Major: Women's Studies
Northwestern University Library
What does it mean to be a woman? How do gender roles influence our experience as a female or male? How do gender roles in different countries compare with each other? How have they changed throughout history?
The field of women’s studies uses the tools of history, economics, science, health, art, and other disciplines to study the lives of women and explore questions like these.
The nature and relative newness of women’s studies make it an exciting discipline. In many women’s studies programs, there are few required courses. This means that you are free to develop your own focus by choosing which courses, in women's studies and other departments, to take.
Students of women’s studies learn about feminism and the history, culture, and politics of women. Depending on the program and the interests of the student, classes cover such broad topics as law, politics, literature, family, and sexuality.
“[My professors are] not afraid to relinquish control of discussions; they allow us, as students, to take discussions to the places we feel are relevant.”
Sunday, junior, women’s studies, UC Davis
Are You Ready To...?
- Question your assumptions about gender and sexuality
- Look at literature, art, and film with a feminist perspective
- Make connections between your personal life and the topics you’re studying
- Do a lot of reading and writing
- Work to improve the lives of women
It Helps to Be...
Interested in issues surrounding women and gender and passionate about social justice. In this field, you may come up against a lot of resistance from others outside the department, so it also helps to be secure in your own decisions.
College Checklist
- Does the women's studies program have a particular focus, such as history or literature? Read course descriptions on the department website or in the course catalog to find out.
- What courses about women, gender, and sexuality are offered in other departments, such as art history and sociology?
- What are the backgrounds and interests of the professors? Are they experts in gender issues?
- What opportunities will you have to conduct research?
Did You Know?
- You don’t have to be a woman to be a women’s studies major.
Course Spotlight
The subject of women and the family is central to women’s studies. In a course on women and family roles, you'll explore family dynamics (relationships and interactions).
This might involve studying the theories of biology, psychology, and economics along with examples from film, autobiography, and literature. You might also discuss family law and the politics of the family. Then, in order to apply these ideas, you might be required to observe a family or analyze your own family's dynamics and write about what you observe.
Explore this major in more depth on MyRoad™