Research Paper Assignment
***The paper should be 8 double-spaced typed pages, using 12 point Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins. Points will be deducted for papers that are NOT written in APA style.
MANDATORY READINGS FOR ASSIGNMENT:
- Colapinto, J., (2001). As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised a Girl. New York: Perennial. ISBN 978-0061120565
- Boylan, J.F. (2003). She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders. New York, NY: Broadway Books. ISBN 978-0767914048
*The 2 books above need to be read for the assignment*
THIS PAPER ALSO REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN ADDITIONAL 4 SCHOLARLY RESOURCES IN ADDITION TO THE 2 BOOKS LISTED ABOVE
(TOTAL OF 6 SOURCES)
ASSIGNMENT
John Colapinto’s book As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised a Girl introduces you to a story that examines the role of nature and nurture as influences on gender identity. David Reimer (Bruce Reimer) was unknowingly born a male but raised as a female. By comparison, Jennifer Boylan’s autobiographical bookShe’s Not There: A Life in Two Gendersimmerses you in the turmoil of her gender identity disorder and takes you through her transformation from male to female. In this paper, I would like you to use some of the scientific theories of gender identity in order to compare and contrast the relative influence of nature and nurture for David Reimer and Jennifer Boylan. Consider whether nature and nurture had the same relative influence in both cases or whether they were in stark contrast to each other. Be careful, as this is a deceptively simple paper! On the surface it seems very straight forward, but many issues need to be taken into consideration when addressing the following questions:
- What does being a boy/girl/man/woman mean to David Reimer and Jennifer Boylan? Is this a result of nature or nurture?
- What signaled gender to David Reimer and Jennifer Boylan (e.g., body parts, clothing, toys, friends, lovers)?
- Both David and Jennifer define and ultimately redefine their gender. How does this work both within and against complex social and cultural forces?
SOURCES: 2 BOOKS LISTED ABOVE + 4 SCHOLARLY JOURNALS (PEER REVIEWED)
TOTAL: 6
