Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) explores: 

• women’s past and present contributions to societies as persons, creators, and thinkers.
• the intersectional diversity--racial, economic, sexual, religious, generational—of women’s, men’s, and nonbinary individuals’ experiences.
• scholarship exposing the structural and institutional factors that perpetuate sexism, racism, classism, heteronormativity, and transphobia.

While WGSS is a discipline in its own right, our interdisciplinary program draws upon methods and content from a wide range of programs and majors, including anthropology, literature and the arts, biology, economics, history, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology. Our minor prepares students to:

• better understand individuals, particularly but not only women, and the social structures that impact the lives of individuals.
• think critically about the intersectional issues which they will face in their lives professionally and personally.
• extend their intellectual development by helping them to understand women’s accomplishments and capabilities, and by looking beyond the limits of traditional gender-differentiated roles.
• think, research, and write while using strong interdisciplinary skills.

Thus, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies is an essential component of a liberal arts education.

Any student may elect Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies as a minor in addition to their chosen major. The minor is excellent preparation for further study in law as well as for graduate programs in WGSS, psychology, social work, literature, and education. Graduates with WGSS minors are working in a variety of fields, including business, child and family services, education, journalism, and social service administration.

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program Learning Outcomes

A student who completes a Women and Gender Studies minor at UWGB will demonstrate the ability to:

• critically read, recognize, and analyze the gendered identities presented to them;
• understand how gender expectations function in culture, history, and social dynamics
• investigate how gender constructs impact their everyday lives and issues within their major or current field of study
• begin to appreciate/understand other cultures and peoples through investigation of the role that gender plays in their societies
• construct alternative ways to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate their views of their major and related fields
• initiate positive change in terms of gender definition/stereotypes
• enhance their overall general education by synthesizing the various disciplines through this minor's pedagogical approach