Zamora 1

Anthony Zamora
Ms. Gilday
ENG 102-017
29 October 2010
Women as ioneers
Introduction
We can all name someone !ho is or !as a "ioneer. #hat someone co$ld ha%e settled in a
ne! land& de%elo"ed a ne! medicine& or maybe e%en ha%e been the 'irst "erson in o$ter s"ace.
($t o$t o' all these names& ho! many are !omen) * chose to research !omen "ioneers and the
!ays in !hich they ha%e "ioneered thro$+ho$t history. My research ,$estions incl$ded ho! a
"ioneer is de'ined and !hat traits they "ossess& !ho !omen "ioneers are& and iss$es 'acin+
!omen today. *t is im"ortant to in%esti+ate this to"ic beca$se !omen are +enerally not
reco+ni-ed 'or their accom"lishments as m$ch as males are& des"ite the 'act that !omen ha%e
been able to accom"lish .$st as m$ch as males& i' not more. #his st$dy !ill sho! !ho the "$blic
reco+ni-es as !omen "ioneers& !hy they reco+ni-e them as "ioneers& and !hat e%ents in%ol%in+
!omen as "ioneers are si+ni'icant. My research 'or this to"ic !as limited by a small sam"le si-e
'or my inter%ie!s and s$r%eys. Only s$r%eyin+ my "eers in the same "lace ca$sed a+e and
+eo+ra"hical limitations.
Literature Review
#here are many areas in !hich !omen ha%e "ioneered. #hese areas incl$de b$t are not
limited to& medical research& m$sic& cinema& "$blic administration& the minin+ and ranchin+
'rontier& and the ri+hts o' !omen. *n the medical area& /lorence Ni+htin+ale is !ell 0no!n as the
'o$nder o' modern n$rsin+ and also raised the standard by ma0in+ n$rsin+ a 0ey element o'
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modern medicine& "ro'o$ndly a''ectin+ h$man health 12h$n+ 134. Mrs. 5am"son Williams&
better 0no!n by her sta+e name& Madame 5eli0a& !as a 'emale A'rican-American !ho "ioneered
in the m$sical area. On the e%enin+ o' No%ember 16& 1777& Madame 5eli0a became the 'irst
A'rican-American to "er'orm at the White 8o$se 18are 2264. #his e%ent !as not only a ste"
'or!ard 'or !omen& b$t A'rican-Americans as !ell. A !oman hi+hly re+arded in the cinema is
9$cille (all& most 'amo$s 'or her role as 9$cy in the hit 19:0s sitcom I Love Lucy. Accordin+
to O;<ell& =9$cy ... >is? a common denominator 'or nations& continents& and hemis"heres& doin+
in entertainment !hat others ha%e not accom"lished in "ro'essional di"lomacy@ 1214.
*n the area o' "$blic administration& Nellie #aylor Aoss !as the 'irst !oman to ser%e as
+o%ernor o' a B.5. state and to this day& she remains the only !oman to ha%e ser%ed as +o%ernor
o' Wyomin+ 15cheer 3:4. <$rin+ the early days on the American 'rontier& !omen %ery hea%ily
in%ol%ed !ith hel"in+ their male co$nter"arts. #he "rocess o' settlement and comm$nity
b$ildin+& has +enerally been tho$+ht o' in terms o' men;s accom"lishments& !ith %ery little
attention "aid to the creati%e achie%ements o' nineteenth-cent$ry !omen 1Moynihan Ci4. (ella
Ab-$+ is 'amo$s "ioneer 'or !omen;s ri+hts. Ab-$+ !as a la!yer& 2on+ress!oman& social
acti%ist& and a leader o' the Women;s Mo%ement. *n 1971& Ab-$+ 'o$nded the National Women;s
olitical 2a$c$s alon+ !ith t!o other leadin+ 'eminists& Gloria 5teinem and (etty /riedan
1E"stein 134. *t seems that !omen ha%e "ioneered in many de%elo"mental areas& accom"lishin+
!hat other males ha%e not achie%ed. My st$dy !ill no! in%esti+ate ho! indi%id$als o' di''erent
a+e +ro$"s %ie! !omen in di''erent areas o' "ioneerin+.
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Research Procedures
My research consisted o' t!o inter%ie!s and thirty s$r%eys. * inter%ie!ed my mother&
2heryl Zamora& a 'i'ty-ei+ht year old middle school teacher& in the month o' October 2010 at her
home. * also inter%ie!ed one o' my male "eers& #rey Dones& in the month o' October 2010 at
5tarb$c0s in 5e%ier%ille& #ennessee. (oth inter%ie!s !ere %ideo recorded. * as0ed my
inter%ie!ees ho! they !o$ld de'ine a "ioneer and !ho the 'irst "erson is that comes to mind&
alon+ !ith !hat traits they 'elt a "ioneer "ossesses. * as0ed i' they had any "reconce"tions abo$t
!omen as "ioneers& and !ho they tho$+ht o' as a !oman "ioneer thro$+ho$t history and in
modern days. * as0ed my inter%ie!ees ho! !omen !ere in'l$ential d$rin+ the .o$rneys o'
American "ioneers and !hat e%ents in%ol%in+ !omen mi+ht be considered to be ="ioneerin+.@ *
as0ed ho! they 'elt abo$t 8ilary 2linton and 5arah alin as "ioneers& and i' they 'elt that men or
!omen ha%e the ad%anta+e !hen it comes to "ioneerin+. 9astly& * as0ed my inter%ie!ees !hat a
0ey iss$e 'acin+ !omen today !as& and ho! they tho$+ht that !omen co$ld "ioneer to con,$er
this iss$e.
My s$r%eys !ere distrib$ted to a hi+h achie%ers +ro$" at 5e%ier 2o$nty 8i+h 5chool on
October 1st& 2010. #he hi+h achie%ers +ro$" !as s$r%eyed d$e to the ass$m"tion that they !o$ld
"ossess the 0no!led+e to ade,$ately ans!er ,$estions on my s$r%ey. * collected s$r%eys 'rom
'i'teen males and 'i'teen 'emales so that * !o$ld ha%e a +eneral idea o' ho! each +ender tho$+ht
o' !omen "ioneers. /irst& st$dents !ere as0ed to a+ree or disa+ree !ith the de'inition o' a
"ioneer ta0en 'rom Merriam-Webster. #hen& * as0ed the st$dents i' they tho$+ht that the
"ioneerin+ s"irit !as still ali%e& !hat !ays it is ali%e& and !hy or !hy not the "ioneerin+ s"irit is
still ali%e. 5t$dents !ere as0ed to a+ree or disa+ree as to !hether "ioneerin+ is on land only& and
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also i' they belie%ed that 8ilary 2linton and 5arah alin are "ioneers. * as0ed the +ro$" !hat
!omen they tho$+ht o' as "ioneers and !hat traits characteri-e a "ioneer. #he 'inal ,$estion
as0ed o' the +ro$" !as i' they tho$+ht men or !omen ha%e the ad%anta+e !hen it comes to
"ioneerin+& alon+ !ith !hy or !hy not. An eCam"le o' the s$r%ey res$lts can be 'o$nd in
AEN<*F *.
Presentation and Analysis of Data
*n my inter%ie!s * recei%ed %ery !ell de%elo"ed ans!ers. When as0ed ho! they !o$ld
de'ine a "ioneer& both Dones and Zamora said that a "ioneer !as anyone !ho brin+s $" chan+e
'or the betterment o' society. My inter%ie!ees had similar tho$+hts on the traits that
characteri-ed a "ioneerin+ s"irit. E''ort& determination& stron+-!ill& con'idence& and the ability to
easily in'l$ence others !ere traits similarly de'ined. (oth inter%ie!ees belie%ed that !omen
be+an to ste" $" more 'or their ri+hts and in other areas a'ter the e%ent o' !omen;s s$''ra+e in
1920. When as0ed abo$t !omen in the era o' ne! lands bein+ disco%ered& Zamora said =(ac0 in
those days& e%erybody had to "itch in. Aside 'rom the 'act that !omen +ot o$t in the 'ields&
!omen did all the ho+-slo""in; and e%erythin+& and !omen also had to brin+ the children $" too@
1Zamora4.
Dones named O"rah Win'rey as a !oman "ioneer& !hile Zamora chose (ella Ab-$+. (oth
inter%ie!ees a+reed that 8ilary 2linton and 5arah alin !ere not "ioneers& only "oliticians
searchin+ 'or s$""orters. Another commonality bet!een my inter%ie!s !as that inter%ie!ees
belie%ed 5aca.a!ea to be one o' the most in'l$ential !oman be'ore the 1700s& and that a
"ioneerin+ e%ent 'rom the last 'i'ty years !as the Aosa ar0s incident !here she re'$sed to +i%e
$" her seat on the b$s. #his e%ent& !hich ha""ened beca$se o' a !oman& hel"ed to b$ild the
A'rican-American 2i%il Ai+hts Mo%ement. Dones !ent on to say that !omen "ioneerin+ in m$sic
Zamora :
!as another im"ortant to"ic& namin+ (illie 8oliday as a !oman "ioneer in m$sic. When * as0ed
my inter%ie!ees i' they belie%ed men or !omen had the ad%anta+e in "ioneerin+& both s$b.ects
ans!ered that men ha%e the ad%anta+e o%er !omen. Zamora said& =Women ha%e al!ays been
o%ershado!ed by male co$nter"arts. #hat is .$st the !ay society has been& it !ill ne%er chan+e@
1Zamora4. Accordin+ to Dones& =#hat;s .$st the !ay it is& altho$+h * belie%e that !omen "robably
dominate behind the scenes@ 1Dones4. My 'inal ,$estion as0ed inter%ie!ees !hat they tho$+ht
!as a 0ey iss$e 'acin+ !omen today. (oth res"onded !ith the same ans!er& seC discrimination.
*nter%ie!ees !ere $ncertain as to !hat action sho$ld be ta0en to hel" rid this iss$e 'rom society.
*n my s$r%eys& the ma.ority o' males and 'emales a+reed !ith the de'inition o' a "ioneer
'rom Merriam-Webster bein+ that a "ioneer is anyone !ho o"ens $" ne! areas o' tho$+ht&
research& or de%elo"ment. A %ast ma.ority o' the +ro$" disa+reed that "ioneerin+ occ$rred on
land only. 8al' o' the +ro$" a+reed that 8ilary 2linton and 5arah alin !ere "ioneers& the other
hal' o' the +ro$" !as not s$re or disa+reed. #he most common names o' !omen "ioneers
+enerated 'rom my s$r%eys !ere Aosa ar0s& Michelle Obama& Amelia Earhart& and 5$san (.
Anthony& and 8elen Geller. #!o-thirds o' males and 'emales a+reed that men had the ad%anta+e
in "ioneerin+& "ro%idin+ similar ans!ers that males dominate society. A small "ortion o' the
+ro$" belie%ed that anyone co$ld ha%e an ad%anta+e in "ioneerin+ re+ardless o' +ender. All
'emales eCce"t 'or one said that the American "ioneerin+ s"irit !as still ali%e& in s$ch !ays as
medicine and technolo+y& !hile only nine males belie%ed it to be ali%e& in areas s$ch as
medicine& s"ace& and "olitics. Most males incl$ded co$ra+e and leadershi" as im"ortant traits o'
a "ioneer. /emales& on the other hand& listed traits s$ch as o"timism and intelli+ence.
Conclusions and Recommendations
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Women s$rro$nd the "ioneerin+ !orld& in more !ays than "eo"le may 0no! it. *
researched !ho the "$blic reco+ni-es as !omen "ioneers& !hy they reco+ni-e them as "ioneers&
and !hat e%ents in%ol%in+ !omen as "ioneers are si+ni'icant. My res$lts "ro.ected that the
American "ioneerin+ s"irit is still ali%e in s$ch !as incl$din+ technolo+y& medicine& s"ace& and
"olitics. A "ioneer can be de'ined by "ossessin+ one or more o' the 'ollo!in+ traitsH co$ra+e&
leadershi"& o"timism& intelli+ence& con'idence& determination& and the ability to in'l$ence others.
Women be+an to "ioneer more a'ter +ainin+ the ri+ht to %ote. #his e%ent led to the Women;s
Mo%ement and a more +eneral res"ect to!ard !omen. My research& d$e to miCed res$lts& did not
allo! me to determine i' 8ilary 2linton and 5arah alin are "ioneers or only "oliticians. #his
research has been sho!n that "oliticians can be "ioneers& b$t the 'act that "oliticians are or are
not "ioneers is hea%ily based on o"inion. 5aca.a!ea !as the most in'l$ential !oman be'ore the
1700s& hel"in+ 9e!is and 2lar0 ma" their !ay all the !ay o$t to the aci'ic. /$rthermore& in the
last 'i'ty years& Aosa ar0s and the stand that she too0 !as a notable "ioneerin+ e%ent to!ard the
de%elo"ment o' A'rican-American and !omen;s ri+hts. Men ha%e the ad%anta+e !hen it comes
to "ioneerin+& based on the 'act that !e are li%in+ in a male dominated society. Will this
ad%anta+e to!ard men e%er be o%ert$rned in the !oman;s 'a%or) Accordin+ to my inter%ie!s
and s$r%eys& males !ill al!ays dominate society. A 0ey iss$e that is 'acin+ !omen today is seC
discrimination.
8o! do these res$lts hint at the '$t$re o' "ioneerin+) A +ro$" o' yo$n+ men 'eel that
co$ra+e and leadershi" are !hat it ta0es to be a s$ccess'$l "ioneer& !hile a +ro$" o' yo$n+ ladies
belie%e that o"timism and intelli+ence are the traits that de'ine a "ioneer. Gno!in+ that the
American "ioneerin+ s"irit is still ali%e and !ell& !ill !e see co$ra+eo$s leaders as "ioneers o'
the '$t$re& or !ill these ne! "ioneers be intelli+ent o"timists) Only time !ill tell.
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My st$dy co$ld be im"ro%ed i' se%eral 'actors !ere modi'ied. A lar+er selection o' "eo"le
!o$ld +enerate more res$lts and +i%e an idea as to ho! indi%id$als in society today really
"ercei%e !omen "ioneers. Aeleasin+ a+e limitations !o$ld ma0e it easier to se"arate tho$+hts
and ideas by di''erent a+e +ro$"s. *nter%ie!in+ and s$r%eyin+ indi%id$als o$tside o' East
#ennessee !o$ld "ro%ide an insi+ht as to ho! the North American co$ntry or e%en the !orld
sees !omen in di''erent areas o' "ioneerin+.
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Wor0s 2ited
2h$n+& Gin+-#hom. Women Pioneers of Medical Research. De''erson& N2H Mc/arland
I 2om"any& 2010. rint.
E"stein& 2ynthia /. and William D. Goode& ed. The Other Half Roads to Women!s
"#uality. En+le!ood 2li''s& NDH rentice-8all& 1971. rint.
8are& Ma$d 2. $e%ro Musicians and Their Music. Ne! Jor0H G.G. 8all I 2om"any&
1993. rint.
Dones& #rey. ersonal *nter%ie!. 9 Oct. 2010.
Moynihan& A$th (.& 5$san Armita+e& and 2hristiane /. <icham"& ed. &o Much to 'e Done
Women &ettlers on the Minin% and Ranchin% (rontier. 9incolnH Bni%ersity o'
Nebras0a ress& 1990. rint.
O;<ell& 2ary. Women Pioneers in Television. De''erson& N2H Mc/arland I 2om"any&
1997. rint.
5cheer& #e%a D. =Nellie #ayloe Aoss& /irst Woman Go%ernor.@ Outstandin% Women in
Pu)lic Administration. Ed. 2laire 9. /elbin+er and Wendy A. 8aynes. Ne! Jor0H
M.E. 5har"e& 200E. 3:-70. rint.
Zamora& 2heryl. ersonal *nter%ie!. 2 Oct. 2010
Zamora 9
AEN<*F *
male
1:
'emale
1:
2. A "ioneer is anyone !ho o"ens $" ne! areas o' tho$+ht& research& or de%elo"ment.
5tron+ly a+ree - 7/ - EM 11 #otal
A+ree - :/ - 10M 1E
NK5 - 2/ - 0 2
<isa+ree - 0/ - 0 0
5tron+ly <isa+ree - 1/ - 1M 2
E. ioneerin+ is on land only
5tron+ly a+ree - 1/ - 1M 2
A+ree - 0/ - 0M 0
NK5 - 2/ - 0 2
<isa+ree - 9/ - 7 1:
5tron+ly <isa+ree - 2/ - 7M 9
3. 8ilary and 5arah are "ioneers
5tron+ly a+ree - 2/ - 2M E
A+ree - 3/ - :M 11
NK5 - 6/ - 1 E
<isa+ree - 2/ - 6 :
5tron+ly <isa+ree - 1/ - 6M E
*One 114 male =&tron%ly A%rees@ that 5arah alin is a ioneer and =Disa%rees@ that 8ilary is.
*One 114 'emale =A%rees@ that 8ilary 2linton is a ioneer and =Disa%rees@ that 5arah is.
7. Men or !omen ha%e the ad%anta+e in "ioneerin+
Men - 10/ - 11M 20 #otal
Women - E/ - 2M 3
(oth - 1/ - 2M 6
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Pioneerin% &urvey
1. What is your gender?
Male____ Female____
2. A pioneer is anyone who opens up new areas of thought, research, or
development.
Strongly Agree Agree Not Sure Disagree Strongly Disagree
3. Is the American Pioneering spirit still alive? In what ways? Why or why not?
4. Pioneering is on land only.
Strongly Agree Agree Not Sure Disagree Strongly Disagree
5. What women do you consider pioneers?
6. Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin are pioneers.
Strongly Agree Agree Not Sure Disagree Strongly Disagree
7. What are some important traits of a pioneer?
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8. Men____ or Women____ have the advantage when it comes to pioneering.
Why?
Thank you for completing this survey.