College Life
College Life
Private Schools That Are Well Known for This Major
State Schools That Are Well Known for This Major
- University of California—Berkeley
- University of Michigan—Ann Arbor
- University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill
- University of California—Los Angeles
- University of Florida
Classes in the Major
Women in American History. There are probably several versions of this class, all about women in various histories. Why? Women were there. Seriously, without women, nothing would have happened, and we don't learn about very many of them. Sure, you get your Amelia Earharts, your Eleanor Roosevelts, and your Katniss Everdeens, but that's barely scratching the surface.
Sex, Power, and Politics. Even casual observers know that sex has a lot to do with politics. After all, that's what takes politicians down a lot of the time. Like Jerry Springer. You'll explore such questions as: Why are male politicians always the ones who get in trouble for these scandals? The answer is also pretty obvious in retrospect: because most politicians are men. Weird, right? Well, not so weird when you consider, you know, sexism. You'll explore all kinds of questions and political trends in these classes.
Women in Literature. Certain women have long been considered titans in literature: the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, Sylvia Plath, and, of course, the beloved J.K. Rowling. After those few, you kind of run out of names, right? That can't be good, since it's not like women have less to say than men. This class will expand your knowledge of both female writers and female characters.
Gender, Science, and Technology. There can't be any difference in how technology works based on gender, can there? Well, kind of. Even ignoring subtle differences in design and marketing, there's a clear gap. For one thing, women are not as strongly encouraged to go into science and technology as men are. You'll learn about gender stereotyping in school and the workforce and the effects it has on society.
Gender, Culture, and Representation. Ever notice how when there's a group of heroes, they're all men except for one woman? Princess Leia seemed to have been the only woman in the entire galaxy. That's not right, but it's probably because the vast majority of movie-makers are men. Representation, for women and for trans people, is incredibly important in gaining widespread support and understanding. We think of men in movies by default because that's what culture tells us to do. Until representation starts looking more like the actual population, that's how it will stay.