gender

The History of Women's Studies

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"...When we speak of the ‘evolution’ of Women’s Studies, it is important to emphasize that this is a multifaceted process. Women’s Studies has differed widely over time, and across identities, disciplines, and institutions.”

-Alice Ginsberg

TIMELINE

Here is my reflection/explanation of my final project:

 During my freshman year of high school, I remember clearly the day a friend of mine told me that this guy I had a crush on did not feel the same way. Of course I was disappointed; more than that though, I wanted to know the reasons why he did not reciprocate my feelings! I thought, “Maybe I can change myself and fix the things he doesn’t like!” When my friend told me the reason, however, I was not so confident in my ability to change myself to suit his liking: he thought I had an annoying voice! Four years have passed since then, and I no longer feel slightly self-conscious about my voice. My current boyfriend tells me on a regular basis that my voice is “cute” and asks me to repeat certain words because he finds it endearing

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Why did I decide to write a paper about menstruation?

The answer to that question is fairly easy, the rest is not.

Figure 1          

Last time I wrote, I spoke mainly about my experiences in high school as well as a little about my first semester of college. However, I would now like to update this story to the present and then look into the future. I am going to look at what I know about gender and sexuality, try to look at what I don’t know, and then propose what and how I would like to learn more about gender and sexuality.

I have learned about gender in various classes. I learned that gender is constructed--socially, culturally, historically, politically, psychologically. I learned that people’s genders need not limit what they can do. I learned that biology is not destiny; one’s sex also does not control a person’s capabilities. I learned about the feminist movement in the United States. I learned about the many ways that sexism still exists in this country. I learned to see the forms that masculinity and femininity take in society and to notice the ways in which society socializes people to fit into one of two prescribed gender roles.