1) As concisely as possible, the fruitful question this narrative inquiry will explore is what does it mean to be a woman in the twenty-first century?
2) I am compelled to explore this story largely because of my own journey with gender identity, and my personal attempt to understand what it means for me to identify as a cisgender woman, with she/her pronouns. This is a topic that many authors have dealt with, and it is an especially timely subject with the recent media coverage on the issues that transgender individuals face on a daily basis. I intend to add to or enlarge the conversation on this topic by seeking out what those around me have to say on the issue, with a careful intention to not alter their responses, and making sure to include the voices of those normally left out of the conversation: women of color, transwomen, non-Christian women, and women with physical disabilities. I hope to both interview the women that already surround me and also read past journal articles or blog posts from other women on the topic. The extent of my expertise with this topic is my personal experience as a woman in the twenty-first century, and the various classes I’ve taken in college that attempt to tackle small areas of such a complex topic.
3) The central cultural phenomenon this story intends to focus on and illuminate is a shift from a binary to a spectrum to understand and conceptualize gender. It will also focus on the cultural phenomenon of womanhood, and the idea of becoming a woman rather than being born a woman. By exploring these specific phenomena other questions might develop from the story, such as, how large of a component are gender roles when considering gender as a social construct? Additionally, what role does discrimination and the patriarchy play into the construction of gender?
4) My specific target audience is every other woman living in the U.S., as these women in the twenty-first century represent this cultural phenomenon. This is a topic for all people however, and therefore I might engage people who do not identify as a woman as well.
5) My research strategy involves both interviewing women in my life already, such as my aunt, my best friend, my grandmother, or my professor, and also seeking information through academic research. Personal and in-person interviews allow for unedited responses, and allow me to elaborate when I have further questions for the interviewees. Academic research will allow me to understand the issue from an expert’s point of view, which may differ from other blog posts and enlighten my investigation from a more distanced perspective.
A Composition of Self by Alexis Rivera 