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Solution Projects

Many of the feminist ideologies and practices that are taught in WS100 are based on the idea that an individual can make a difference and that much can be changed through activism. Solution projects are a venue for students to implement what they’ve learned throughout the semester and put it into action. The idea behind them is that anyone can be an activist and create social change, if only in a small way.

Format:
Students are required to isolate a problem relating to women and women’s lives that interests them and present a possible solution to the problem. The solution presented can take the form of campus, local, community, state, national, or international effort. Students must present an overview of their problem and possible solutions to their facilitator and obtain his/her approval at least a week before proceeding with the project. Students may work individually or in pairs only.

Choosing a topic:
Students are basically given free rein over the type of the problem that they would like to solve, keeping in mind that the particular problem that they chose must be related to women and women’s lives. The problem can come from in-class discussions throughout the semester or it can be something that is indirectly related to it. Some possible topics that have been covered over the years are:

     Date Rape Myth
     Domestic Violence
     Women and Sports: Wage discrimination of women vs. men coaches in      college
     Female genital mutilation
     Prostitution
     Eating disorder: Aneroxia Nervosa and Bulimia
     Women and the media: objectification
     Women and body image

These topics are listed only as examples. Students are encouraged to come up with their own topics.