Why Minor in WGSS?

Elizabeth Fegreus, 2012

Elizabeth just graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science, and had a passion for WGSS. She began taking WGSS classes as a freshman and has always had an interest in women’s advocacy.

“WGSS on an individual level has given me the tools to engage in critical thinking because I am questioning deeply engrained norms and I have greater awareness of social inequalities. Lots of studies find that students who participate in WGSS classes have increased self-confidence and a greater sensitivity to diversity. Sexism and gender inequality still exist in the world and that means gender studies are very important. We ought to take the time to learn about these issues, understand them, and attack them. Gender studies are relevant to everyone!”

Taking WGSS classes has helped Elizabeth learn to use law as a tool for activism. Elizabeth has accepted an offer to attend Boston College Law School, due to its emphasis on social justics and its "strong Women in Law clinics." She wishes to study law and women’s issues on a global scale.

Sarah Dean, 2012

A senior this year, Sarah is a History major and has remained enthusiastic about Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies throughout her entire five years at Northeastern University. As many of our students do, Sarah began by taking Introduction to WGSS and continued to stay active in the field.

“I come from a community where there were very specific gender roles and found it difficult to fit in. After taking WGSS courses, I think about life differently. I understand myself better, have more enriched experiences, and have the vocabulary to talk about these things. Minoring in WGSS has helped me to think about my future because I realize that gender studies can help me in any career path I choose.”

Sarah plans on attending Graduate School in the future. She is interested in sex education and reproduction rights but knows her options in the field of gender issues are endless.

Melinda Gomez, 2014

A middler at Northeastern University, Melinda is a Psychology Major with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She began to work as a Research Assistant in the WGSS office for her first co-op last year. Now, she continues to work in the office part-time as a work-study student.

“I was always interested in WGSS and found that many of the courses overlapped with those I wanted to take to fulfill my interdisciplinary cluster requirement. There is a long list of courses across several departments that count toward the minor. So it was very easy to complete a minor in a field I enjoy.”

Melinda continues to take WGSS courses and one day would like to build a career as a Family Counselor.