Women Studies

Women's studies are also known as feminist studies and an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women’s point of view. It gives review and explores public norms of gender, race, class, sexuality and other social inequalities. Apart from other department, women’s studies were first conceived as an academic title in the late 1970s, as the second sign of feminism (movements for women rights) had gained political influence in the academy through student and faculty vigorous action. It was modeled on the American studies and Afro American studies and Chicano studies programs that had arisen shortly before it.

Throughout the later 1970s many universities and colleges created departments and programs in women’s studies and professorships became available in the field which did not require the funding of other departments. The first two Women’s studies programs in the United States were established in the year of 1970 at San Diego State college now it is San Diego State University and SUNY Buffalo. The San Diego State University was introduced after a year of intense organizing of women’s awareness raising groups, rallies, request circulating and operating unofficial or experimental classes and presentations before seven committees and assemblies. The SUNY Buffalo program was also the result of deep argues and feminist organizing lead by Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy and it was finally birthed out of the American studies department. Sarah Lawrence College became the first institution to grant Masters Degrees Women’s History in 1972.

Women’s Studies Course

Women’s studies course encourages students to engage in hands on activities. Some Women’s studies courses offer a way of teaching in pedagogy method. This pedagogical teaching involves in depth co operation from both instructor and students of the course. Creative projects and group activities are often offered in the course and promote the students to think “Outside the box”. Women’s studies employs queer, feminist and critical theory and there has been focused on language, subjectivity and social authority are constituted. Women studies programs are highly involved in social justice and create courses that are implanted with theory and also activity outside the classroom. Creative Arts in women’s studies should not under appreciate.

After the twentieth century, women’s studies courses were found available in many universities and colleges around the world. A survey conducted in the year of 2007 by National women studies Association included 576 institutions offering for women studies or gender studies at some level.  At present there are 678 institution listed in their online searchable database, that offering women’s or gender studies courses and degree with 15 institutions offering a Ph.D. in the United States.

Questions:

• When and where the first two women’s programs established?
• Which is the first institution to grant Masters Degree Women’s History in 1972?