Research within the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies centers intersectional approaches to gender as tied to sexuality, race, class, colonialism, ability, and other lines of difference to understand structural inequality, cultural representation, and historical change. Departmental strengths include decolonial feminisms, women of color feminisms, queer of color critique, and sexuality studies. Our department is committed to critical thinking and social justice.
Research Across Disciplines
The field of women's, gender, and sexuality studies is interdisciplinary by nature, and our faculty members often engage in research across multiple disciplines employing a range of methods and modes of inquiry including archival research, literary analysis, creative work, and ethnographic fieldwork.
Explore Our Research
Read the latest research from the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
Programming Updates 2024-25
Women’s Gender, and Sexuality Studies is a dynamic and collegial Interdisciplinary department. The Women’s Studies Program started in 1975, and this year is the 50th anniversary! The major degree was first offered in 1997, and the program became the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) in 2009. WGSS is a thriving hub for the study of intersectional and decolonial feminisms, critical gender studies, queer studies, and transdisciplinary and humanist approaches to the study of gender and sexuality in comparative global contexts. Students enjoy a wide array of courses and opportunities for research and collaborative educational experiences. Students learn to think and read critically, to express themselves in writing and other creative forms, and to engage in professional practice through internships, setting them up for future study or work in fields such as social work, education, healthcare, non-profit management, library and museum studies.
WGSS faculty come from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds but share a commitment to intersectional analysis, decolonial and transnational feminisms, and the critical and engaged study of gender and sexuality. Below are some updates from our core faculty from the past year.
Research and Programming 2024-25
Attend a Lecture
The WGSS department regularly invites experts in the field to present their research and perspectives. Our most prominent event is the Sally Miller Gearhart Lecture Series. Funded by a generous endowment, the series is part of our ongoing effort to promote dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity and empower lesbian voices in higher education.
