Women's and Gender Studies

Welcome to the Women's and Gender Studies Program

The Women's and Gender Studies Program enables students to explore the social and cultural effects of gender (that is, the meanings we give to biological sexual difference). Our program encompasses two overlapping approaches. Women’s Studies emphasizes the intellectual, artistic, political, social, economic, and spiritual contributions of women, which traditional scholarship long overlooked or even denigrated, and analyzes the reasons for this undervaluing. Gender Studies extends the interdisciplinary methods of Women's Studies to a broader range of issues, including the social and cultural meanings of masculinity, heterosexuality, and homosexuality. Both approaches explore gender and sexuality in their interactions with race, class, nationality, religion, and other social categories.

Our program offers the following courses of study:

an undergraduate minor in Women’s and Gender Studies
an Individualized Major in the Liberal Arts with a focus in Women’s and Gender Studies.
a graduate certificate program in Women’s Studies

Because work in Women’s and Gender Studies draws on many academic disciplines, our program complements virtually every major (link here to Spring 2010 courses). Moreover, our courses expose students to new ways of thinking about personal identity as well as about traditional scholarly inquiry.

Student Organizations and Activities

Many students in the Program serve on the Women's and Gender Studies Council, composed of faculty, staff and students who oversee the administration of the program. Among the responsibilities of the Council are the selection of recipients of the Margareta Deschner Teaching Award; selection of recipients of student research assistantships and faculty development grants; the publication of a newsletter for the Women's and Gender Studies Network--subscribers including past students, faculty, and members of the community; curriculum development; providing student input to the Program Director. Tuition, cash awards, and research assistantships are awarded every year through the Ann Early endowment and the Betty Janette Maynard endowments. Students may participate in a variety of conferences, lectures, and social events, and are given priority seating at student forums for the Raggio lecturer in Women’s Studies. Many also participate in activities sponsored by the Women’s Center.

Career Opportunities

A minor in Women's and Gender Studies enhances career opportunities in many fields. For example, individuals interested in business might profitably combine courses in Women's and Gender Studies with training in marketing or finance. Those interested in psychology would similarly find Women's and Gender Studies instructive for counseling future clients. Past minors have found Women's and Gender Studies courses beneficial to their careers in public relations, journalism, law, education, and health professions.