Discover how cultural norms and expectations influence the people we become.

“Once you do away with the idea of people as fixed, static entities, then you see that people can change and there is hope.”

- Bell Hooks


In this interdisciplinary minor, students and faculty explore topics that concern women and gender through a social justice lens.  Students and faculty explore both theoretical and practical aspects of the field of women’s and gender studies including the ways in which ideas about women and gender have shaped public policy, civil rights, health care, religion, education, and the law as well as the gendered portrayal of persons in art, literature, music, and the popular media. Courses focus on understanding and challenging how mainstream ideas of women and gender affect our everyday lives in intersection with other identity categories such as ability, age, ethnicity, race, religion, sexuality and social class.

WHY WOMEN'S AND GENDER STUDIES?

  • Interdisciplinary by nature
  • Intellectually engaging minor
  • Characterized by strong commitment to critical thinking
  • Opportunities for student-faculty exchange and collaboration
  • Great career differentiator
  • Small class sizes allowing for productive dialogue to explore challenging issues
  • Inquiry-based authentic assignments

POPULAR MAJORS THAT CHOOSE A WOMEN'S AND GENDER STUDIES MINOR

Criminal Justice and Paralegal Majors.

  • Develop background in domestic violence and women’s and gender issues.

Education

  • Enhance preparation to meet student needs as well as design curriculum content that addresses women’s history and current women’s and gender issues.

Health Sciences (Nursing)

  • Uncover how the medical field discusses women and issues of gender, and how these affect their well-being.

Humanities (History, English, Foreign Languages, Philosophy and Theology Majors)

  • Uncover how women and gender has been addressed throughout history and in present time.

Political Science

  • Explore how women are involved in politics and how politics impacts their political, social, economic, and personal lives.

Psychology/Sociology

  • Supplement social sciences major by exploring how we are shaped by our social, cultural, and political environments.

Sociology

  • Supplement your social sciences major by exploring how we are shaped by our social, cultural, and political  environments.

Social Work

  • Develop social and cultural understandings of social and family dynamics, and the heritage stories people carry around with them.

For more information about the Women’s Studies program, please contact:

Mary Fisher, Ph.D.
College of Education and Social Sciences
One University Parkway
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL 60446
De LaSalle Hall, Rm DL-124

Phone: 815-836-5979 
Email: fishermm@lewisu.edu

Ana Roncero-Bellido, Ph.D.
English
College of Humanities, Fine Arts and Communications
One University Parkway
Romeoville, IL 60446
De LaSalle Hall Rm,  DL-217-N

Phone:  815-836-6206 
Email: aroncerobellido@lewisu.edu

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