Speak Out: What is Women and Gender Studies?

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Inequality exists all over college campuses today. Women’s studies programs reveal what this looks like in everyday life, and how efforts are being made toward a better future.

According to the women and gender studies department, the program has 62 majors and 35 minors.

These numbers are not nearly as high as they should be.

I have declared my minor in the Women and Gender Studies department, and I am frequently asked what kinds of classes I take and why I decided to study the subject.

Despite the novel nature of the degree, women’s studies programs are changing the way our society functions.

Many people refer to this program as feminist studies. Although the ideologies are certainly based in feminism, there is more to the degree than that. This discipline discusses topics that concern the economic, political and social elements of culture.

Women’s studies explore social norms from all angles of race, age, religion and gender while using women as the center of analysis. Topics for discussion vary, but include the rich history of the contributions women have made to society, how they face the world today, and where they want to be standing in the future.

Observing society through the eyes of women places a very different perspective on history and current events. Women have always been the oppressed and underrepresented sex. Many thought the fight was over after suffrage was granted to women, and Title IX was passed.

Standards of equality are nowhere near where they should be.

Taking courses in the Women and Gender studies department raises awareness to the fact that women are still not treated as equals to men.

The first women’s studies program was created at San Diego State College in 1970. As we celebrate 40 years, the National Women’s Studies Association reports over 900 programs in the U.S. and more than 10,000 courses.

Although this is encouraging, the fight must continue. Combining majors and minors in the program at CU, only 92 of the schools estimated 25,000 undergraduate students find the topic important enough to commit their studies to.

The issues discussed in Women and Gender Studies courses teach students about inequalities that are often unrecognized in daily life.

Men need to participate in gender education. Without men the effort to achieve equality is impossible. If so many male students continue to be uninformed about sexist, patriarchal ideals there is no way that women will be able to beat the system in the workplace or anywhere else.

There needs to be conversation about these inequalities. Discussions about violence, discrimination in the workplace, unequal distribution of housework and the glaring differences in the ways media portray women and men have to happen more often.

The idea that society does not need feminism any more is squashed by thousands of startling statistics about men consistently holding more leadership positions; women overwhelmingly being the victims of rape; and eating disorders being one of the leading killers of women as our society forces them to be smaller and smaller.

Every single student should be required to take an introduction to gender studies class right alongside math and writing. Feminism is not about hating men or women ruling the world, but devoted to teaching equality.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Morgan Aguilar at Morgan.aguilar@colorado.edu.