Gender and Sexuality Studies What is the Program and minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies at Saint Peter’s University? The Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies at Saint Peter’s University includes an eighteen-credit minor and focused courses relating to women and gender offered in the various academic departments. It is an interdisciplinary cross-cultural program. It provides students with an in-depth knowledge of the social construction of gender in structuring human social life and women’s contributions to history, knowledge and culture. The Program emphasizes the link between the personal and the political in any society. It uses knowledge to create community based agendas for social change to eliminate gender-based inequality. In addition to the minor and focused courses, the Program offers a variety of events throughout the academic year, including Women’s History Month in March, which identify women’s issues at the local and global levels. These include guest speakers, panel discussions, films, and artistic performances. The Program joins with other University departments, clubs and programs and with community organizations to promote equality.
Why is a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies useful? Education is empowering. Feminists have always understood the fundamental role of education in the struggle for equality. Although women have made significant gains, they still face inequality at every social level. The more knowledge women have about their past, present and future, the more empowered they will be to identify issues and make the changes needed for equality. Gender and Sexuality Studies relates to and connects with all disciplines. When you minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies, you will study anthropology, sociology, economics, history, psychology, literature, art, all with a feminist perspective. You will ask new questions, suggest new theories and interpretations, gather new evidence, and offer new analyses. Gender and Sexuality Studies relates to all occupations. Since it draws on and connects with so many subjects, you can apply what is learned in Gender and Sexuality Studies to any job. The new perspectives learned can be applied to interpersonal relationships on the job and in identifying and addressing forms of sex discrimination such as unequal wages, glass ceilings, sexual harassment, and pregnancy discrimination. Gender and Sexuality Studies is relevant. Since Gender and Sexuality Studies emphasizes that the personal is political, insights gained can be relevant in all relationships: family, friends, lovers, partners, co-workers, coaches, teachers. Also Gender and Sexuality Studies facilitates critical analysis of broad political issues affecting women here and globally including access to education, employment, working conditions, trafficking, violence, and health. Gender and Sexuality Studies is politically linked with other struggles for equality. Since we cannot understand femininity without masculinity, Gender and Sexuality Studies are not just about women. It is also not just about sexism and sex discrimination. It is about the intersections among various oppressions including gender, race, class, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age. A minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies allows you to challenge these intersecting oppressions and address the systematic and structural processes that creates and maintains them. This allows you to become an active agent in the movement toward a more just and equal society and world.
For additional information visit
www.saintpeters.edu/academics 11/21
Career options related to the minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies Advertising, Human Resources, Psychotherapy and Counseling, Criminal Justice, Communications, Social Work, Rape Crisis Centers, Battered Women’s Shelters, Teaching, Journalism, Museum Curator, NGOs, Non-Profits, Creative and Technical Writing, the Arts, Healthcare Professions, Legal Professions, Politics
Requirements for a Minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies Students may complete a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies by taking eighteen (18) credits. Required classes (six credits): Ws/So-141 Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies Ws/Po-310 Feminist Political Theory or Ws/Pl-340 Feminist Philosophy Select four of the following electives (twelve credits): Ar-425 Women in Art As/So-353 Sociology of the Black Family Cu-285 Gender and Communication Hp-244 Women in Film Hs-345 Women in Modern History Ls/Ed-399 U.S. Latina: Health, Identity, Education Ps-170 Marriage and Family Ps-410 Psychology of Gender So/Ur-345 Sociology of Intimacy So/Ur-309 Women in the Changing Urban World So-256 Sociology of Sports So-326 Anthropology of Gender So/Ls-273 Global Feminisms So/Ls-136 Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Studies So/Ls-386 Health & Inequalities: Race, Class and Gender Ur-460 The U.S. Civil Rights Movement