LITR 5731: Seminar in American Minority Literature
University of Houston-Clear Lake, fall 2001
Student Research Proposal

Erin Gouner

Dr. White,
      I thought about the discussion we had about me expanding my midterm topic--double minorities--into my journal topic.  I really found the topic interesting in my midterm, and I think that exploring the theme as a journal would help me to gain knowledge in the limitations and advantages facing double minorities.  I also thought that exploring this topic in a journal would help me get over the transition in my writing from comprehension to originality.  The more I thought about doing this topic, and the more that I looked over my midterm and saw the topic's potential, I thought it would provided an interesting analysis into minority literature.  Mainly my inquires are:
1) Do you still think this is a good idea?
2) I intend to look at other slave narratives, poetry, and statistics on African Americans.  Do you have any ideas for other sources?
3) Do you think Mexican American women can fit this dynamic as well?

Dear Erin,

Yes, it's still a good idea, so I'd encourage you to continue. Expanding beyond African American texts may be a good idea, since the "double minority" concept isn't unique to that ethnic group. Each ethnic group will have some dynamics of its own, but a provocative possibility is that, at least regarding gender, the dominant culture may be less repressive than the minority culture. (This would conform to minority cultures as traditional cultures. It's especially striking in terms of gay / lesbian rights, as these people often find a good deal more liberty in the dominant culture than they would in the old world.)

The other night we were discussing keywords for searches. Try "women of color." Much of the literature around that subject tends to be either celebratory or defensive, but it may turn up some analyses along the lines we discussed.

Feel free to check in as your research progresses.