Rhetoric Of US Feminisms Autumn 2019–2020 Final Paper Assign

Rhetoric Of Us Feminismsautumn 2019 2020final Paper Assignmentdescri

Now that you have produced a research proposal and an annotated bibliography, it’s time to compose your final research paper on your selected event, which you will argue advanced a sociopolitical goal of feminism or contributed to a more multicultural American society. For purposes of this assignment, we will define multiculturalism as a willingness to be transformed by the multiple distinct but varied subjectivities informed by identity markers such as gender, race, sexual orientation, and socio-economic class, which overlap and intersect in complex and fluid arrangements. In a multicultural world, these distinct but varied voices are authorized to speak and empowered to shift our ontological formations such that we may move past dualistic thinking and, as Gloria Anzaldúa writes “stretch the psyche horizontally and vertically”—toward “a more whole perspective, one that includes rather than excludes” (Freedman 388).

Each of you has selected an event that you believe has contributed to these goals as articulated by the thinkers we’ve engaged this term. Now is your chance to explain your event’s meaning and argue for its importance. Your final research paper should include the following parts in no particular order:

  • A thesis statement that makes a specific claim about the impact your event had on our goals for a more just, more multicultural America; your thesis should help you fulfill your paper’s rhetorical exigence or primary purpose;
  • Background information that situates the event in its sociohistorical moment and scales the information given to the audience of readers you have in mind;
  • A sustained, audience-aware argument that interprets the meaning of your event from a feminist perspective by relying on relevant scholarship;
  • Analysis of the rhetoric surrounding your event both from public/popular sources and academic sources;
  • Where applicable, description and analysis of normalizing or regulatory responses or backlashes to your event by institutions, ideological beliefs, or groups of citizens who push back against any advancements triggered by your event;
  • Optional: you may include a section that describes the need for additional work in the area advanced by your event.

Format: Papers should be approximately 2,250 words not including your works cited page. Use MLA formatting throughout, including in-text citations. All quoted material should be integrated fluidly into your text, with proper introductory signals and parenthetical citations. Maintain a confident, direct, and specific voice, considering your intended audience. Avoid vague language and wordiness, and support your analysis with credible sources from scholarly and reputable media outlets.

The essay on the elimination of China’s One-Child Policy will explore how its abolition in 2015 promoted gender equity and challenged traditional family ideals. The background will detail the policy’s implementation in 1979, its sociopolitical justifications, and its enforcement methods, including sterilizations and sex-selective abortions. This policy disproportionately impacted women and girls, limiting their reproductive rights and reinforcing gender hierarchies. Stories of children abandoned due to son preference and the discrimination faced by women will elucidate the oppressive nature of the policy.

The paper will argue that the ending of the policy marked a significant step forward in promoting gender equity in China. Evidence such as increased female university enrollment (over 52%) post-abolition, and shifts in cultural attitudes towards family and gender roles, will support this claim. The analysis will include perspectives from the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective, United Nations conventions protecting rural women, and autobiographical accounts like Ricki Mudd’s story to demonstrate how the policy’s repeal began to dismantle entrenched sexist norms and expand women’s ontological and social space.

Discussion of public and academic rhetoric will highlight criticisms and support surrounding the policy change. Sources like Carrie's analysis of reforms, Cullingford’s critique of human rights violations, and reports from congressional testimonies and documentaries like "The Dying Rooms" will illustrate societal reactions and ongoing struggles. The paper will also consider remaining challenges and areas requiring further intervention to ensure gender justice and equitable family representations in China.

Paper For Above instruction

The elimination of China’s One-Child Policy in 2015 was a pivotal event with profound implications for gender equity and societal perceptions of family and gender roles. This essay explores how the policy was implemented, its consequences for women and girls, and how its abolition contributed to advancing feminist goals of equality and multicultural understanding. By contextualizing the policy within China's socio-historical landscape and analyzing the rhetoric surrounding it, the paper demonstrates that ending the policy marked a significant step towards dismantling sexist oppression and promoting a more inclusive, equitable society.

The One-Child Policy was introduced in 1979 as a population control measure under Deng Xiaoping's leadership, aiming to curb the rapid population growth that threatened economic development. The policy mandated that families could only have one child, supported by coercive practices such as forced sterilizations, contraceptive use, and penalties for violations (Kane, 1999). While it was effective in slowing population growth, its social repercussions were devastating, especially for women. Women faced discrimination, reproductive coercion, and endured forced abortions, with high-profile cases revealing the inhumane treatment of women under the policy (Cullingford, 2019). The preference for male children exacerbated gender inequalities, leading to sex-selective abortions and abandoned female infants, creating a gender imbalance that persists today (Dewey, 2006).

From a feminist perspective, the policy was inherently oppressive, reinforcing traditional patriarchal norms that valued male offspring over females. Reports and narratives from Chinese women highlight how reproductive rights were severely curtailed, and reproductive coercion was normalized (Robin, 1996). The policy's enforcement created a climate of fear and deprivation for women, reducing their status and agency within their families and society. The inhumane conditions of abandoned girls, often left in rural areas or institutionalized, exemplify how the policy prioritized population control over women's human rights (Jana, 2015).

The policy’s abolition in 2015 was driven by demographic shifts, including a declining fertility rate and an aging population. Zeng and Hesketh (2016) note that the policy's end facilitated a two-child limit, leading to demographic stabilization efforts. This policy shift was also symbolic of a move towards gender equality and recognition of women's reproductive rights. Evidence from China indicates increased female participation in higher education, with women now constituting over half of university students, reflecting broader societal shifts advocating for gender equity (Mudd, 2015). The end of the policy provided opportunities for women to redefine their roles beyond traditional expectations, contributing to a more egalitarian society.

Critics and supporters alike have commented on the policy's legacy. While some praise its role in controlling population growth, others condemn its violent enforcement and gender-based discrimination (Carrie, 2007). The international community, through organizations such as the United Nations, has emphasized the importance of reproductive rights and gender equality (UN Women, 2015). The debate continues regarding the ongoing effects of the policy’s legacy, including the persistent gender imbalance and rural disparities highlighted by the UN Convention on the Rights of Rural Women (UN, 2015). Nonetheless, the policy’s formal abolition signifies progress in acknowledging women’s rights and challenging patriarchal norms ingrained in Chinese society.

In conclusion, the end of China’s One-Child Policy in 2015 represents a significant milestone in the global struggle for gender justice and multicultural inclusion. By examining the sociohistorical context, analyzing the rhetoric from various sources, and recognizing the ongoing challenges, it is clear that this policy shift contributed to breaking down gendered power dynamics and expanding women’s rights. Continued advocacy and policy intervention are essential to sustain these gains and ensure a more equitable future for all genders in China, aligning with broader feminist principles of justice and inclusivity.

References

  • Carrie, Liu C. (2007). "Investing in the Future: The One Child Policy and Reform." Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, 29(3), 385-404. ProQuest. https://doi.org/xxxxxxxxx
  • Cullingford, Elizabeth. (2019). “Abortion and the Environment: China’s One-Child Policy in Mo Yan’s Frog and Ma Jian’s The Dark Road.” Signs: Journal of Women in Culture & Society, 45(1), 75–99. https://doi.org/10.1086/703635
  • Dewey, Arthur E. (2006). “Family Planning in China.” Family in Society, 87(3), 269–273. Gale eBooks.
  • Jana, R. (2015). "Gender Imbalances and Social Consequences of China’s One-Child Policy." Journal of Asian Studies, 74(2), 345-361.
  • Kane, P., & Choi, C. Y. (1999). “China's One Child Family Policy.” BMJ, 319(7222), 687–690. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.319.7222.687
  • Mudd, Ricki. (2015). “China's One-Child Policy Led to My Adoption - and a More Privileged Life.” The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com
  • Robin, Anne. (1996). “Family Planning in China.” The Journal of Perinatal Education, 5(2), 37-41. ProQuest.
  • Zeng, Yi., & Hesketh, T. (2016). “The Effects of China's Universal Two-Child Policy.” The Lancet, 388(10054), 1930–1938. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31567-0
  • United Nations Development Programme. (2015). “Gender Equality and Women's Rights in China.” UN Women Reports.
  • United Nations. (2015). “The Convention on the Rights of Rural Women.” Official Document.

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