Women, gender, and sexuality studies has I think been a long-term goal. Since we are at a women's college, it just seemed like a natural fit. It didn't exist when I got here. But I and a couple other faculty felt like it was a necessary part of a women's college. And so we started with just, you know, the introduction of these classes. And then as that grew, and the student demand became apparent, then we were able to propose a full program.
Some students will take a minor in the women, gender, and sexuality studies. So if they are a business degree or a psychology degree, or what have you, then that sort of adds on our focus. Some will do a double major and likewise, it just -- it sort of adds on to whatever they're already doing. And so any discipline that wants to do that focus can be a part of the women, gender, and sexuality studies. But certainly, a lot of social science classes typically will --anthropology, political science has several.
Countering the idea that it's up to the individual to become more equal is one of the ideas that I like to challenge and to talk about oppression as systemic and not just a matter of individuals doing the right thing in order to achieve their goals. Some students may think we've got equal rights and we're all done and so we don't need to do any more work. "Why, you know, what are we people complaining about?" For some, it's an introduction to the idea that we're not done yet.
