Explore gender inequalities ~ Promote equality and justice
Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) emerged from the civil rights and feminist movements around the globe, and its goal is to change the unjust world and end gender, racial, sexual, and other forms of oppression. It is an interdisciplinary field that examines the oppression, activism, and research contributions of women and other marginalized people groups, and issues related to gender, race, class, (dis)ability, indigeneity, and sexuality through intersectional lenses and with cross-cultural perspectives in a global context.
Classes cover a wide range of subject areas including history, education, sociology, political science, biology, communication, and cultural studies; queer & LGBTQ+ studies; and ethnic, regional, and post-colonial studies. Students look critically at the practices of gender and sexuality in different societies and at different historical periods. The feminist method of teaching used in Women’s & Gender Studies courses empowers students to become active learners and social change agents through discussion, written work, collaborative projects, and practical involvement beyond the classroom.
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Department News
- Congrats to Carolyn Eichner!Carolyn Eichner has been awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholar Grant for Jan 1 – Aug 31, 2025, in support of her research and writing …
- Women’s and Gender Studies at Half a Century: Imagining the Future and Meeting the ChallengesAs part of our year-long 50th anniversary celebration, UWM’s Women’s & Gender Studies department participated in the 2024 Women’s and Gender Studies Consortium Conference …
- Scholarship Submission DeadlineThursday, February 14, 2024 is the deadline for consideration for the WGS Paper and Project Contest, the Casey O’Brien Activist Award, and the Florence Healy …
- Celebrating 50 Years of WGS!This is What Women’s & Gender Studies Looks Like: Celebrating 50 Years of WGS! On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, Women’s & Gender Studies will celebrate …
Department Events
- Nov11November 11, 2024, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
- Nov13November 13, 2024, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
- Dec6December 6, 2024, 11:00am - 12:30pm
- Dec6December 6, 2024, 4:00pm - 6:00pm