Gender & Women's Studies

What is Gender & Women’s Studies?

Gender & Women’s Studies originated in the 1960s as a result of political critiques of the marginalization of important groups and perspectives within the educational system. Gender & Women’s Studies has since broadened, deepened, and has become an established scholarly field. Gender & Women’s Studies scholars explore gender relations and women’s experiences across cultures and nations, throughout history, and in contemporary societies. What unites Gender & Women’s Studies scholars is the shared understanding that gender relations shape every site of human interaction, from the very local, to the global. Hierarchical gender relations are understood in constant interaction with other important social, economic and cultural hierarchies, such as class, race, ability, and sexuality. 

As an interdisciplinary department, Gender & Women’s Studies draws on theoretical perspectives and methodologies from a wide range of fields such as History, Political Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, English, Indigenous Studies, and the Natural Sciences. Trent University’s approach to Gender & Women’s Studies combines theory with empirical research, encourages critical thinking, and aims to develop in students strong analytical, writing and communication skills.