Program Goals & Statement

Program Goals

The Women's Studies Program at Indiana State University is dedicated to helping students learn more about:

• the history of women;
• communicating across differences, not necessarily overcoming them;
• relationships among gender, race, age, and sexuality;
• same-sex, cross-sex, and cross-cultural differences;
• societal oppression;
• forming educated opinions;
• the politics of education; and
• the history and practice of feminisms

Program Statement

The work in Women's Studies challenges students to look at themselves and the world differently by examining the presence of and responses to "differences." Women's Studies is not limited to the study of gender, but also considers sexuality, ethnicity, class, age, and other aspects of identity.

Women's Studies is an expanding program at ISU, adding new minors, courses, and faculty each year.

To help students look at educational practices, the program's classes often use experimental or innovative teaching and learning techniques. Students are also given opportunities to work in Women's Studies outside the classroom. Opportunities include several monthly activities throughout the year: a month-long celebration of Women's History Month (March), academic year film series program, Domestic Violence Awareness programs (October), and a newsletter.

ISU's Women's Studies Program is designed to contribute to the education and work of people with a variety of lifestyles and experiences. The program is not restricted to women students: 25 percent of ISU's Women's Studies minors are men.

Return to Women's Studies Home Page.