1. Natalie Seman
Lester
World Lit Honors 3rd
24 October 2011
Research Proposal: Women’s Rights on a Global Scale
1. My multi-genre research paper topic
My topic for the multi-genre research paper is sharia law and its effects on the position of women. I was
a part of a discussion circle involving the issues of women’s rights, and after my pres-earch, I was moved
by the atrocities women are subject to under law. It amazes me that people can rationalize inequality,
and I am interested to know what condones it.
2. What I know already
I do not know very much about this topic, outside of the ritualistic struggles of women found in history. I
know that in early Islam, women were persecuted and regarded as property of men, and in Chinese
history, young girls were required to bind their feet. This pattern of maltreatment also arose in Africa in
later times, as was presented in a few of the texts in my Fishbowl discussion group. Some children were
forced into child labor, while others were thrust into prostitution at a young age. I find it to be very
compelling that this is condoned under law.
3. What I want to learn
There are several key factors involved this law that I want to learn more about. First, I would love to
know more about how it came to be. It is shocking to think that people that are able to rationalize

2. murder and torture are part of the same species as the human beings that mission in foreign territory
and lay their lives for the good of the people. I also want to learn why the United States, as a nation that
prides itself on being humanitarian, has done nothing to abolish it.
4. The origins of my research
My interest in this topic arose from a few different areas. For example, in World History this year, we
have learned a lot about Islamic culture that I was unaware of before. For example, I was unaware of the
fact that Islam is built upon the foundation of Christianity and Judaism. This was fascinating to me
because of the stereotype put on these people after 9/11. It interested me to know what changed in
their faith and why it is so violent if it is a mere continuation of Christianity and Judaism.
5. Questions I have about women’s rights
1) What is the root of this issue?
2) Why does society put up with it?
3) What are officials doing to stop this?
4) Are there ways for the United States to help on this issue?
5) What consequences are dealt to women who stand up for themselves?
6) How can a people grow in their advances of equality?
7) Are these issues strictly religious or societal?
8) What outside factors limit women’s rights?
9) What kind of things do people do to abuse these people?
10) In which countries are women being suppressed the most?
11) What limiting laws are included, more specifically?
12) Who wrote this law?

3. 6. My research plan
My plan for collecting information about my topic is to start by researching the history of the law and
women’s rights in Islam. I plan to use sites such as Gale and Academic Search Complete. I want to reach
magazines from other countries where this is a growing issue and see how people are reacting to the
inequality. Additionally, I will be using symbaloo and scoop.it to organize my research in one place.
7. Preliminary Bibliography
Works Cited
Danfulani, Chikas. "Islamizing Women's Education: Sharia Commissions and Women's Religious
Education in Northern Nigeria." International Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Society 1.2
(2011): 171-180. Academic Search Complete.EBSCO.Web. 27 Oct. 2011.
Kedar, Mordechai, and David Yerushalmi."Shari'a and Violence in American Mosques." Middle East
Quarterly 18.3 (2011): 59-72. Academic Search Complete.EBSCO.Web. 28 Oct. 2011.
BARBER, MELISSA, and NANCY XIE. "Licensed to Kill." Harvard International Review 33.2 (2011): 10-11.
Academic Search Complete.EBSCO.Web. 28 Oct. 2011.
Bachrach, Judy. "Twice Branded." World Affairs 172.1 (2009): 84-92. Academic Search Complete.EBSCO.
Web. 28 Oct. 2011.
Griswold, Eliza. "Faith of Her Fathers." New Republic 224.9 (2001): 13-15. Academic Search Complete.
EBSCO. Web. 28 Oct. 2011.

4. "It's a crime to be a woman in Iran." Globe & Mail [Toronto, Canada] 17 July 2010: A19. Global Issues In
Context. Web. 31 Oct. 2011.