Women & Gender Studies Clubs are growing rapidly across various universities and already existing groups are expanding in number. It’s no secret that there has been a rapid movement calling for women to have rights equal to those of men in regards to political, economical and social standings. Women are becoming more prominent in the workplace and breaking gender barriers by reining as successful CEO’s and company figureheads.
Women & Gender Studies Clubs normally work alongside the Women & Gender Studies (WGS) academic departments and seek to connect with peers that share passion for women’s equality and social change. Clubs often bring guest speakers, hold discussion groups and work on ways to advocate both on campus and within the community.
Common misconceptions about WGS Clubs:
• You must be of a unified, pre-approved political view that aligns with the club. False. WGS encourages all opinions and beliefs that are interested in forward movement for gender advancement. Furthermore, WGS supports humanist ideas over everything else and that supports the notion that we are all human and should all be treated with respect.
• WGS is a serious topic so it’s probably like a classroom setting. It’s not. If you’re passionate about something and enjoy socializing and engaging in intelligent dialog, this might be the place for you.
• You must hate men and obviously not be a man in order to join. Also false. Men have long since been supporters of women’s rights and many join the feminist movement to empower the women around them. Feminist women have no biased hatred towards men; they dislike inequality and the individuals who put that unfair disadvantage on them.
If you enjoy having a strong voice within your campus and community, you will likely enjoy the WGS program and all that it offers. Being a part of this club emphasizes strong drive and social improvement to prospective employers and you never know what networking connections you’ll make. Join your Women & Gender Studies Club and start making changes today and if your school doesn’t have a program, start your own!
Ali Sewalt is the editorial intern for NextStepU and is a junior at Nazareth College. You can reach her with questions and for advice at Alison@nextstepu.com.
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