Women's and Gender Studies

Program Overview

St. Francis Xavier University's Women's and Gender Studies program is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that focuses on using gender as a category of analysis, exploring the intersections of identities, and contributing to the field. The program emphasizes critical thinking, research skills, and practical experience through community-based projects, preparing graduates for diverse careers in fields such as education, law, government, and community development.

Program Outline

The program focuses on:

• Using gender as a category of analysis: Students learn how to critically examine their own lives and societal issues through the lens of gender.
• Contributing to the field: Students gain insights and knowledge from the field of Women's and Gender Studies, both within the academic setting and beyond.
The program emphasizes critical thinking, research skills, and practical experience through community-based projects. This equips graduates for diverse careers in education, law, government, community development, policy analysis, health, communications, and graduate studies.

Program hallmarks:

• A rich interdisciplinary academic environment supported by dedicated faculty.
• Formal academic programs integrated with community projects.

• Collaboration with faculty from diverse fields including sociology, religious studies, and nursing.
• Regular symposia, lectures, and workshops featuring feminist activists, scholars, and artists.
• An annual graduation prize awarded to a graduating Women's and Gender Studies student.

Careers:

The program prepares graduates for diverse career paths, including:

• Education
• Law
• Government
• Community development
• Policy analysis
• Health
• Communications
• Graduate studies

Other:

• The program's motto encourages students to "Share your experiences as you might be teaching someone else!"
(Shelby-Nicole Beneby, Undergraduate in Women's & Gender Studies, 2020)