Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

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Faculty

Trisha Franzen, co-chair and professor.
B.A., State University of New York, Buffalo; M.A.,  Ph.D., University of New Mexico. Appointed 2003.

Bille Wickre, co-chair and professor.
B.S., Dakota State University; M.A., University of Iowa; Ph.D., University of Michigan. Appointed 1992.

Scott A. Melzer, professor.
B.A., University of Florida; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Riverside. Appointed 2004.

Lucia Soriano, assistant professor.
B.A., California Polytechnic University; M.A., Claremont Graduate University; Ph.D., Washington State University. Appointed 2021.

Introduction

Women’s, gender, and sexuality studies is an interdisciplinary program that examines the role of gender in the construction of lives, cultures, community norms, meaning systems, and systems of representation. All of the areas of study within the program use cross-cultural or multicultural investigations to understand the dynamics and differences in the operation of gender. Within specific contexts but also across differences, the program also focuses on the lives of women–on women’s past and present active involvement in the making of the world. Each of the areas of study emphasizes the ongoing interplay of theory and practice.

The program includes minors in gender studies, women’s studies, and sexuality studies (see below).

Program Website: http://albion.edu/academics/departments/womens-and-gender-studies
 

Student Learning Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes Women’s Studies Major

  1. Students will be able to identify key concepts and scholarship in women’s, gender and sexuality (WGS) studies.
      Key Concepts: the social construction of gender, privilege and oppression, intersectionality, feminist praxis.
  2. Students will be able to describe intersectional identities. 
  3. Students will be able to apply intersectional feminist theory to evaluate representations of people of diverse genders and sexualities.
  4. Students will be able to interpret (identify) feminist perspectives in multiple disciplines. 
  5. Students will be able to critically evaluate WGS theory and scholarship.
  6. Students will formulate questions leading to feminist scholarship or projects to address local or global problems. 

Students will be able to recognize theories and key scholarship in women’s studies.

1. Students will be able to identify women’s issues in the context of global diversity.
2. Students will be able to analyze the critical perspectives brought to a discipline by women’s studies.
3. Students will be able to use feminist theory to evaluate representations of women.
4. Students will be able to interpret feminist perspectives on specific and detailed historical contexts.
5. Students will be able to assess knowledge far from their own intersectional subject positions.

Student Learning Outcomes Gender Studies Major

1. Students will be able to recognize theories and key scholarship in gender studies.
2. Students will be able to analyze gender issues in the context of global diversity.
3. Students will be able to evaluate the critical perspectives brought to a discipline by gender studies.
4. Students will be able to critically examine the role of gender and sexuality in representations.
5. Students will be able to interpret studies of gender and sexuality in specific and detailed historical contexts.
6. Students wlll be able to analyze the systemic nature of gender and sexuality.

Students Learning Outcomes Women’s Studies Minor

1. Students will be able to recognize theories and key scholarship in womens’s studies.
2. Students will be able to use feminist theory to evaluate representations of women.
3. Students will be able to interpret feminist perspectives on specific and detailed historical contexts.

Student Learning Outcomes Gender Studies Minor

1. Students will be able to recognize theories and key scholarship in gender studies.
2. Students will be able to critically examine the role of gender in representations.
3. Students will be able to evaluate the critical perspectives brought to a discipline by gender studies.

Student Learning Outcomes Sexuality Studies Minor

1. Students will be able to recognize theories and key scholarship on sexuality.
2. Students will be able to interpret studies of sexuality in specific and detailed historical contexts.
3. Students will be able to use feminist theory to critically examine conceptions of sexuality.
    

Programs

• Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Gender Studies Emphasis, B.A.
• Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Women Studies Emphasis, B.A.

• Gender Studies Minor
• Sexuality Studies Minor
• Women’s Studies Minor

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