Women’s Studies at St. Cloud State University will soon be known as Gender and Women’s Studies.
The new name goes into effect in fall 2018, but students are seeing the transition now. Courses for registration starting summer 2018 are listed under GWS in the course schedule.
“This name change both better explains what we already do and provides the framework to expand our work,” said Dr.Beth Berila, Gender and Women’s Studies professor. “Gender & Women’s Studies helps students cultivate awareness of the lived experiences of diverse communities and develops their leadership, advocacy and empowerment.”
The name better reflects the program’s focus on intersectional feminism, global and transnational feminism, gender complexity, and LGBTQ+ issues.
“Under this new name, the program will continue to help students in the major cultivate leadership, strong critical thinking, speaking and writing skills. It will continue teaching them creative and inclusive coalition building to empower marginalized communities and work toward a more just world,” she said.
The move to gender and women’s studies is a trend happening in many women’s studies programs in colleges and universities across the country.
