Welcome to Gender Studies
Mission:
- to challenge traditional assumptions about sex, gender, and sexuality;
- to provide a context for students to formulate their own values and philosophy based on both knowledge and personal experience;
- to analyze sex/gender systems operating through race, class, age, and sexual orientation, including how these systems shape women's and men's lives and consciousness;
- to analyze how male-female differences get translated into gender stratification and to examine the consequences of this stratification for individuals and society;
- to develop critical thinking skills;
- to refine written and oral communication;
- to provide desirable preparation for students going into business or professional fields in which they will be dealing with gender issues and/or problems;
- to heighten awareness of gender issues and improve gender relations.
Program History
The Gender Studies Program began at Stetson in 1991, as the Women and Gender Studies Program (WGS). Over the past two decades, the Program has flourished, involving faculty across the University and from many different academic areas. The Program offers an average of 6 courses each semester and has about 15 minors enrolled each year. The Program also sponsors a vibrant series of co-curricular events that intersect with academic topics, from visiting lecturers to student research presentations. In 2011, the WGS Program changed its name to Gender Studies to reflect our inclusive focus and the direction of the national field in gender studies. Studying femininity and masculinity both remain central to the program's mission.
These 2011 Women's History Month posters, featuring Stetson University students, faculty and staff, were posted around campus to call attention to the many faces of feminism and the many reasons to be a feminist.
The posters are available to view at the Poster Series page.