Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Cleveland State University, 2021, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

The essays contained herein seek to examine the quantity of identities allowed in a life, specifically when the life is female in nature and American in flavor. Not secondarily examined is the quality of freedoms provided within aforesaid examined identities. Methods of examination include sleepless nights, introspection, substance use, religious practice, and, of course, writing. No conclusive results were found, other than that much work remains to be done in the field of American female identity and freedom. Recommendations for further research include a deconstruction of the workday as provided by the Industrial Revolution and a redefining of equality as misunderstood by the middle and upper classes.

Committee: Hilary Plum (Committee Chair); David Giffels (Committee Member); Mary Biddinger PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Composition; Demographics; Evolution and Development; Families and Family Life; Fine Arts; Gender; Gender Studies; Higher Education; Home Economics; Individual and Family Studies; Mental Health; Personal Relationships; Religion; Religious Congregations; Social Structure; Womens Studies