Research Proposal

Star Fernandez
Independent Research I GT
2016-2017

Research Title The Development of Women Marines: the Role of Women Organizations

Overview of Research
The research project addresses the issue of the development of female roles in the
United States Marines. Thus, court cases, protests, documented interviews, government
regulations, and the opinions of people involved will be researched.

Background and History of the Issue

The U.S. Navy is a section of the military which integrated women into the army by 1978. This
was supported and advocated by organizations, such as the National Woman Suffrage
Association formed on May 15, 1869. After the integration, the women faced discrimination at
the camps where their opportunities to certain duties such as driving an automated vehicle and
needed to be with another women during group activities to ensure safety and prevent
discrimination. There were times where organizations decided to include other reasons of
opposition, such as protecting foreign not national rights. By 1943, the female marines were
needed for skills and the Marine Corps were able to increase the available jobs to the point that
women had 85% of the Marines jobs.

However, despite the official law allowing women into the military, there were placed limits to
womens duties.The women faced discrimination at the camps where their opportunities to
certain duties such as driving an automated vehicle and needed to be with another women during
group activities to ensure safety and prevent discrimination.

Problems Statement and Rationale

The equal representation of women in the Marines is important because this is a major part of
society in which the representation would determine the equality of women in small societies,
such as workplaces. Women face barriers, such as discrimination and unfair treatment, which
prevent them from opportunities declared available to all citizens of the United States under the
Constitution. The role of women in the Marines progress to become equal in modern day, despite
other minorities being considered equal to all soldiers in the Marines. As more details of the
women marines are addressed, court cases and additional issues are identified by associations
concerning female egalitarianism. Some of these issues point out the loopholes marines are
utilizing in order to unfairly treat female marines. As a result, these is so much research that
supports the idea that there is still inequality of women in the Marines and the effect of
organizations in the progress.

Research Methodology
 Research Question and Hypothesis
How did certain organizations help female marines obtain equal
representation in the U.S. Marines?
Throughout the inclusion process of women into the U.S. Navy,
women organizations faced opposition to the establishment and advocated for
improvement or elimination of discrimination and problems within the Navy
through protests and court cases.

Basis of Hypothesis
Unlike other minorities integrated into the U.S. military such as
African Americans, women remain unequal to the contradicting group, the
opposite sex. In the past year, the first few women were able to enlist for the Navy
Seals, a specialized group in the Marines, with the assistance of multiple
organizations within and outside of the military due to the belief that women are
unable to manage nor reach the physical requirement. These facts lead one to
believe that there are other events in history and research that supports the role of
organizations in the development of women in the U.S. Marines.

Research and Design

Historical research will be conducted. One will use research
articles to gather information on the court cases and government and military
efforts. The research will be qualitative data from interviews, court cases, and
research articles as well as quantitative data from participation and admission
statistics of women in the Marines.

Operational Definitions
Suffrage: the right to vote in political elections
Association: a group of people organized for a joint purpose
Egalitarianism: of, relating to, or believing in the principle that all
people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.

Product Overview
For this year of study, the product is a website presented at National History Day.
The intended audience are the judges and participants at National History Day
through a presentation and interview with them. The audience will evaluate my
presentation skills, such as clear voice, confidence, and information in the product that
answers the question on how women organizations stood up in history.

Logistical Considerations
There are several obstacles for my project. Transportation will be required to
attend the National History Day competition, so the guardian will provide this aspect on
that day. The permission to attend each level of the National History Day competition is
also required as the teacher of the class will cover this aspect. During the judgement, it is
necessary to bring materials for the judges to look over during the presentation and to be
able to present as well. The printed materials for the judges as well as a computer will be
brought on the scheduled day.