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.

Programs

Racial and Gender Equality

Faculty

Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus

Professor of Religion; Henrietta Jennings Faculty Chair for Outstanding Teaching (2020-2025); Program Coordinator, Jewish Studies

Deyonne Bryant

Samuel Valentine Cole Associate Professor of English; Chair, English Department

Claire Buck

Professor of English;

Laura Bohn Case

Visiting Assistant Professor of German

Dolita Cathcart

Associate Professor of History

Nihal Çelik

Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology

Shawn Christian

Professor of English and African American Studies

Beverly Lyon Clark

Professor of English

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

Lindsay Flynn

Assistant Professor of Political Science

Tommasina Gabriele

Professor of Italian Studies; Italian Studies Coordinator

Touba Ghadessi

Professor of the History of Art + Associate Provost for Academic Administration and Faculty Affairs

Donna O. Kerner

Professor of Anthropology; William Isaac Cole Professor of Anthropology

Hyun Sook Kim

Professor of Sociology; Co-director of Mellon Study Away Program in Miami

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

Stephen Mathis

Associate Professor of Philosophy

Ellen McBreen

Associate Professor of the History of Art

Karen McCormack

Professor, Department of Sociology; Co-coordinator, Journalism Studies

Charlotte Meehan

Playwright-in-Residence, Professor of English, Mary Heuser Chair in the Arts

John Miller

Professor of Economics

Kim Miller

Jane Oxford Keiter '64 Professor of Women's & Gender Studies and History of Art; Peace & Social Justice Studies Coordinator

Clinton O'Dell

Associate Professor of Theater Design

John Partridge

Associate Professor of Philosophy; Chair, Department of Philosophy

Francoise Rosset

Associate Professor of Russian; Chair of Russian Department; Women's & Gender Studies Program 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 and Chair of Anthropology; Co-Coordinator, Public Health Program

Jonathan David Walsh

Professor of French Studies

Winter Jade Werner

Associate Professor of English

Aubrey Westfall

Associate Professor of Political Science; International Relations Coordinator

Kelly Whitford

Visiting Assistant Professor of Art and Art History

Russell Williams

Associate Professor of Economics; Chair, Department of Economics

Brenda Wyss

Professor of Economics; Coordinator of Development Studies

Kersti Alice Yllo

Professor of Sociology, Emerita

Internships

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.

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 *

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