Thesis: Women and men are two “items” that are socially constructed in today’s society. For many women, a romantic marriage proposal is the highlight and beginning of a marriage life, but for men, it is a time of expectations.
- Introduction
- Background of the issue
- Statement of the problem (argument)
- Thesis
- Traditions
- Traditional role of men and women in relationships
- Intimate gender inequalities
- Social entities
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- Gender views on marriage proposal
- Women: beginning of a marriage life
- Men: A time of expectations – the time and money required
- Reasons why women do not propose marriage
- Feminism – social assumption
- Fear of shame and ridicule
- Gender views on marriage proposal
4. Counterargument
A. Leap year marriage proposals
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- Women proposing to men during leap year – unconventional view
- Women can control the destiny of their marriage
- Expectation for women and unromantic for men
5. Conclusion
Annotated Bibliography
Allman, J. (1996). Rounding up Spinsters: Gender Chaos and Unmarried Women in Colonial Asante. The Journal of African History, 37(2), 195-214
This research explains about traditional practices of the Asante village where women who had not married by the age of 15 were arrested. It shows that women were arrested because if they were left they would flirt with men. Those who were arrested were asked to mention the name of the man they wanted to marry and they would be released. This demonstrates that women played a major role in marriage proposal in traditional Asante. This research is creditable because it has been published in a well-known academic journal; it has an abstract; and demonstrates a good research about the subject matter. The research will be used in the counterargument to show that women also propose marriage to men and due to harsh traditions; they don’t consider romantic proposals as necessary for the beginning of a marriage.
Parkin, Katherine1. ““Glittering Mockery”: Twentieth-Century Leap Year Marriage Proposals.” Journal Of Family History 37.1 (2012): 85-104. Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
This research is about the custom of women proposing to men after every four years during a leap year. It captures the imagination of women in America since 1904 through 1960. The research argues that the leap year provided women with the power to propose to men but enhanced a false empowerment and strengthened traditional courtship practices. This research is creditable because it is peer reviewed, written in an internally accepted journal, and provides a relevant argument in the current study. The research will be used in the counter-argument part to show that women can also propose to men and create expectations for a good marriage for them.
Sueyoshi, A. (2010). Intimate inequalities: interracial affection and same-sex love in the Heterosexual life of Yone Noguchi, 1897-1909. Journal of American Ethnic History, 29(4), 22-44
This research determines how interracial intimacies rely on differences in terms of historical ethnicities and races. It uses the story of a Japanese immigrant, Yone Noguchi to explain how friendship and love are attracted to radicalized and gendered meanings. American women became casualties as inequalities based on gender and race increased. This research is creditable because it is peer reviewed, written by a well-known writer and published in a well-known journal. It has also cited its sources using footnotes and listed a bibliography in the end. This research is used in the paper to demonstrate the role of gender in relationships and marriage, and to explain how inequality determines the question of marriage.
Vannini, Phillip. “Will You Marry Me?: Spectacle And Consumption In The Ritual Of Marriage Proposals.” Journal Of Popular Culture 38.1 (2004): 169-185. Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
This research demonstrates the dynamics of marriage proposal as a ritual. It talks about consumption of courtship, love and marriage; and explains how marriage proposals are made in romantic settings. Vannini argues that modern consumer culture plays a significant role in the ritual of marriage proposal. This research is creditable because it is peer reviewed and published in an internationally recognized journal: Journal of Popular Culture. The study is also relevant because it talks about consumerism of marriage proposal, which is the major focus of the current research. This research article will be used in the paper to support its thesis statement. Since it talks about marriage consumption among men and women, it will be used to establish whether women indeed view marriage proposal as the beginning of marriage life and men view it as a time of expectations.
