Dissertation: Rough Chapter Plans

Can women’s magazines, focusing on the case study of Cosmopolitan (UK edition), ever be considered feminist?

6-8000 words. Bibliographies, references, quotations and appendices are not included in the word count.

Chapter 1. Introduction. 1000 words

• A brief history and introduction into feminism.
• What does it mean to be a feminist?

Chapter 2. Methodology

• Introducing the gaze theory [relates to 05 essay]
• John Berger ‘Men act and women appear’
• How are women depicted in magazines for females? (Through content and advertisements)
• And why?
• Why are women depicted differently to men?

Chapter 3. All about Cosmo. [Bulk of essay]

• Introducing the Cosmopolitan ‘F’ world campaign
• Background information about cosmopolitan, including a brief history and relevant information about target audience and numbers of readership etc.
• Information answering these questions:
• Do the articles end up lowering self-esteem (so you buy the products advertised) or helping women?
• Has Cosmopolitan (and its portrayal of women) changed since its launch?
• Primary research - examples of the content of the magazine which can be considered feminist and examples which disprove this [triangulated argument]

Chapter 4. Design & Accessibility

• What should a feminist magazine include? [Primary Research]
• Try to get primary feedback from feminists such as Vagenda magazine
• Audience theory: Discuss what the target audience want to see in the magazines they buy in comparison to what they are getting.
• What are the pros of advertising a magazine as being feminist in relation to how the audience will view that magazine?

Chapter 5. Design Activism

• What is design activism?
• How can design cause social change?
• Has the content of magazines like Cosmopolitan made it socially acceptable for women to be treated the way they are?
• Is Cosmopolitan written and designed by men or women? And does this effect the content of the magazine?
• Is the feminist campaign trying to disrupt the superstructure cycle and cause change?
• But does the content of the magazine disrupt any progress this campaign has done?

Chapter 6. Conclusion. 1000 words

Answering these questions:

• Can Cosmopolitan be considered feminist?
• How would it have to change to be considered so?
• What good does the magazine do for feminism?
• Which magazines can be considered feminist?

Questions to ask at tutorial:

• Do all chapters have to be the same size?
• Are the into + conclusion chapters or as well as the four?
• Am i going off topic discussing too many theories?