Pictured: Shannon Ward ’14 (left) with Erin Smith ’15
Need help choosing your major? During the ’14/’15 academic year, we’ll be talking to students from every Chatham undergraduate program to get the inside scoop on their areas of study.
Featured Major: Women’s Studies
Background: Women’s Studies provides an in-depth analysis of the history and politics surrounding gender. The coursework provides a multifaceted look at what it means to be a woman, grounded in solid theory and supplemented by education in cultural traditions.
The Coursework: Most students begin by taking Introduction to Women’s Studies. Students in both the major and the minor are also required to take Feminist Theory and Women and Policy. Students in the major complete a service internship and two semesters of a program-related Tutorial.
Beyond the basics, students have a lot of flexibility. Majors take 6 electives and minors take 4, all chosen from a list approved by the department. Courses pull from most academic programs and embody a diverse array of topics: Human Sexuality, Women and the Criminal Justice System, and even Ecofeminist Literature.
The Faculty: The Women’s Studies coordinator is Dr. Lynne Bruckner. Chatham’s website officially lists Dr. Britney Brinkman and Dr. Prajna Paramita Parasher as faculty in the department, but students can expect to take classes with a number of professors from a variety of departments.
Relevant Campus Programs: One of Chatham’s mission initiatives is women’s leadership, so you’ll likely discover plenty of events and opportunities that fit your interests. Students hoping for careers in public policy may train or intern with the Pennsylvania Center for Women & Politics. Future CEOs may choose to take advantage of professional development workshops and networking sessions hosted by the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship. Chatham also offers plenty of leadership training programs specifically designed for women.
What You Can Do With It: Chatham emphasizes that graduates are prepared to enter any field or organization focusing on women and/or gender. Alumni may opt to work in nonprofits, run for office, or spend time as policy analysts. Some may excel in the marketing departments of for-profit businesses targeting women, or they might help implement anti-discrimination measures in HR. Others may opt to pursue graduate education. A number of colleges and universities have M.A. or Ph.D. Women’s Studies programs; several offer joint degrees such as Sarah Lawrence College and Pace University’s program in Women’s History and Law.
Interviewee: Shannon Ward ’15 (Majors: Creative Writing and Women’s Studies)
1. HC Chatham: Why did you choose to major in Women’s Studies?
Shannon Ward: With Chatham’s focus on gender equality and the empowerment of women, it is very easy to take lots of Women’s Studies classes. They just happen to be the ones that are required for other classes, or else are the most interesting ones on the course schedule. I personally found that the Women’s Studies classes were the most fascinating and provocative, and was thrilled to add it on as a double major (with Creative Writing). All students should have to take a few classes on gender equality!
2. What are three main lessons you’ve learned from the Women’s Studies curriculum?
(1) Gender equality is not just a women’s issue.
(2) Violence and discrimination based on gender is a worldwide issue, in just about every culture.
(3) Early and continued education is the simplest way to raise women out of poverty.
3. How would you describe the classroom environment?
The classroom environments in Women’s Studies courses vary a great deal, depending on the professor and the subject matter. I’ve been in classes that are purely lecture-based, classes that had lots of group projects, and classes where everything was student-driven. As far as I can tell, Women’s Studies promotes the most diverse classes on campus.
4. What three characteristics do you think successful Women’s Studies majors possess?
Successful Women’s Studies majors must… (1) Believe in and actively strive towards gender equality. (2) Have a great emotional stability for difficult/depressing subject matter (some of the classes, particularly those on rape or the abuse of children are pretty morbid). (3) Care about disadvantaged women in the real world and not just in an academic setting.
5. Why do you think Chatham students should consider a major in Women’s Studies?
Especially now, as Chatham changes to a co-ed institution, a focus on gender equality is more important than ever. Students should consider a major in Women’s Studies because it’s not just a major about women. It’s a major that seeks equality for everyone.
Ready to learn more about the major? Visit the Women’s Studies page on the Chatham University website.