Women’s and Gender Studies

Gender shapes who we are, as individuals and as social institutions. Majoring in women’s and gender studies means exploring the intersections of gender, race, class, and sexuality—present day and throughout history. Your classes will span the disciplines: history, biology, sociology, psychology, art, modern languages, and more. Take deep dives into topics like masculinity in modern art, sexuality in film noir, feminist fiction, families in transition, queer theory, or women in the U.S. economy. Our majors and minors are motivated to create positive change; you’ll find them using class projects, research, and internships to advocate, educate, fundraise, and volunteer.

Racial and Gender Equality

Programs

Outcomes

100% of Women and Gender Studies majors from the past five years have found employment or attended graduate school within six months of graduation *

*outcomes data is based on a knowledge rate of 72% for the classes of 2014-2018

100%
of Women and Gender Studies majors

Recent Graduates

Sample First Jobs

  • Development Associate, Planned Parenthood of New York City
  • Marketing Coordinator, Equal Vision Records
  • Transitional Living Coordinator, Access Community Action Agency


Sample Graduate Schools

  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Cornell University

Wheaton Women’s and Gender Studies majors are eligible for accelerated admission to the Masters in Gender and Cultural Studies program at Simmons University.

faculty

Contact the Coordinator

Francoise Rosset

Associate Professor of Russian; Chair of Russian Department; Women's & Gender Studies Program Coordinator; Global Literary Studies Program Co-coordinator

Knapton 002

(508) 286-3696

Recent student internships

The Wheaton Edge offers experiences beyond the classroom.

Elizabeth Helmreich

2020, Political Science, Women's and Gender Studies

Cee Green '82 Fellowship for Experiential Learning

Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund, Portland, ME

My internship with Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund engaged my passion for both grassroots political movements and reproductive rights. It especially taught me to channel these passions toward real political change.

Emma Haggerty

2021, Sociology, Women's and Gender Studies

Caroline C. Edwards '70 Current Use Internship Fund

Mabel Wadsworth Center, Bangor, ME

This experience further solidified my belief that sexual and reproductive health should be accessible to all. It helped fuel my passion for the topic, and I can’t wait to work more in the field.

Faculty

Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus

Professor of Religion; Henrietta Jennings Faculty Chair for Outstanding Teaching (2020-2025); Program Coordinator, Jewish Studies; Network for LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Support, and Advocacy committee member

Deyonne Bryant

Samuel Valentine Cole Professor of English

Claire Buck

Professor of English

Laura Bohn Case

Visiting Assistant Professor of German

Dolita Cathcart

Associate Professor of History; Coordinator for African, African American, Diaspora Studies

Beverly Lyon Clark

Professor of English, Emerita

Barbara Darling

Assistant Professor of Religion

Nick Dorzweiler

Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science and Women's and Gender Studies

Leah Dyjak

Assistant Professor of Photography

Linda Eisenmann

Professor of Education, Professor of History

Talitha Espiritu

Associate Professor of English; Co-Coordinator, Journalism Studies Minor

Nancy Evans

Professor of Classics

R. Tripp Evans

Professor of the History of Art

Tommasina Gabriele

Professor of Italian Studies; Italian Studies Coordinator

Touba Ghadessi

Professor of the History of Art + Interim Provost

Donna O. Kerner

Professor of Anthropology, Emerita; William Isaac Cole Professor of Anthropology

Hyun Sook Kim

Professor of Sociology; Co-director of Mellon Study Away Program in Miami; retired (June 2022)

Leanna Lawter

Associate Professor and Coordinator of Business and Management

Tessa C. Lee

Associate Professor of German; Chair, German Studies

Sarah Leventer

Visiting Assistant Professor of Film and New Media Studies

Katherine Mason

Assistant Professor of Sociology/Women and Gender Studies

Ellen McBreen

Professor and Chair History of Art

Karen McCormack

Professor of Sociology; Co-coordinator, Journalism Studies, Associate Provost for Academic Administration and Faculty Affairs

Charlotte Meehan

Playwright-in-Residence, Professor of English; Global Literary Studies Program Co-coordinator; Creative Writing Coordinator

John Miller

Professor of Economics; Public Policy Studies Program Coordinator

Kim Miller

Professor of Women's & Gender Studies and History of Art; Peace & Social Justice Studies Coordinator

Clinton O'Dell

Associate Professor of Theater Design and the Department of Theater and Dance

John Partridge

Professor of Philosophy; Chair, Department of Philosophy

Montserrat Pérez-Toribio

Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies; Chair, Hispanic and Italian Studies Department; Latin American Studies Co-coordinator

Francoise Rosset

Associate Professor of Russian; Chair of Russian Department; Women's & Gender Studies Program Coordinator; Global Literary Studies Program Co-coordinator

Kent Shaw

Assistant Professor of English

Alireza Shomali

Professor of Political Science, Jane E. Ruby Chair in Humanities and Social Sciences

Mary Beth Tierney-Tello

Professor of Hispanic Studies

Kathryn Tomasek

Professor of History

M. Gabriela Torres

Professor of Anthropology; Associate Provost for Academic Administration and Faculty Affairs

Jonathan David Walsh

Professor of French Studies; Chairman, French Studies Department

Winter Jade Werner

Associate Professor of English; Coordinator of Digital Humanities

Aubrey Westfall

Associate Professor of Political Science

Russell Williams

Associate Professor of Economics; Urban Studies Program Coordinator

Brenda Wyss

Professor of Economics; Coordinator of Development Studies

Kersti Alice Yllo

Professor of Sociology, Emerita

Vicki Toppses
Faculty Assistant
508-286-3570
toppses_vicki@wheatoncollege.edu