Women’s and Gender Studies

At A Glance
Women’s and gender studies at Carthage is a cross-disciplinary academic program that studies how intersecting identity categories such as race, ethnicity, gender, sex, class, religious beliefs, and physical ability are socially constructed and strategically mobilized.
Major
- Self-designed
Minor
- Women’s and Gender Studies
Enter a truly interdisciplinary, transnational world that involves the majority of the earth’s citizens. Study how women’s and gender studies have informed and changed how other disciplines are practiced today.
Courses in the program study the systemic operations of power, as well as strategies of community-building, coalition, and resistance, to become more conscious and knowledgeable actors in an increasingly diverse world. The program’s courses promote critical thinking and effective communication skills that prepare students to work in a world where companies increasingly require their employees to be conversant on issues relating to diversity and equity.
The minor in women’s and gender studies introduces students at the undergraduate level to some of the most important ways in which the study of women and gender is transformative in various academic disciplines and addresses why gender, race, and ethnicity matter in society and human history. Self-designed majors in women’s and gender studies are possible. Consult the program director if you are interested in creating a women’s and gender studies major or need more information about the program.
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.jpg" alt="Justin Girodat" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2268" data-max-h="2268" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “What I have come to learn about the Women’s and Gender Studies department is that it’s not about the content you learn, but the person you become. For this reason, I have loved taking courses that have allowed me to reevaluate the person I am today. Not only that, it has opened pathways into new friendships, good relations with amazing staff, and opportunities to really make a change in our Carthage community.” </p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2150-">Justin Girodat</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/116/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,38,1283,1319/38266_9456_163701665847155.rev.1692576751.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/116/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,38,1283,1319/38266_9456_163701665847155.rev.1692576751.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/116/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,38,1283,1319/38266_9456_163701665847155.rev.1692576751.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/116/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,38,1283,1319/38266_9456_163701665847155.rev.1692576751.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/116/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,38,1283,1319/38266_9456_163701665847155.rev.1692576751.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/116/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,38,1283,1319/38266_9456_163701665847155.rev.1692576751.jpg" alt="Kortni Robinson ?24" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/116/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,38,1283,1319/38266_9456_163701665847155.rev.1692576751.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/116/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,38,1283,1319/38266_9456_163701665847155.rev.1692576751.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1283" data-max-h="1281" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The professors have really inspired me to follow my passions. Having good relationships with faculty strengthens my trust in Carthage and what it has to offer.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2491-">Kortni Robinson</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.JPG 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.JPG" alt="Emily Frost ?23" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.JPG 3x" data-max-w="1536" data-max-h="1536" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Whenever I had a difficult time (either in my personal life or academically), my political science and women’s and gender studies professors were there for me. Almost all of them would adjust due dates if needed and provide me with extra support as well.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1528-">Emily Frost</a> ’23</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1956,1956/34504_Serena_Richardson_24.rev.1651691259.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1956,1956/34504_Serena_Richardson_24.rev.1651691259.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1956,1956/34504_Serena_Richardson_24.rev.1651691259.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1956,1956/34504_Serena_Richardson_24.rev.1651691259.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1956,1956/34504_Serena_Richardson_24.rev.1651691259.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1956,1956/34504_Serena_Richardson_24.rev.1651691259.jpg" alt="Serena Richardson ?24" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1956,1956/34504_Serena_Richardson_24.rev.1651691259.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1956,1956/34504_Serena_Richardson_24.rev.1651691259.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1956" data-max-h="1956" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I recently went on a J-Term study tour to Peru called The Role of Tourism and its Effect on Women and the Environment in Peru. We studied the effects of tourism on both the environment and indigenous women. This trip was absolutely phenomenal!”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1871-">Serena Richardson</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/35/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/43,64,272,292/435_Jenna_Zeihen_22.rev.1638389814.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/35/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/43,64,272,292/435_Jenna_Zeihen_22.rev.1638389814.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/35/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/43,64,272,292/435_Jenna_Zeihen_22.rev.1638389814.jpg" alt="" width="183" height="183" data-max-w="229" data-max-h="228" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I always had a desire to connect with people, share stories, make art, and help others. I know my studies bring me those things every day!”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/509-">Jenna Zeihen</a> ’23</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.jpg" alt="Abby Trch ?23" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.jpg 3x" data-max-w="725" data-max-h="978" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Carthage faculty have had an invaluable impact on my college career. These are the types of relationships you could never find at larger universities.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1517-">Abby Trch</a> ’23</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/105/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/15,0,735,720/36394_4860_163701665847155.rev.1668712304.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/105/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/15,0,735,720/36394_4860_163701665847155.rev.1668712304.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/105/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/15,0,735,720/36394_4860_163701665847155.rev.1668712304.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/105/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/15,0,735,720/36394_4860_163701665847155.rev.1668712304.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/105/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/15,0,735,720/36394_4860_163701665847155.rev.1668712304.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/105/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/15,0,735,720/36394_4860_163701665847155.rev.1668712304.jpg" alt="Jude Dzurak" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/105/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/15,0,735,720/36394_4860_163701665847155.rev.1668712304.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/105/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/15,0,735,720/36394_4860_163701665847155.rev.1668712304.jpg 3x" data-max-w="720" data-max-h="720" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I chose to be a women’s and gender studies minor because I have always been drawn to learning about intersectionality and other prominent social issues, and this allowed me to continue educating myself and allowed me to continue feeling passionate about it.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2172-jude-dzurak">Jude Dzurak</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/99/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,26,738,764/36412_4902_163701665847155.rev.1668994992.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/99/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,26,738,764/36412_4902_163701665847155.rev.1668994992.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/99/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,26,738,764/36412_4902_163701665847155.rev.1668994992.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/99/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,26,738,764/36412_4902_163701665847155.rev.1668994992.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/99/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,26,738,764/36412_4902_163701665847155.rev.1668994992.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/99/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,26,738,764/36412_4902_163701665847155.rev.1668994992.jpg" alt="Logan Dales" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/99/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,26,738,764/36412_4902_163701665847155.rev.1668994992.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/99/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,26,738,764/36412_4902_163701665847155.rev.1668994992.jpg 3x" data-max-w="738" data-max-h="738" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The physics program here is amazing, with connections across the country that I’d hope would make for a great education and possibly help me find a job post-graduation.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2177-">Logan Dales</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>