Women's, Gender, and Sexuality

About Us

You walk into the classroom, greeted by a diverse group of people, all gathered with a common purpose: to delve into the multifaceted field of women and gender studies. As you settle into your seat, you ponder the complex intersections of gender with race, class, sexuality, and other aspects of social identity. The course you are about to undertake will challenge you to think critically, question societal norms, and engage with feminist theories and practices. Throughout this journey, you'll be exposed to influential thinkers, historical events, and contemporary debates, all urging you to contribute your own voice to these vital conversations. You recognize that your perspective on the world might be irrevocably altered, but you're eager to embark on this intellectual adventure, knowing that it is an essential part of understanding the dynamics of power, inequality, and change in society.

Welcome to the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) Program!

WGSS is an interdisciplinary program where students explore challenging and provocative questions about gender and sexuality:

• How do gender and sexuality shape our lives?
• How are the norms of masculinity and femininity developed, disseminated, and revised in various societies and cultures?
• How do taken for granted understandings about gender and sexuality affect ideas about religion, race, nationality, beauty, education, and war?
• Why does the history of influential figures in politics, philosophy, business, education, the arts, literature, and natural science seem to be populated almost entirely by men? Is this accurate?
• What would a just and inclusive world look like?

If you are interested in pursuing these and other important questions, consider majoring in Women's, Gender and Studies.

The program, which consists of a major and a minor, emphasizes critical thinking in addressing the intersectionality of sex, gender, class, race, sexuality, ethnicity, and culture and their impact on people's experience and the societies in which they live. 

Our faculty are drawn from departments across the university including, anthropology English, history, music, philosophy and religious studies, political science, psychology sociology, public health, and theater arts. In addition to our interdisciplinary approach, many of our courses focus on gender and sexuality across the globe. We work to provide a close intellectual community in which students can cultivate their existing interests and discover new ones. Along the way, they practice the crucial skills of critical reflection, collaborative learning, and linking theory to action.

A degree in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality positions students for careers in a variety of fields in an ever changing world. Our 48-50 credit major and 25 credit minor are designed to allow students the flexibility to customize their course selection to fit their academic interests and career goals. For students who wish to pursue graduate degrees, WGSS also prepares students for a number of graduate school options due to their broad liberal arts background as well as specific interests that may set them apart from other students.

We invite you to learn more about the program by exploring our web page, taking our courses, or meeting our faculty.
If you have any questions, please contact me at m.obrien@cwu.edu
          M. O'Brien
          Director, Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program