Since differentiation by gender is a major organizing principle of nearly every human society, it’s only natural to study its impact and effects. The discipline known as Women’s Studies is relatively new – just over 25 years old – and it’s still evolving. What started at Oakland University in 1979 as a concentration and became a major 2000, the Women’s Studies program recently announced a name change to better reflect the role gender plays in society.
“By changing its name to Women and Gender Studies we’re bringing the program more in line with the national trend and more accurately reflecting what the program offers,” says Jo Reger, associate professor of Sociology, and director of the Women and Gender Studies program.When the program began as Women’s Studies, the original focus was bringing women and their lives into academia by offering a variety of courses describing and capturing the role that women have played – and play – in society.
“These courses made up the backbone of Women’s Studies offerings for decades across universities nationally,” says Reger. “We are now at a time, however, where we need to address how gender – masculinity, femininity, trans and so on – influences society.”
With that change come more and more gender-focused courses such as Masculinity in the Media and Sociology of Gender, Philosophy of Gender, Sexuality, Gender Identity, and Education and Gender Socialization in Schools.
“These courses continue the program’s tradition of challenging traditional ways of thinking in established disciplines and acting as an agent for social change,” Reger says.
The program also continues to deliver on its original purpose: paying particular attention to women’s experiences in historical and contemporary societies, including the differences among women in various social and cultural contexts, including in literature, art and media.
The expanded focus strengthens an already strong program.
“A major or minor in Women and Gender Studies complements all fields,” says Reger. “Particularly in professions that focus on people and social institutions such as journalism, social work, teaching, government, criminal justice, psychology and business.”
Since differentiation by gender is a major organizing principle of nearly every human society, it’s only natural to study its impact and effects. The discipline known as Women’s Studies is relatively new — just over 25 years old — and it’s still evolving. What started at Oakland University in 1979 as a concentration and became a major 2000, the Women’s Studies program recently announced a name change to better reflect the role gender plays in society.