Announcement:

IN MEMORY OF JORDAN GRAHAME

It is with sadness that the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies has learned of the passing of one of our recent graduates, Jordan Grahame, on September 19th in his 24th year. Jordan graduated in 2011 with a joint major in Women’s Studies and Cultural Studies. Jordan was a dedicated and thoughtful student with a generous heart and a strong commitment to social and gender justice. Faculty and staff in the department extend their sympathies to Jordan's family, and his community of friends and class-mates.

                       

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DEPARTMENT NAME CHANGE

The Department of Gender and Women's Studies is now the Department of Gender & Women's Studies. A name change had been considered and debated for many years through both informal and formal discussions among students and faculty. The department’s External Review in 2009 cemented the idea of adding “gender” to our name, and we are now happy to announce that the University Senate has officially approved this change.

Why have we changed the name? The field itself has expanded and diversified over the years, and so has our department’s curriculum. “Women’s Studies” no longer precisely captures the range, diversity, content, and relevance of our research and teaching. Longstanding course offerings such as Women and Health, Gender, Race and Class, and Gender and Popular Culture have incorporated transformative new insights, and the department has recently added exciting courses on Feminism and Critical Race Theory, Transgender Feminisms, and Gender and Environmental Justice. The expansion of the department’s focus and courses reflects the breadth and inclusivity of the field as it has developed.

The study of “women” remains central to Gender and Women’s Studies, but the new name emphasizes our department’s critical engagement with the broader concept of “gender”, especially how gendered ideas and identities are constructed and practiced, and how gender intersects with other hierarchical categories of difference (such as class, race, ethnicity, ability, sexuality, etc.) to shape social relations, power, and lived experiences in societies. A total of twelve different departments in the Social Sciences, Humanities and Interdisciplinary programs contribute to the rich breadth and depth of our curriculum. Gender and Women’s Studies is more inclusive and relevant than ever, and we look forward to continuing our work and fostering connections within the university and the local community.

Effective Date: Summer, 2011.

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