Article] Effectiveness of end-user debugging software features : are there gender issues?

  Although gender differences in a technological world are receiving significant research attention, much of the research and practice has aimed at how society and education can impact the successes and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Effectiveness of end-user debugging software features : are there gender issues? Author: Cook, Curtis R., Beckwith, Laura A., Burnett, Margaret, 1949-, Sorte, Shraddha, Wiedenbeck, Susan, Hastings, Michelle, Oregon State University. Dept. of Computer Science Although gender differences in a technological world are receiving significant research attention, much of the research and practice has aimed at how society and education can impact the successes and retention of female computer science professionals—but the possibility of gender issues within software has received almost no attention. If gender issues exist with some types of software features, it is possible that accommodating them by changing these features can increase effectiveness, but only if we know what these issues are. In this paper, we empirically investigate gender differences for end users in the context of debugging spreadsheets. Our results uncover significant gender differences in feature acceptance, and show that these differences can significantly impact effectiveness. Title: Effectiveness of end-user debugging software features : are there gender issues? Author: Cook, Curtis R., Beckwith, Laura A., Burnett, Margaret, 1949-, Sorte, Shraddha, Wiedenbeck, Susan, Hastings, Michelle, Oregon State University. Dept. of Computer Science Although gender differences in a technological world are receiving significant research attention, much of the research and practice has aimed at how society and education can impact the successes and retention of female computer science professionals—but the possibility of gender issues within software has received almost no attention. If gender issues exist with some types of software features, it is possible that accommodating them by changing these features can increase effectiveness, but only if we know what these issues are. In this paper, we empirically investigate gender differences for end users in the context of debugging spreadsheets. Our results uncover significant gender differences in feature acceptance, and show that these differences can significantly impact effectiveness. Close

• 12. [Article] The Experiences of Male Students in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

  Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) is an interdisciplinary academic field that addresses gender, sexuality, and social justice issues. The research objective of this project was to examine the ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Experiences of Male Students in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Author: Viveros Cespedes, Marcos Andres Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) is an interdisciplinary academic field that addresses gender, sexuality, and social justice issues. The research objective of this project was to examine the attitudes of self-identified male students in introductory Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies for winter term 2016 at Oregon State University. This project used the research method from a similar study done in 2005 at Oregon State University to provide an analysis on male attitudes about gender and social justice. The purpose of this replication was to measure the attitudes of research participants in both studies about gender and social justice. A mix-methods approach was used to assess potential impacts that WGSS has on self-identified male students. The results of this research demonstrate that male students in 2016 gained new perspectives on gender and social equality. This research showed evidence of the conflict between privileged male students identities and how these identities impacted their engagement with WGSS. The results of the comparison between 2016 and 2005 indicated that self-identified male students perceived themselves to be more open about gender and social equality. Recommendations for Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and for future research are also discussed Title: The Experiences of Male Students in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Author: Viveros Cespedes, Marcos Andres Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) is an interdisciplinary academic field that addresses gender, sexuality, and social justice issues. The research objective of this project was to examine the attitudes of self-identified male students in introductory Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies for winter term 2016 at Oregon State University. This project used the research method from a similar study done in 2005 at Oregon State University to provide an analysis on male attitudes about gender and social justice. The purpose of this replication was to measure the attitudes of research participants in both studies about gender and social justice. A mix-methods approach was used to assess potential impacts that WGSS has on self-identified male students. The results of this research demonstrate that male students in 2016 gained new perspectives on gender and social equality. This research showed evidence of the conflict between privileged male students identities and how these identities impacted their engagement with WGSS. The results of the comparison between 2016 and 2005 indicated that self-identified male students perceived themselves to be more open about gender and social equality. Recommendations for Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and for future research are also discussed Close

• 13. [Article] Children's housework in single-mother and single-father families

  Using data from the 1987-1988 National Survey of Families and Households, this study compared time children of single mothers (n = 717) and fathers (n = 78) spent on housework. Housework takes time and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Children's housework in single-mother and single-father families Author: Hall, Leslie Duke Using data from the 1987-1988 National Survey of Families and Households, this study compared time children of single mothers (n = 717) and fathers (n = 78) spent on housework. Housework takes time and many parents combine it with employment and child rearing. Characteristics of families headed by single mothers and fathers differ: mothers have more and younger children, fathers have more. The purpose of this study was to use a nationally representative data set to examine participation in housework by children in single-parent families. It examined whether the pattern of labor differed by gender of parent or child, or by an interaction between the two. Central to the theoretical perspective is the nation that the gendered division of labor in unpaid family work is part of socially constructed gender. Because parent characteristics and child characteristics influence children's housework, these and other variables were explored. Variables which were significant in preliminary analyses were entered into the final analyses. The dependent variables were time children spent in housework, both absolute (hours) and relative (percentage of time spent by children of the time spent by children and parents), measured for overall, "feminine," and "masculine" housework. General Linear Models were used in the first set of analyses, testing for differences by gender of parent as if mother households and father households were equal on all covariates. Multiple regression models were used in the second set of analyses exploring the impact of child gender. Multiple regression models with an interaction factor (gender of child and gender of parent) were used in the final analyses. Families headed by single fathers overall did less housework than families headed by single mothers. Children of fathers spent a higher percentage of time in housework than children of mothers. There was no interaction between parent gender and child gender that would show only fathers or only mothers burden their daughters. As in two-parent households, daughters in single-mother and in single-father families do more housework than sons. Title: Children's housework in single-mother and single-father families Author: Hall, Leslie Duke Using data from the 1987-1988 National Survey of Families and Households, this study compared time children of single mothers (n = 717) and fathers (n = 78) spent on housework. Housework takes time and many parents combine it with employment and child rearing. Characteristics of families headed by single mothers and fathers differ: mothers have more and younger children, fathers have more. The purpose of this study was to use a nationally representative data set to examine participation in housework by children in single-parent families. It examined whether the pattern of labor differed by gender of parent or child, or by an interaction between the two. Central to the theoretical perspective is the nation that the gendered division of labor in unpaid family work is part of socially constructed gender. Because parent characteristics and child characteristics influence children's housework, these and other variables were explored. Variables which were significant in preliminary analyses were entered into the final analyses. The dependent variables were time children spent in housework, both absolute (hours) and relative (percentage of time spent by children of the time spent by children and parents), measured for overall, "feminine," and "masculine" housework. General Linear Models were used in the first set of analyses, testing for differences by gender of parent as if mother households and father households were equal on all covariates. Multiple regression models were used in the second set of analyses exploring the impact of child gender. Multiple regression models with an interaction factor (gender of child and gender of parent) were used in the final analyses. Families headed by single fathers overall did less housework than families headed by single mothers. Children of fathers spent a higher percentage of time in housework than children of mothers. There was no interaction between parent gender and child gender that would show only fathers or only mothers burden their daughters. As in two-parent households, daughters in single-mother and in single-father families do more housework than sons. Close

• 14. [Article] Gender-role orientation as a predictor of marital quality

  Over the past 10 years there has been much research on various aspects of gender-role orientation. Specifically, many studies have explored gender-role orientation as a predictor of psychological adjustment. Findings ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Gender-role orientation as a predictor of marital quality Author: Lange, Sandra L. Over the past 10 years there has been much research on various aspects of gender-role orientation. Specifically, many studies have explored gender-role orientation as a predictor of psychological adjustment. Findings suggest that masculine and androgynous individuals are high on psychological adjustment whereas, feminine and undifferentiated individuals score lower on adjustment. On the other hand, the research on gender-role orientation as a predictor of marital quality reveal that highly feminine individuals (feminine and androgynous) score high on marital quality and masculine individuals, which are found to score highly on psychological adjustment, score lower on marital quality. The purpose of this study was to further explore gender-role orientation as a predictor of marital quality and to shed some light on the findings between psychological adjustment and marital quality. Bems Sex Role Inventory (1974) was used to measure gender-role orientation. Marital quality was measured by Braiker and Kelley's (1979) relationship questionnaire which served as a global assessment of the relationships. A second measurement of marital quality was an inventory of marital activities (Cate, 1980). This measured the number of specific activities the couples participated in, as well as a subjective evaluation of the amount of pleasure of the specific activities. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) were run to examine differences in wives' marital quality scores between groups of husbands with different gender-role orientations. Additional AMOVA's were run to test for differences in husband's marital quality scores between groups of wives with different gender-role orientations. Correlation coefficients were then performed between husbands' femininity and wives' marital quality and other correlations were run between wives' femininity and husbands' marital quality. These were performed to explore the relationship between femininity and marital quality. Lastly, the same logic applied in testing the relationship between masculinity and marital quality. Results indicated that husbands married to highly feminine wives perceived the pleasure of their marital activities to be significantly higher than husbands married to masculine wives. There were no significant differences in wives' marital quality among the husbands' different gender-role orientations. Masculine orientation did not relate to marital quality. Title: Gender-role orientation as a predictor of marital quality Author: Lange, Sandra L. Over the past 10 years there has been much research on various aspects of gender-role orientation. Specifically, many studies have explored gender-role orientation as a predictor of psychological adjustment. Findings suggest that masculine and androgynous individuals are high on psychological adjustment whereas, feminine and undifferentiated individuals score lower on adjustment. On the other hand, the research on gender-role orientation as a predictor of marital quality reveal that highly feminine individuals (feminine and androgynous) score high on marital quality and masculine individuals, which are found to score highly on psychological adjustment, score lower on marital quality. The purpose of this study was to further explore gender-role orientation as a predictor of marital quality and to shed some light on the findings between psychological adjustment and marital quality. Bems Sex Role Inventory (1974) was used to measure gender-role orientation. Marital quality was measured by Braiker and Kelley's (1979) relationship questionnaire which served as a global assessment of the relationships. A second measurement of marital quality was an inventory of marital activities (Cate, 1980). This measured the number of specific activities the couples participated in, as well as a subjective evaluation of the amount of pleasure of the specific activities. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) were run to examine differences in wives' marital quality scores between groups of husbands with different gender-role orientations. Additional AMOVA's were run to test for differences in husband's marital quality scores between groups of wives with different gender-role orientations. Correlation coefficients were then performed between husbands' femininity and wives' marital quality and other correlations were run between wives' femininity and husbands' marital quality. These were performed to explore the relationship between femininity and marital quality. Lastly, the same logic applied in testing the relationship between masculinity and marital quality. Results indicated that husbands married to highly feminine wives perceived the pleasure of their marital activities to be significantly higher than husbands married to masculine wives. There were no significant differences in wives' marital quality among the husbands' different gender-role orientations. Masculine orientation did not relate to marital quality. Close

• 15. [Article] Fishermen, fisherwoman and Climate Change

  Abstract Only

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Fishermen, fisherwoman and Climate Change Author: Frocklin, Sara, Torre-Castro, Maricela de la, Jiddawi, Narriman, Lindstrom, Lars Abstract Only Title: Fishermen, fisherwoman and Climate Change Author: Frocklin, Sara, Torre-Castro, Maricela de la, Jiddawi, Narriman, Lindstrom, Lars Abstract Only Close

• 16. [Article] The impact of gender-role identity, gender ideology and drinking motivation on binge drinking and behavioral outcomes

  The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in students' drinking patterns and the resultant negative consequences based on gender role identity, gender role ideology and self-reported ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The impact of gender-role identity, gender ideology and drinking motivation on binge drinking and behavioral outcomes Author: Ketcham, Patricia The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in students' drinking patterns and the resultant negative consequences based on gender role identity, gender role ideology and self-reported drinking motivations on a college campus. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 735 university students. Gender identity, gender role ideology and drinking motivations were measured using the following scales: 1) Drinking Motives Questionnaire (DMQ) (Cooper, 1994), 2) Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) (Bem, 1974), and 3) Sex Role Egalitarianism Scale, short version (SRES) (King, Beere, King & Beere, 1984). Results of this study indicated that the vast majority of students (93.2%) had consumed alcohol during the past 30 days and almost three-quarters (74.3%) of the students responding to the survey were binge drinkers. Seventy-seven percentof males and 72. percent of females reported binge drinking. Support was found in this study for the convergence model, as the distribution of binge drinkers and nonbinge drinkers was not significantly different between men and women. Gender identity and gender role ideology were analyzed to provide a possible explanation for lack of difference found between males and females drinking patterns. Students with higher expressive traits were less likely to binge drink and more likely to limit the number of drinks they consumed. Sex role egalitarianism appeared to have some influence on binge drinking behavior. Students with more traditional attitudes towards gender roles were more likely to be binge drinkers. While gender ideology was able to predict the probability of being a binge drinker, gender identity was not a significant predictor of binge drinking. As a result of drinking, a large number of students had experienced negative behavioral consequences within the last six months. Overall 45.4 percent of students experienced 1-4 negative consequences, while 38.6 percent reported 5-13 negative consequences during the previous 6 months. Students who were binge drinkers were almost 3 times as likely to have an alcohol related arrest as nonbingers, and two times as likely to have participated in unplanned or regretted sex. Considering all other independent variables (gender ideology and gender identity), drinking motives were the strongest predictors of student binge drinking and the negative consequences associated with that drinking. Title: The impact of gender-role identity, gender ideology and drinking motivation on binge drinking and behavioral outcomes Author: Ketcham, Patricia The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in students' drinking patterns and the resultant negative consequences based on gender role identity, gender role ideology and self-reported drinking motivations on a college campus. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 735 university students. Gender identity, gender role ideology and drinking motivations were measured using the following scales: 1) Drinking Motives Questionnaire (DMQ) (Cooper, 1994), 2) Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) (Bem, 1974), and 3) Sex Role Egalitarianism Scale, short version (SRES) (King, Beere, King & Beere, 1984). Results of this study indicated that the vast majority of students (93.2%) had consumed alcohol during the past 30 days and almost three-quarters (74.3%) of the students responding to the survey were binge drinkers. Seventy-seven percentof males and 72. percent of females reported binge drinking. Support was found in this study for the convergence model, as the distribution of binge drinkers and nonbinge drinkers was not significantly different between men and women. Gender identity and gender role ideology were analyzed to provide a possible explanation for lack of difference found between males and females drinking patterns. Students with higher expressive traits were less likely to binge drink and more likely to limit the number of drinks they consumed. Sex role egalitarianism appeared to have some influence on binge drinking behavior. Students with more traditional attitudes towards gender roles were more likely to be binge drinkers. While gender ideology was able to predict the probability of being a binge drinker, gender identity was not a significant predictor of binge drinking. As a result of drinking, a large number of students had experienced negative behavioral consequences within the last six months. Overall 45.4 percent of students experienced 1-4 negative consequences, while 38.6 percent reported 5-13 negative consequences during the previous 6 months. Students who were binge drinkers were almost 3 times as likely to have an alcohol related arrest as nonbingers, and two times as likely to have participated in unplanned or regretted sex. Considering all other independent variables (gender ideology and gender identity), drinking motives were the strongest predictors of student binge drinking and the negative consequences associated with that drinking. Close

• 17. [Article] Fraternity men's diversity experiences and degree of gender role conflict

  Gender role conflict has been found to be a psychological condition that produces negative outcomes for men as they negotiate the tensions between who they truly are and who they feel they must be based ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Fraternity men's diversity experiences and degree of gender role conflict Author: Schalewski, Lucas L. Gender role conflict has been found to be a psychological condition that produces negative outcomes for men as they negotiate the tensions between who they truly are and who they feel they must be based on social expectations (O'Neil, Helms, Gable, David, & Wrightsman, 1986). Recent studies on college men's gender identity development suggests diversity experiences in higher education may influence positive and healthy masculine identities (Harris III, 2010; Edwards & Jones, 2009). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify relationships between fraternity men's diversity experiences and their degree of gender role conflict. The research subjects in the present study include 341 fraternity men at a comprehensive research university in the Pacific Northwest. Data was collected through a survey instrument that measured fraternity men's degree of gender role conflict, interactional diversity experiences, and classroom diversity experiences. Descriptive statistics and inferential analysis is used to evaluate the existence of relationships between fraternity men's diversity experiences and their degree of gender role conflict. Findings indicate there is no significant statistical relationship between gender role conflict and interactional diversity experiences or gender role conflict and classroom diversity experiences. However, results do show college men's interactional diversity experiences may be an indirect negative predictor of gender role conflict because of the identified negative relationship interactional diversity experiences has on two out of the four patterns that make up gender role conflict: Restrictive Emotionality and Restrictive Affectionate Behavior Between Men. These results suggest interactional diversity experiences is one educational opportunity in college that encourages men to make meaning of different social identities in a way that supports the expression of emotions and intimacy between men, which in return, lowers men's degree of gender role conflict. Title: Fraternity men's diversity experiences and degree of gender role conflict Author: Schalewski, Lucas L. Gender role conflict has been found to be a psychological condition that produces negative outcomes for men as they negotiate the tensions between who they truly are and who they feel they must be based on social expectations (O'Neil, Helms, Gable, David, & Wrightsman, 1986). Recent studies on college men's gender identity development suggests diversity experiences in higher education may influence positive and healthy masculine identities (Harris III, 2010; Edwards & Jones, 2009). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify relationships between fraternity men's diversity experiences and their degree of gender role conflict. The research subjects in the present study include 341 fraternity men at a comprehensive research university in the Pacific Northwest. Data was collected through a survey instrument that measured fraternity men's degree of gender role conflict, interactional diversity experiences, and classroom diversity experiences. Descriptive statistics and inferential analysis is used to evaluate the existence of relationships between fraternity men's diversity experiences and their degree of gender role conflict. Findings indicate there is no significant statistical relationship between gender role conflict and interactional diversity experiences or gender role conflict and classroom diversity experiences. However, results do show college men's interactional diversity experiences may be an indirect negative predictor of gender role conflict because of the identified negative relationship interactional diversity experiences has on two out of the four patterns that make up gender role conflict: Restrictive Emotionality and Restrictive Affectionate Behavior Between Men. These results suggest interactional diversity experiences is one educational opportunity in college that encourages men to make meaning of different social identities in a way that supports the expression of emotions and intimacy between men, which in return, lowers men's degree of gender role conflict. Close

• 18. [Article] A literary discourse on the evolution of gender & sexuality in the first & second waves of feminism : Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" deconstructs established gender roles as Willa Cather's "Paul's Case" reconstructs them

  The two literary touchstones of Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Willa Cather examined in this thesis anchored a larger discussion of the discourse about gender and sexuality during the First and Second Waves ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A literary discourse on the evolution of gender & sexuality in the first & second waves of feminism : Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" deconstructs established gender roles as Willa Cather's "Paul's Case" reconstructs them Author: Hotard, Tami The two literary touchstones of Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Willa Cather examined in this thesis anchored a larger discussion of the discourse about gender and sexuality during the First and Second Waves of feminism in America. "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Gilman deconstructed the notion of "femininity" manifested at the turn of the century in America, while Cather's "Paul's Case" reconstructed the notion of "masculinity." Both Cather and Gilman wrote their short stories at the turn of the century in America during the First Wave of Feminism yet they resurfaced in discussions about gender and sexuality in the Second Wave of Feminism. Readings of both Cather and Gilman's writings have evolved with the First and Second Waves because their protagonists defied and undercut the established social norms enabling them to be re-examined much after their publication date. Although their writing styles are different, Gilman and Cather share a complex understanding of gender and sexuality that earmark the social position of women in America which can be interpreted by the most contemporary critics of present date. During the First Wave of Feminism, women discussed how their ability to reproduce contributed to unbalanced gender relations, caused middle and upper class women to remain confined to the household, and economically dependent upon their husbands. This devaluation of women's participation in valued economic work sickened many women and left them reliant on their physician's care as well. Challenging this social structure, Gilman recorded her experience after being diagnosed with neurasthenia by Dr. Mitchell, ordered to remain in bed for months while consuming fatty foods and with no support from friends. Meanwhile, Cather expressed her discontent with the social construction of gender in America by asserting a male character that reconsidered the established norms for men and women of Victorian America. When the Second Wave of Feminism emerged in America, the discussions about gender and sexuality reread these touchstone texts of Gilman and Cather as flexible visions of reality but in different discursive contexts depending on the social time frame in which they reviewed them. In the 1960s, the Women's Rights Movement and the Women's Liberation Movement generated most theoretical discussions on the condition of women themselves, the issues pertaining to women's confinement like establishing a political voice and the "problem with no name." While in the 1970s, discussions about gender and sexuality concluded that the "sex/gender system," also known as patriarchy, defeated their purpose toward complete liberation because of its economic structure aimed at benefiting men. Although they appreciated the notion of a collective voice for all women, the development of individual voices among women played a more significant role in the 1970's discourses about gender and sexuality. Because men have predominantly controlled the medical field, women in the 1970s, who wrote about gender and sexuality then, also attacked physicians like Dr. Mitchell who diagnosed women with strange treatments and also worked for the prohibition of the practice of mid-wifery in America at the turn of the century. Other critics of the 1970s decided that Cather's life reflected that of a lesbian, so that by the 1980s, literary discourses involving gender and sexuality began asking questions about the purpose of Cather and Gilman's writings. If female authors like Cather and Gilman lived such politically conscious lives, then why did they not create narratives that reflected their political agendas? After questioning their narratives, some critics decided that Cather and Gilman carried a "duplicitous nature" or a twofold message in their short yet complex stories. This duplicitous style of writing explained how that by the 1990s discussions about gender and sexuality had evolved into the "crafting of characters" that resulted in "gender performances," and one acting out one's gender. While First and Second Wavers fought for the elimination of binary gender divisions and a balance in gender relations that supported the economic development of all women in America, Cather and Gilman's writings facilitated discussions during both Waves that contributed to the reasons why the social construction of gender and sexuality did not result in equal human treatment, and should therefore be reconstructed. The literature concerning women during the First and Second Waves of Feminism can be summarized as a tactfully-formulated, continuing rumination on the question of the nature and genesis of women's oppression and social subordination, and how to change its effects on the future of the human race. What started off as strictly constructed and enforced gender roles in Victorian America evolved into gender performativity in the latter part of this century. This socio-sexuo evolution lies within the protagonists' discontent and total rebellion in Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" and Cather's "Paul's Case," whose stories both surfaced at the turn of the 20th century in America, when socially-conscious citizens inspected these rigid Victorian ideals, and whose stories later resurfaced again during the Second Wave of Feminism at the middle to end of the 20th century, when individuals re-enacted these same socially constructed gender roles, and deconstructed them. Lather's "Paul's Case" functions as a touchstone of her short fiction that even Cather agreed valued notice, since she only allowed it to be reprinted of all her other stories. With consideration toward conducting future research, a more thorough examination of say The Professor's House and A Lost Lady as well as My Antonia to explore more glimpses of Cather confirming this fluctuating, non-conforming, even elusive authorial approach toward gender and sexuality that has made her reputation outlast herself, should reveal even a deeper sense of her literary complexities. Gilman's utopian novels, Moving the Mountain, Herland, and With Her in Ourland, that came after "The Yellow Wallpaper" deserve a closer look in the same respect as she struggled to portray the possibilities and barriers facing a woman who attempted to combine love and work. The movement in Gilman's writing progressively develops the possibilities and highlights the key barriers for a woman: female resistance to social change and male incomprehension concerning the necessity for love and work in a woman's life. She visualized the transition from the present to the future as one of internal conversion to an egalitarian society. This is a dual process of women awakening to their own interior power and men renouncing oppressive power structures as individuals and as a society. Perhaps too this is why Gilman, like Cather, switched to a male narrator in order to express her utopian vision. Title: A literary discourse on the evolution of gender & sexuality in the first & second waves of feminism : Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" deconstructs established gender roles as Willa Cather's "Paul's Case" reconstructs them Author: Hotard, Tami The two literary touchstones of Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Willa Cather examined in this thesis anchored a larger discussion of the discourse about gender and sexuality during the First and Second Waves of feminism in America. "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Gilman deconstructed the notion of "femininity" manifested at the turn of the century in America, while Cather's "Paul's Case" reconstructed the notion of "masculinity." Both Cather and Gilman wrote their short stories at the turn of the century in America during the First Wave of Feminism yet they resurfaced in discussions about gender and sexuality in the Second Wave of Feminism. Readings of both Cather and Gilman's writings have evolved with the First and Second Waves because their protagonists defied and undercut the established social norms enabling them to be re-examined much after their publication date. Although their writing styles are different, Gilman and Cather share a complex understanding of gender and sexuality that earmark the social position of women in America which can be interpreted by the most contemporary critics of present date. During the First Wave of Feminism, women discussed how their ability to reproduce contributed to unbalanced gender relations, caused middle and upper class women to remain confined to the household, and economically dependent upon their husbands. This devaluation of women's participation in valued economic work sickened many women and left them reliant on their physician's care as well. Challenging this social structure, Gilman recorded her experience after being diagnosed with neurasthenia by Dr. Mitchell, ordered to remain in bed for months while consuming fatty foods and with no support from friends. Meanwhile, Cather expressed her discontent with the social construction of gender in America by asserting a male character that reconsidered the established norms for men and women of Victorian America. When the Second Wave of Feminism emerged in America, the discussions about gender and sexuality reread these touchstone texts of Gilman and Cather as flexible visions of reality but in different discursive contexts depending on the social time frame in which they reviewed them. In the 1960s, the Women's Rights Movement and the Women's Liberation Movement generated most theoretical discussions on the condition of women themselves, the issues pertaining to women's confinement like establishing a political voice and the "problem with no name." While in the 1970s, discussions about gender and sexuality concluded that the "sex/gender system," also known as patriarchy, defeated their purpose toward complete liberation because of its economic structure aimed at benefiting men. Although they appreciated the notion of a collective voice for all women, the development of individual voices among women played a more significant role in the 1970's discourses about gender and sexuality. Because men have predominantly controlled the medical field, women in the 1970s, who wrote about gender and sexuality then, also attacked physicians like Dr. Mitchell who diagnosed women with strange treatments and also worked for the prohibition of the practice of mid-wifery in America at the turn of the century. Other critics of the 1970s decided that Cather's life reflected that of a lesbian, so that by the 1980s, literary discourses involving gender and sexuality began asking questions about the purpose of Cather and Gilman's writings. If female authors like Cather and Gilman lived such politically conscious lives, then why did they not create narratives that reflected their political agendas? After questioning their narratives, some critics decided that Cather and Gilman carried a "duplicitous nature" or a twofold message in their short yet complex stories. This duplicitous style of writing explained how that by the 1990s discussions about gender and sexuality had evolved into the "crafting of characters" that resulted in "gender performances," and one acting out one's gender. While First and Second Wavers fought for the elimination of binary gender divisions and a balance in gender relations that supported the economic development of all women in America, Cather and Gilman's writings facilitated discussions during both Waves that contributed to the reasons why the social construction of gender and sexuality did not result in equal human treatment, and should therefore be reconstructed. The literature concerning women during the First and Second Waves of Feminism can be summarized as a tactfully-formulated, continuing rumination on the question of the nature and genesis of women's oppression and social subordination, and how to change its effects on the future of the human race. What started off as strictly constructed and enforced gender roles in Victorian America evolved into gender performativity in the latter part of this century. This socio-sexuo evolution lies within the protagonists' discontent and total rebellion in Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" and Cather's "Paul's Case," whose stories both surfaced at the turn of the 20th century in America, when socially-conscious citizens inspected these rigid Victorian ideals, and whose stories later resurfaced again during the Second Wave of Feminism at the middle to end of the 20th century, when individuals re-enacted these same socially constructed gender roles, and deconstructed them. Lather's "Paul's Case" functions as a touchstone of her short fiction that even Cather agreed valued notice, since she only allowed it to be reprinted of all her other stories. With consideration toward conducting future research, a more thorough examination of say The Professor's House and A Lost Lady as well as My Antonia to explore more glimpses of Cather confirming this fluctuating, non-conforming, even elusive authorial approach toward gender and sexuality that has made her reputation outlast herself, should reveal even a deeper sense of her literary complexities. Gilman's utopian novels, Moving the Mountain, Herland, and With Her in Ourland, that came after "The Yellow Wallpaper" deserve a closer look in the same respect as she struggled to portray the possibilities and barriers facing a woman who attempted to combine love and work. The movement in Gilman's writing progressively develops the possibilities and highlights the key barriers for a woman: female resistance to social change and male incomprehension concerning the necessity for love and work in a woman's life. She visualized the transition from the present to the future as one of internal conversion to an egalitarian society. This is a dual process of women awakening to their own interior power and men renouncing oppressive power structures as individuals and as a society. Perhaps too this is why Gilman, like Cather, switched to a male narrator in order to express her utopian vision. Close

• 19. [Article] URAP- Gender differences by SES-draft 2.pptx

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: URAP- Gender differences by SES-draft 2.pptx Author: Gilmore, Brittany D., Duncan, Rob, McClelland, Megan M. Title: URAP- Gender differences by SES-draft 2.pptx Author: Gilmore, Brittany D., Duncan, Rob, McClelland, Megan M. Close

• 20. [Article] URAP- Gender differences by SES-draft 2.pdf

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: URAP- Gender differences by SES-draft 2.pdf Author: Gilmore, Brittany D., Duncan, Rob, McClelland, Megan M. Title: URAP- Gender differences by SES-draft 2.pdf Author: Gilmore, Brittany D., Duncan, Rob, McClelland, Megan M. Close