New GWS Grad Class

Villanova's Gender and Women's Studies Program is offering a new interdisciplinary graduate course during the Fall 2014 semester.

Course Code: GWS 8000-001

Course Title:   Critical Perspectives on Gender

Professor:  Dr. Jean Lutes

Schedule: Wednesday 5:20-7:20 PM

An interdisciplinary study of gender, women, and sexuality, this course surveys contemporary developments in feminist, gender, and queer theory. It also applies those theories to a variety of topics, such as the representation of gender, the history of sexuality, the science of sexual difference, gender in the workplace, and gender in the digital age. Throughout the semester, we will consider how ideas about gender are bound inextricably to ideas about race and class. Likely theorists include Sandra Bartky, Karen Barad, Simone de Beauvoir, Lauren Berlant, Judith Butler, Patricia Hill Collins, Michel Foucault, Elizabeth Freeman, Judith Halberstam, Alison Jaggar, Chandra Mohanty, and Eve Sedgwick.

Email Jean Lutes at jean.lutes@villanova.edu for more information! 

GWS: Fall 2013

Thanks to the support and enthusiasm of students and faculty, the Gender and Women’s Studies Program had another great semester!

In September, we hosted $tart $mart, an interactive workshop for college-aged women that educates students on the challenges facing women in the workforce. In October, we held our most successful event, the Fatal Promises film showing. After watching this riveting documentary about human trafficking, students participated in a Q&A session with the film director, Kat Rohrer. Students asked some wonderful questions about human trafficking in America, and learned how individuals--particularly college students--can make a difference. Later that month, Aiden Kosciesza visited Villanova and gave his presentation, "Plastic Boy: Transgender Identity Unpacked." Kosciesza told his own story as a transsexual man, and had an interactive conversation with students about topics relating to sexual orientation, sexuality, and gender identity. In November, sports writer Michael Sokolove came to campus and gave his presentation, "Warrior Girls" The Benefits and Perils of Women's Sports." Following Sokolove's presentation,  there was a panel about women and sports, featuring Dr. Rick Eckstein (Dept. of Sociology) and Stacy Coburn-Carone (Assistant Coach at Villanova). Finally, GWS closed the semester with feminist economist Heidi Hartmann’s presentation, “Women and Men: The Recession and Recovery.” Hartmann provided us with a wealth of information on women and the economy, unemployment, workforce participation, and the gender wage gap.

We were also delighted to offer students a variety of new and innovative courses this semester, including "Sports and Society" taught by Rick Eckstein, "Environmental Ethics" taught by Chaone Mallory, and "Gender and Crime" taught by Katie Farina. Jean Lutes, our Academic Director, taught our introductory course, "Gender and the World," and we were fortunate to have almost full enrollment in classes such as "Women in the Bible" and "Philosophy of Women."

GWS would like to thank you for promoting and supporting our program. Please check out our blog again soon to see more information about upcoming spring programs. We especially hope that you will join us for the annual Elizabeth Cady Stanton conference, held on April 4, 2014.

Have a great holiday!

Take A GWS Class!

As you begin to prepare for your spring semester, consider taking a Gender and Women's Studies course! Below is a list of all the courses being offered for the spring 2014 semester. As you can see, our program represents a broad range of disciplines and topics that can enhance any field of study! When you enroll in a GWS course, you will find yourself in the company of passionate teachers and fellow learners who encourage critical thinking and dialogue. Don't miss this great opportunity!

GWS 2050: Gender & The World, David Cregan, TR 10:00-11:15 a.m
AAH 3001: Women in Art, Jeanne Brody, TR 11:30-12:45 p.m.
COM 5300: Dialogue on Gender, Stephen Sheridan, M 6:00-8:00 p.m.
ENG 1975: Soph. Seminar/Gender and Monsters, Megan Quigley, TR 2:30-3:45 p.m.
ENG 2300: Women in Literature, Ellen Bonds, TR 1:00-2:15 p.m.
ENG 3350: Milton, Lauren Shohet, MW. 1:30-2:45 p.m.
ENG 4691: Faulker and Morrison, Jean Lutes and Crystal Lucky, TR 10:00-11:15 a.m.
HIS 3360: Women in the Pre-Modern West, Rebecca Winer, TR 10:00-11:15 a.m.
HIS 3361: Women in Modern Europe, Lynn Hartnett, TR 2:30-3:45 p.m.
HIS 2296: History of American Women, Catherine Kerrison, MWF 11:30-12:20 p.m.
NUR 2200: Healthy Lifestyles, Linda Copel, R 4:00-6:45 p.m.
PHI 2400: Philosophy of Sex and Love, Chaone Mallory, MW 1:30-2:45 p.m.
PH 2420: Philosophy of Women, Sally Scholz, MWF 12:30-1:20 p.m.
PJ 2800: Race, Class, and Gender, Cynthia Nielsen, TR 1:00-2:15 p.m.
PSC 2700: Women in Politics, Robert Langran, MW 4:30-5:45 p.m.
PSY 2430: Psychology of Gender, Katina Sawyer, MW 3:00-4:15 p.m.
THL 2420: Women in the Bible, Judith Hadley, MW 3:00-4:15 p.m.
THL 4250: Global Poverty and Justice, Suzanne Toton, TR 1:00-2:15 p.m.
THL 4250: Global Poverty and Justice, Suzanne Toton, TR 1:00-2:15 p.m.
THL 4490: Themes in Spirituality: Gender, Rachel Smith, MWF 10:30-11:20 a.m.

If you have specific questions about these GWS classes, or the major and minor, please contact our Academic Director, Jean Lutes, at jean.lutes@villanova.edu.