As college students we have lots of options when it comes to classes. We are bombarded with requirements and left with electives and GEC’s that are up to our discretion. So what kinds of courses should fill those spots? Women’s and Gender Studies classes! I happened upon WGS classes by chance while trying to fill an honors requirement (and avoiding Friday classes) and it was one of the best choices so far in my college career. WGS courses cover a wide range of topics from women’s issues to transgender politics to feminist theory. Current events, like HB2, are discussed and analyzed and opinions are shared and developed. But by no means are WGS classes reserved for those who identify as feminists and/or liberal.
WGS classes are filled with students from many different majors and topics covered are important for all students to spend time considering during their college career, no matter what their career path looks like.The topics covered allow for students to learn about and stay up-to-date on social issues, whether past or present. You will learn about things ranging from first wave feminism to the impact current bills and issues have as a whole within the community to issues that are important on our campus. In addition to the growth of political and social knowledge, class discussion and readings allow students to develop critical thinking skills. Throughout the semester you will disagree with authors and classmates and you will learn to be able to articulate how and why you disagree in an academic environment.
The degree with which you agree or disagree with an author’s standpoint or a classmate’s comment will allow you to learn how to communicate and write about your own opinions. As we grow closer and closer to graduation it is important to be able to stand out as free thinkers who are capable of understand and working with others while still being able to formulate and communicate our own ideas and opinions using supporting examples and facts.
But above all else, you as a student and as an adult will be given opportunities to open your mind and consider issues from viewpoints you may not have realized even existed. WGS classes allow everyone the opportunity to step outside of their comfort zone and their bubble and to experience new ways of thinking. We are in college to learn and to broaden our horizons, and there is no better way to do that than to take a chance on a class that will allow us to potentially see things in a new way. Most of us, in our professional and personal lives, will be faced with situations where we will need to know the ways in which our fields, future careers, and actions are problematic and what we can do to make needed changes.
In an intro Women’s and Gender Studies class, you will be met with a diverse group of students who all bring different experiences and opinions to the table. You will discuss racial stereotyping, gender-based oppression, religious discrimination, sexuality, and many other important current social issues. It is a place to ask questions and learn from readings, your professor, and your classmates. So if you’re looking for Reasoning and Discourse GEC credit, be sure to consider the newest WGS class for next semester called Gender, Race, and Sexuality (WGS 150)! If this course doesn’t fit with your schedule, no worries, WGS 250, Intro to Women’s / Gender Studies, offers a Social and Behavioral Sciences GEC credit too. Both of these are great options for everyone! For more information on these or any other WGS related topics, check out the WGS website!