I am writing my research paper on the threat Christian Fundamentalism

[mcctatas]

poses to the Women's movement, and would greatly appreciate it if periodically people would be willing to critique my progress etc. So far I only have a rough outline, but here is my statement of the problem:

1. Christian Fundamentalist groups have experienced increased
influence on the political and social discourse of the United States

2. Their stated agenda of a return to "Traditional Family Values",
and their hostility towards the feminist movement has had an adverse affect on efforts relating to women's rights and gender equality.

Any thoughts?

Thanks Much,
mcctatas :)

[ThoughtCriminal]

1. I would condense 2nd statement

31 words seems a bit long to me. Maybe some of the word masters here can help out.

[serryjw]

2. The barn door is open......

when in history have a course been reverved to this degree? Shall we also tell woman they they have to get married, have babies and can only work if their spouse approves?

[Erika]

3. The economy was responsible for women working outside

the home. It became very clear that the economy no longer paid one person enough to raise a family.

The right wing sold out working Americans when they did not demand that a single worker could earn enough to raise his family. In fact, the right wing was very hostile against working families even if through ignorance.

[OKDem08]

4. reference material:

Do a search & read the speech given by Dr. Robin Meyers @ the Oklahoma City University Peace Rally. Generally speaking, it is applicable to your topic & so aptly illustrates the hypocrisy of the 'christian right'.

[LearnedHand]

5. I used to teach college-level writing courses...

...and here's what I would say had you presented this idea to me:

1. Possibly a good topic for research, but "Christian Fundamentalism" is NOT monolithic, and so would be very difficult and too broad a subject. Better to narrow it down to something like the Southern Baptist's statement on the place of women within the family.

2. Likewise, the feminist movement is NOT monolithic, and so is too broad to deal with in one small research paper.

3. The conflating of these two very broad ideas in one paper will lead you right down the road of (I'm very sorry to say) spouting what most of us have heard in the media -- i.e., all your "evidence" will be very tired, very well known, and too broad. You HAVE to whittle the point you want to make down to one very small, very targeted thing.

Hope this helps. (Please don't be discouraged by my comments, though. It's easier to take this kind of direction if you actually KNOW the person giving it.) Good luck with your research.

[mcctatas]

7. Thank you...

I will definately use your comments to help me focus my direction for research. I probably should have included in my post that my broad issue statment is broken down into a few key groups, players and issues that I will focus on in detail. Also maybe I should have said that it's for my Sociology of Gender class, but you're feedback is greatly appreciated!:toast:

[ohio_graduate]

6. good ideas, but red flags

I rarely post here, but it late and I am avoiding school related work. Just as a premise, I have a master's degree and am on my 2nd year of a PhD program. Just though I would give a few helpful comments, but with one comment. I have no idea what educational level you at, so some of my comments might be overkill.

1.) your first statement is asking two questions. You should keep it simple and break it into two questions. Christian Fundamentalist groups have experienced increased
influence on the political discourse in the United States. Christian Fundamentalist groups have experienced increased influence on the political discourse in the United States. Otherwise you run into huge red flag issues.

2.) as one of my profs would say oh my!!!! this is way to complex a problem statement. you have two causes and two effects. this is a huge research trap. However I think all the ideas contained inside are worth wild and could be broken up and used. However, you actually have like 5 statements instead of 2.

Besides that just be careful how you define things.... ok back to work for me, hope this helps and interesting topic.

[mcctatas]

8. Point well taken...

I'm doing this for my senior thesis in Sociology, and I'm in the very beginning stages...I'm so glad you pointed out the untenable position I put myself in by NOT focusing, rather than my faculty adviser;). Now I just have to decide which one to narrow it down to. Thanks again!:toast:

[mcctatas]

9. I love DU...

Thanks so much for everyone's input. I hope you will be willing to point out where I'm over-reaching, generalizing etc. as I move along in my project, it really helps to have feedback (I'm a non-trad, working mother etc., and have very little opportunity for networking with people on campus...and even less time!). And don't worry, I have a thick skin.'

Thanks again,
Mcctatas

[BoneDaddy]

10. I have a great book for you

The Battle for God, by Karen Armstrong. She traces the history of Christian, Jewish and Islamic fundamentalism and recognizes it as a rather new phenomenon. Excellent book.

[pthalomarie]

11. don't know if you still need help, but...

my comments:

- Christian fundamentalists are actually just a subcategory of the group you have in mind, which is conservative Christians. Most of the leading anti-feminists are evangelicals (which is not the same thing), but there are also a lot of Catholics and Mormons, too.

- as others have said, point one alone is enough for your thesis. point two is good too, but that's a very different issue.