Well, I guess it got real a year ago when the House nearly shut down the government over Planned Parenthood funding. Women and women’s health are at the center of politics right now. Have you read the news lately? It’s War on Women this, and Birth Control Access Violates Our Religious Freedom that. With whatever job(s) you end up having, you can apply what you’ve learned from Women’s Studies to any situation - it’s not so much a career choice as it is a life choice you’re adopting a new perspective that you’ll use in every relationship, every job, and every circumstance. Since it covers so many different subjects, you have a broad range of job opportunities you’re not tied to a specific field like you would be with a marine biology or accounting degree. You discover and ask questions that no one’s ever challenged you with before: How have women been portrayed in the media and religion? In what ways do gender stereotypes influence politics and literature? How does our society compare to others in its treatment of women? When you major in Women’s Studies, you study politics, theory, literature, history, sociology, and psychology, all with a feminist perspective. This gave me all the more reason to pursue the degree. And the fact that WS was still obscure and somehow silly showed that there’s still a long way to go before women are considered truly equal. When I took my first Women’s Studies class, I’d often come home angry I’d grown up with a progressive family, I was well-traveled, and I’d gotten good grades throughout school, and yet I still hadn’t heard about the Declaration of Sentiments or the Equal Rights Amendment I’d still never questioned the stereotypes that women are bad at math and men are bad at feelings I’d never heard of rape culture or the gender wage gap.Įvery time someone asked whether I hated men (no), or whether I’m a lesbian (no, but does it matter?) upon hearing my major, I was reminded further that women’s issues aren’t getting the mainstream attention they deserve: that women are widely underrepresented in politics that the number of sexual assaults on college campuses is staggeringly high that women still get paid less for equal work. Two memorable responses I got as a Women’s Studies major were “Do you hate men?/Are you a lesbian?” (these are seemingly said in the same breath, which is why they collectively count as one), and “I studied women in college too… Heh, heh.” (This one’s uttered by your friend’s creepy dad or your questionable uncle.) Runner-up: “Why isn’t there a Men’s Studies?” (It’s called History.) What you don’t know actually does hurt you. If you and the women you know are worth more than that, and you want to grab your beautiful, precious, wonderful life by the horns and do something challenging and inspiring and worthwhile with it, read on for five reasons to major in Women’s Studies. Why major in Gender Studies when you could study a more practical major that your parents would be proud to brag about with their pals? If you’re content with the idea that everything is fine as is - with women getting paid 80 percent of what men earn for equal work, and politicians arguing about birth control (birth control!) - don’t major in Women’s Studies. 5 Reasons You Should Major in Gender Studies By Hilary Watchler, UCLA Gender Studies alumni A Gender Studies undergraduate education also provides a solid foundation for pursuing a graduate degree in law, medicine, education, public policy, public health, in addition to any of the social science and humanities majors. Our graduates work in a range of occupations, including human services, social work, non-profit organizations, private businesses, advocacy, and the arts. Whether you are interested in gender inequality at work, LGBT health issues, or women and international development, a double major in Gender Studies will enable you to push the boundaries of knowledge in traditional fields to address the issues that matter most to you. The study of women, gender, and sexuality is central in every field of knowledge today, from the study of politics and society to biology and medicine.
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