Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
College: College of Arts & Humanities
Program Offered:
Minor - Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
UW-Parkside offers a concentration in women’s, gender and sexuality studies through the liberal studies major. This major draws upon existing UW-Parkside courses, and students may also receive credit for appropriate transfer courses, distance education courses, and credit for experiential learning.
UW-Parkside also offers a minor in women’s studies through the Center for Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Interested students should consult the director of the Liberal Studies Program for the major and the director of the Center for Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies for the minor.
Affiliated Organizations:
The Women’s Center, Wyllie Concourse, 262-595-2170; The Status of Women Committee, 262-595-2592; LGBTQ Resource Center, 262-595-2456
Career Possibilities:
Nonprofit organizations, business, human resources, creative arts, education, government, health, journalism, law, medicine and social work, especially pertaining to issues of gender and sexuality. Graduate school with emphasis in the humanities, social sciences or the professions. Many careers are strengthened and enhanced by a minor in women’s studies. Students are encouraged to discuss career options early with the program director and to consider internships and other activities which allow them to explore career possibilities.
Program Overview
The Center for Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies provides an interdisciplinary program that draws upon all departments in the university to provide a systematic analysis of gender roles, sexual identity, and women’s experiences in society. Its goal is to provide insights and generate activities that will lead to a better understanding of gender roles and sexual identity, improve the position of women, and transform society in the process. In such courses, women’s positions are often analyzed relative to those of men, and these courses are relevant for both women and men who are seeking a fuller understanding of the past, present and future social trends.
These six learning objectives should guide students’ selection of elective courses and guide their approach to the work they do in their course study.
- Analysis: The ability to read and interpret gendered elements of verbal and nonverbal tests and imagery.
- Communication: The ability to perceive gender bias in language choices and rhetorical strategies, and to communicate effectively using the media of the 21st century.
- Ethics and Social Justice: The ability to recognize social injustice, inequality, and discrimination, particularly in regard to gender, and to expose and articulate options for change.
- History, Culture, and Society: The ability to recognize patterns in past events and see their impact on the status of women and the construction of gender roles.
- Critical Thinking: The ability to analyze how value systems shape human knowledge with respect to gender.
- Interdisciplinarity: The ability to make deliberate connections among various academic disciplines, to comprehend and participate in more than one discipline.
Students electing the women’s, gender and sexuality studies concentration in the liberal studies major or the women’s, gender and sexuality studies minor may combine it with any major to give those students enhanced knowledge of gender issues within their major area. Graduates have found jobs in the community that focus on women’s issues such as program coordinator, program director, counselor, etc., in organizations dedicated to women’s issues. In addition, students have often been able to redirect the focus of existing organizations to address the needs of women, which are often neglected.
Preparation for Graduate School
Students who graduate with this minor can go on to professional and graduate programs in law, sociology, humanities, medicine and health, theology and other fields. Consult the director for further information to develop a plan of study.
Internships
Internships and applied experiences in other courses or independent study projects are encouraged. These experiences assist students in evaluating developing skills for possible job settings and for community organizing.
Courses in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
WGSS 110 | Introduction to Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies | 3 cr
Introduces the field of women's studies, its theoretical and methodological bases and the challenges it creates for other academic disciplines. Analyzes the construction of gender for both men and women. Examines issues of sexuality, including sexual attraction, intersexuality and trans-sexuality. Examines identity as a complex series of intersections that involve race, ethnicity, and class, often at a global level.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring.
Meets: Social & Behavioral Science: WGSS
WGSS 112 | Women In Literature | 3 cr
Examines representations of women from classical to contemporary periods and identifies ways writing illuminates women's experience. Works by and about women from various cultures and backgrounds are considered. Cross-listed with: ENGL 112.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring.
Meets: Humanities and the Arts: WGSS
WGSS 213 | Gender and Society | 3 cr
Explores theory and research on gender roles and gender stratification, focusing on political, economic, family and other settings. Includes historical, cross cultural and subcultural comparisons Cross-listed with: SOCA 213.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Meets: Social & Behavioral Science: WGSS
WGSS 215 | Queer Representation on Stage and Screen | 3 cr
Examines the portrayal and representation (or lack of representation) of LGBTQIA+ voices and identities in plays and film through theory and criticism. Cross-listed with: THEA 215.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Spring (even years).
Meets: Humanities and the Arts: THEA
WGSS 290 | Special Topics in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | 3 cr
Selected topics in women's, gender and sexuality studies.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Occasionally.
WGSS 315 | Communication and Gender | 3 cr
Explores the role of communication in the construction of gender, the role of gender in the social organization, and use of language and communication systems. Cross-listed with: COMM 315.
Prerequisites: COMM core courses or consent of instructor.
Offered: Spring.
WGSS 366 | Women, Crime and Criminal Justice | 3 cr
Examines the study of female crime and delinquency. In addition to women as offenders, this course focuses on women as victims and workers in the criminal justice system. Cross-listed with: CRMJ 366.
Prerequisites: CRMJ 101 or consent of instructor.
Offered: Occasionally.
WGSS 367 | LGBTQ Studies | 3 cr
Examines the everyday lives of people in the LGBTQ community as they participate in identity politics, collective action, resistance, and empowerment in a heteronormative society. Cross-listed with: SOCA 367.
Offered: Occasionally.
WGSS 390 | Special Topics in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: | 1-4 cr
Selected topics in women's, gender and sexuality studies.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Occasionally.
WGSS 463 | Gender, Race, Class and Sexualities in the Media | 3 cr
Explores how representations of gender, race, class and sexualities in the media contribute to views of culture, self, and others. Cross-listed with: COMM 463.
Prerequisites: COMM Core courses or consent of instructor.
Offered: Fall.
WGSS 469 | Women as Writers and Characters | 3 cr
Examines writing by women and depictions of women in literature. May be repeated for credit with different topic.
Cross-listed with: ENGL 469.
Offered: Occasionally.
WGSS 490 | Special Topics in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | 3 cr
Selected topics in women's, gender studies and sexuality studies.
Prerequisites: Varies with topic.
Offered: Occasionally.
WGSS 494 | Internship in Women's, Gender Studies and Sexuality Studies | 1-6 cr
Work experience in a program-related environment, or supervised experiences in planned projects, that exposes students to applied settings that serve women. Emphasis applying feminist analysis, qualitative research methods, communication and other skills, while increasing career knowledge and awareness. Maximum of three credits may apply to minor.
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and program director.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
WGSS 495 | Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Seminar | 3 cr
Focuses on developments in feminist theory and methodology, with the goal of integrating theory and methods acquired in earlier women's, gender and sexuality studies courses and encouraging students to apply the material to the community around them. Allows students to work in their own interests within a broad theme selected by the instructor.
Prerequisites: WGSS 110 and two other WGSS credited courses.
WGSS 497 | Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Senior Thesis | 3 cr
Independent research and writing of an essay of substantial length under faculty supervision. Agreement of faculty member to undertake supervision is necessary before registration.
Prerequisites: WGSS 110 and two other WGSS credited courses; and consent of instructor.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
WGSS 499 | Independent Study | 1-3 cr
Individual research projects in women's, gender and sexuality studies. Maximum of three credits may apply to minor.
Prerequisites: Consent instructor and program director.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.