PROJECT
MANAGEMENT
Throughout the proposal process, I was able to develop my project topic from a first minor idea to a structured outline, which helped visualise the procedures over the next couple of months. Hurdles, such as changing my topic after the first draft to creating a realistic timeline, ensured I was thinking about my project and its development in great detail, even before starting the next stage in the project progress.
1st proposal draft
The first initial idea proposed in the first draft stemmed from an interest in the fashion industry, especially how sizing is measured and executed, therefore the proposal focused on size inclusivity within women's clothing. For this it was planned to have participants try on different types of clothing from different brands in a variety of sizes. The outcome of this project was not completely decided by the hand in date, but it would have most likely included photography, that would have been showcased in a self-made magazine. After being assigned a supervisor and talking this first draft of my proposal over with her, we came to the conclusion, that this topic would not be sufficient enough for the project requirements. Through discussions about my passions and interests, the topic of the project was altered to be feminism themed.
2nd proposal draft
The second draft of the proposal, therefore, showcased a different topic. Through research and discussion with peers around me, I decided to focus on the idea of differences between generations within the feminism movement. This was inspired by an article on the #MeToo movement, by Matilda Dixon-Smith written for the Feminists Writers Festival. The article discussed the rising criticism feminists were getting from fellow feminists about the movement. The question of what it means to grow up a feminist in the 21st century and what kind of differences this brings in comparison with older generation feminists was the driving force behind developing the idea further. The study by Roberta S. Sigel and John V. Reynold on a potential generation gap between different generations of feminists gave more background information. Their sex-stratum theory, which they based on the initial stratum theory by Anne Foner, helped shape the project and especially the research question in more detail. I used the question of "Does our shared beliefs unite us more than our difference in age separates us?", to get started on further research into this topic, and eventually decide on this being my research question to guide my project.
Final proposal
Through several different drafts, each one more improved than the previous one, I made sure my topic would be sufficient enough to fill the elements required from me. The final proposal draft, which got approved by my supervisor, also stated the methodology on how this project will be visualised. Creating a magazine was still at the forefront, although I stayed open-minded to changing my methodology, in case something more fitting arose.
Having realistic milestones to follow and meet towards a certain date, aided in the planning of the next stages and their main points of achievement. Making sure to note down all the important steps helped to visualise, how the time working on this project needed to be divided, to be efficient.
