Program suggestions, please.

[jmcgee]

Hey, y'all.

 

I was wondering if anyone could help me out with some program suggestions.  I learned last season the importance of fit, and have been doing lots of research, but so far I haven't found many programs that are just right for me.  My theoretical interests are gender and sexuality and feminist studies, and the literature I plan to study is that of the New Woman writers of the fin de siecle.  I am particularly interested in these writers' deconstructions of femininity and their rejection of what de Beauvoir termed "the eternal feminine": conceptions of women as archetypes (virgin or whore, angel or demon, etc), rather than as individuals.   

 

The problem I've run into is that most New Woman scholars are teaching in the UK, and I plan to stay in the U.S.  The exception is Ann Ardis, who teaches at the University of Delaware, but I learned on GC recently that Delaware rarely accepts candidates with external M.A.s.  So, I need help.  Can anyone suggest any programs particularly interested in the fin de siecle, noncanonical Victorian female writers, or even just Victorian lit and gender and sexuality or feminist studies?  Or do any of you know of any programs that simply make a point to teach New Woman lit?  I'm not sure these writers are widely studied (which is a shame because they are brilliant), so I'm a bit worried.  Oh, and I'm probably aiming towards mid-tier programs. 

 

Okay, thanks so much!!!

[danieleWrites]

I'm reminded of Label Theory at the moment. "New Woman" is just a label that helps us slot works into discrete categories based on similarities. For the most part, this label is helpful tool because it allows us to discriminate between stuff that's got the female archetypes and stuff that doesn't. I think that, in this case, it's a hindrance because it keeps your focus so narrow that you'll have trouble selling yourself to a program that doesn't have a New Woman scholar in it. While I think that it would be totally fab for you to study under a New Woman scholar, there's nothing wrong with pursuing your New Woman studies under people who are inclined in a different direction, yet are still into gender studies. Look farther afield for a program that has someone into deconstructionism, someone who is into gender studies (like, half the country these days), and someone who is into the literature of the place and time you're into. Turn of the century France. They don't have to be into what you're into. They just have to know enough to guide you on your path to your expertise. The idea of being a protege relationship is sweet, but not necessarily practical. They don't have to study it for you to. Instead, in your SOP, explain how Dr. X, the deconstructionist, Dr. Y, the gender studies-ist, and how Dr. Z, the French literature-ist can all help you further your studies of fin de siecle. They aren't looking for an apprentice; they're looking for a person that their department can do a reasonably good job of developing into a PhD. They don't have to be New Woman scholars to help you be a New Woman scholar. After all, the first New Woman scholars developed the field on their own. There's no reason why you cannot do the same thing and get your PhD as you go. Do they need to teach you the "New Woman" field, or is that something you can mostly do on your own as you research? It sounds as if you already know enough about the subject to kickstart your research without someone like Ann Ardis mentoring you.

 

So, if it were I (and it was before), I would look for a program that has a people who can prod me back onto the path during my research, rather than teach me the specifics of what I want to research. If you have a chance, drop by the office hours of your old MA profs and chat with them about their experiences writing their dissertation. One of mine became one of the foremost experts on Bluebeard through research, not because anyone knew much about Bluebeard.

[somethinbruin]

I'm not a gender studies person, but I seem to remember that the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee had a strong focus on writing by women under their Literature and Cultural Studies PhD. One of the profs in my current department went there and spoke very highly of their feminist theory profs, particularly Jane Gallop. You might want to check them out. 

[jmcgee]

Thank you both.  Daniele, you've certainly allayed my fears that I don't belong anywhere in the U.S.  I'll be widening my search.  Somethinbruin, I will be sure to check out Milwaukee.  Thanks again!  Cheers!

[jazzyd]

I'm not a strict gender studies person either, but you may want to look into the University of Michigan's http://www.lsa.umich.edu/english/grad/phd/womstud.asp'>PhD in English and Women's Studies. It's a pretty small program IIRC, in that only a few students get accepted on that joint track but it sounds like it could fit your needs. If anything, it speaks to their department's commitment to interdisciplinary study, which bodes well even if you decide to just apply to their English Language and Literature program.

[poliscar]

What about Duke? Marianna Torgovnick and Nancy Armstrong could both be really amazing, and they have a graduate certificate in Women's and Gender Studies. It would probably be difficult to say no to a course with Elizabeth Grosz as well. 

[DrF8]

I found a bundle of professors/programs for you:

 

Petra Dierkes-Thrun, Comparative Literature, Stanford (https://www.stanford.edu/dept/DLCL/cgi-bin/web/people/petra-dierkes-thrun)

 

Elsie Michie, English (Women's and Gender Studies specialization), LSU

-She doesn't mention New Woman lit as one of her research interests, but she directed a student's dissertation on New Woman lit in 2006.

 

Beth S. Newman, English, Southern Methodist University

-Teaches an undergrad course on New Woman lit

 

Talia Schaffer, English, CUNY Graduate Center

 

Elizabeth Carolyn Miller, English, UC Davis

-Wrote a book entitled: Framed: The New Woman Criminal in British Culture at the Fin de Siecle

 

Maurizia Boscagli, English, UCSB

-UCSB has a graduate minor in Gender Studies

 

Holly A. Laird, English, Tulsa

-Teaches a graduate-level course involving New Woman lit and Fin de Siècle

 

Joseph Bristow, English, UCLA

-Teaches a undergrad course on Victorian Lit involving fin-de-siecle and the rise of the New Woman

 

Emily Harrington, English, Penn State

 

Also check out:

• Notre Dame's PhD in Literature. They 'accomodate' you and give you freedom to research many different areas in combination, with fin de siecle mentioned as an example.
• Wayne State University's PhD in English. They have a graduate-level course involving fin de siecle/New Woman lit, and a PhD minor/cognate in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies
• Rutgers' PhD in English. Also offers a graduate certificate in Women's and Gender Studies.

Sources: https://www.google.com/search?q=fin+de+siecle&oq=fin+de+siecle&aqs=chrome.0.57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#newwindow=1&sclient=psy-ab&q=%22new+woman%22+%22fin+de+siecle%22+%22PhD+program%22+OR+%22Ph.D.+program%22+site:.edu+-academia&oq=%22new+woman%22+%22fin+de+siecle%22+%22PhD+program%22+OR+%22Ph.D.+program%22+site:.edu+-academia&gs_l=serp.3...25536.33888.6.34316.19.19.0.0.0.0.61.1082.19.19.0...0.0.0..1c.1.16.serp.w9VFFMih4ik&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47534661,d.dmg&fp=25f6a726e19c6949&biw=1396&bih=1164

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=fin+de+siecle&oq=fin+de+siecle&aqs=chrome.0.57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#newwindow=1&sclient=psy-ab&q=%22fin+de+siecle%22+literature+%22PhD+program%22+OR+%22Ph.D.+program%22+site:.edu+-academia&oq=%22fin+de+siecle%22+literature+%22PhD+program%22+OR+%22Ph.D.+program%22+site:.edu+-academia&gs_l=serp.3...93612.96941.8.97196.11.11.0.0.0.0.72.637.11.11.0...0.0.0..1c.1.16.serp.S7aYelvxR7k&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47534661,d.dmg&fp=25f6a726e19c6949&biw=1396&bih=1164

 

I recommend looking through that second link. There's probably a lot more. 

 

Note: I understand you are looking for Mid-Tier programs, but I am not in this field, so I don't know what  programs would be considered Mid-Tier.

[jmcgee]

Thank you, jazzydubois and poliscar!

 

DrF8, wow, thank you so much!  How kind of you to take the time to find these programs for me.  I will certainly be looking into each of your suggestions.  Thanks again, very much!