Women’s and gender studies at Bridgewater State University was established in 1983, and is part of a rapidly growing course of study nationwide. Women’s and gender studies is an interdisciplinary minor which combines the analytical tools of different disciplines such as anthropology, psychology, sociology, literature, history, philosophy, etc., when studying the world.
Women’s and gender studies is dedicated to the study of women and gender. Gender is the idea of difference between the sexes, and all the assumptions, stereotypes and expectations that accompany these ideas. The minor looks at women and gender issues around the world, but since gender does not give a full understanding to women’s lives, we consider other factors such as race, class, culture and sexuality. The minor combines these tools and areas of interest into what we call an “integrative analysis.” The objective is to introduce students to analytical tools and basic approaches to the study of women in a variety of fields.
Students in the women’s and gender studies have found that studying women’s and gender issues enhances their major curriculum by broadening their lens of inquiry, encouraging them to ask new and meaningful questions about women and men, and seeing the world in a more meaningful way. Students of women’s and gender studies go on to graduate school in women’s and gender studies and in other disciplines, become teachers, librarians, attorneys, writers, reporters, labor organizers, social workers, counselors, ministers, performers, midwives, doctors and more.