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Program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Welcome to the Program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

4 diverse women in graduation regalia smile broadly.
Celebrating WSU Commencement: Brenda Rodriguez Lopez (wgss major), Kayley DeLong (queer studies minor), Alejandrx Martinez (wgss major), and Basheera Agyeman (wgss student).

 

At this important moment in history—from #BlackLivesMatter to #MeToo and everything in between—the Program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at WSU offers interdisciplinary courses in which students work together to explore the questions that these social justice movements pose, and the ways that race, ethnicity, sexuality, social class, nationality, age, and ability intersect to shape understanding of gendered experience and injustice.

WGSS places gender and sexuality at the center of inquiry in research and teaching. Using an intersectional lens, students learn how to analyze gendered social roles and the ways in which they affect personal lives, artistic expression, work, social relationships, institutional structures, the production of knowledge, and national and international political and economic relations.

WGSS offers a major in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, which requires a minimum of 36 credit hours. The program also offers minors in Women’s Studies and Queer Studies. Students interested in declaring a major or minor should contact the program director, Pamela Thoma, professor of English.

Check out our degree options.

Celebrating 2023 WGSS Graduates, Scholarships, and Awards

WGSS Graduating Majors

  • Alecia Burgett
  • Madison Cox
  • Savannah Fesler (Summer 23)
  • Piper Haynes
  • Lucy Perry

Outstanding Senior

  • Alecia Burgett

Pauline E. Thompson Scholarship in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

  • Beeler Lile
  • Olivia Detloff

Johanna Busek Scholarship in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

  • Veronika Akers
  • Olivia Detloff

WGSS Scholarly Achievement Award

  • Beeler Lile, First Place
  • Veronika Akers, Second Place
  • Audrey Hughes, Second Place
  • Olivia Detloff, Third Place

WGSS Creative Achievement Award

  • Veronika Akers

 

InQueery 2023

After the Tipping Point: Trans Histories and Archives

Keynote Hil Malatino

“Pure Potential: Reed Erickson and the Trans Twentieth Century”

Wednesday, October 11!

 More information and Zoom Link

 

Upcoming Events

Full calendar >>

In recent days, we have watched with growing concern the legal attempts in various states across the nation to attack and eradicate trans and queer lives—from Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” education bill to Idaho’s HB675 that makes it a felony for trans youth to access healthcare. These draconian steps are part of larger attempts to attack access to abortions, reproductive and gender confirming healthcare, and bodily autonomy. Such events highlight the importance and urgency of feminist and queer pedagogies in our classrooms, on our campuses, in our communities. We extend our solidarity with all those who are fighting these transphobic and homophobic bills.

If you want to support a trans-led group in your state, please see the Trans Justice Funding project’s grantee list.

WGSS Statement on Solidarity with #BLM

National Women’s Studies Association Statement

WGSS seeks to

  • Provide students with a systematic knowledge of interdisciplinary scholarship about gender and by women and other gender and sexual minorities.
  • Enhance the qualifications of students for today’s diverse workplaces.
  • Advance university and societal goals of diversity and equity.
  • Lead transformational education and research initiatives.