Explore Gender Issues

Student Expressions

Gender Studies students have the opportunity to express themselves, spark insight and inspire others to build and express understanding and acceptance. These avenues for expression include visual art, poetry, student research, and PUGS, the Gender Studies e-zine.

• Student Artwork
  • Womens Studies Artwork Collection

    Eat Me Pretty
    Paintings by Elizabeth Kelly

    

    Mind and Body
    Art project by Alaina Gist

    

    The Woman's Work
    Art project by Alaine Gist

    

    Woman with Headphones
    Mural by Diane Richards

    
  • "Reflection of 'The Word Love'" by Tyrell Allen

    Reflection of “The Word Love”

    Poem for WS 285 by Tyrell Allen

    I used to write the word “love” with her index finger, exclusively.
    Because she possessed the power to point in the direction of everything good to me.
    She knew best.
    She knew traditions and stories and renditions that crafted my destiny without my consent.
    And this was okay because I trusted she would point me in the right direction.
    Until I found a compass of my own.
    A tool that put so much physical distance between my desire for education and my dedication to family.
    Even though the spiritual distance never changed.

    I used to spell the word “love” with his warmth.
    Because he dressed me in new senses of self seemingly serene.
    And I was happy to pull the letters from his dark blues eyes because I found comfort in them.
    I could see myself.
    But I discovered that this vision was purely one sided because he wasn’t capable of seeing himself in me.
    Unless he was actually in me, on those nights when love and memories and passion and pleasure all collided.
    Collisions conspiring against me, sparking confusion.
    Sparking clouded judgment of what I really wanted.

    I tend to see the word “love” in my dreams and good intentions.
    Because they’re the only things I have left to believe in.
    I am unable to return to sender because my mother knows not who I am anymore.
    “Calcutting” my identity to shreads.
    And he was unable to experience this with me.
    He has internalized all of this to the rim, and refuses to be my refuge.
    I’m seeking surfaces that feel nice to me.              
    Gentle changes in my life that make me happy to be the person I am.
    In honor of the person I’ve always been.

    Love is written by accepting the way things are and growing to be okay with them.
    Love is spelled with images and figures that respect and enjoy the person you are.
    Love is visualized when the methods of writing and spelling the word collide
    And these collisions are anything but cloudy or confusing.
    I can see love again.

  • "Volunteer" by Tyrell Allen

    Volunteer

    Poem for WS 285 by Tyrell Allen

    I volunteer as target.
    The Necessary Target.
    In this multi-world dimension.
    Set up social archery and take your shot where you please because everyone knows there's little space for that otherwise.
    Tell me your truth. Throw drinks back.
    Scream from the top of your lungs, and close the gap between first and third.
    I volunteer as feminist.
    Let my ears give you the space that is often filled only with what men have to say.
    I recognize that.
    I have placed duct tape on my mouth and parchment all over my body
    So take your aim at patriarchy.
    My body is your literary vessel.
    It gives you space for your prose.
    Let us liberate each other from gender lines.
    I volunteer as friend first
    Because your story is one that should only be granted by way of authenticity.
    I should not force it.
    Let's talk about our favorite drinks.
    Our first loves. Our deepest desires. Our foundation.
    I volunteer as ashamed.
    Embarrassed because of my heavy stock in now seemingly trivial matters.
    Embarrassed by my ignorance.
    Embarrassed by my initial lack of willingness to turn “them” into “us”
    Embarrassed by the legacy that members of my gender have created.
    Embarrassed by my fear to take responsibility for them. 
    I volunteer as moved
    Taken by the wind of your journey
    The residual inspiration trickling from your willingness to stand tall and carry on.
    You carry me in your dreams
    You've revolutionized my definition of manhood.
    You've shown me truth.
    So I volunteer as change.
    Let us drink together.
    Let us find our place together.
    And we can talk about the things that should have never happened.
    Let us talk about your agency.
    Put me in my place.
    I volunteer as target.
    It’s necessary.

  • Spoken Poetry by Bianca Phipps

    Click the links below for videos of Bianca Phipp's powerful slam poetry:

    "Almosts" 

    "The Heartbreaker Poem" 

    "Stay With Me"

• Student Research

  Read Sarah Blattner’s excellent examination of Czech artist Alphoso Mucha’s portrayal of women at the turn of the century and Sarah's ground-breaking essay on 1970s drag culture in Denver.

  Read Hailey Otis’s fantastic examination of the term, “genderqueer.”

  Read Taylor McGinn’s awesome research on perceptions of same-sex and opposite-sex domestic violence (abstract).

  Read Jared Hudson’s superb essay on portrayals of Black gay men in contemporary film (abstract).

  Read Adrianna Smell’s superb research on how underrepresented students combat biases in higher education (abstract).

  Click here to read Lisha Amin’s terrific research about women’s experiences of their first experiences of sexual intercourse.

• PUGS

  Popularizing Undergraduate Gender Studies (PUGS) is an e-zine that provides students with an opportunity to share their work and ideas around Gender, Gender Studies and Culture. Published student work, including relevant photo essays, write ups from classes, interviews with the community and faculty members, and other gender-related work will be showcased here. The focus of PUGS is to extend conversations around gender and gender dynamics and popularize the application of feminist lenses in the classroom and outside world. 

  Learn more about PUGS and how to get involved

News and Announcements

Dr. Newman Attends White House Summit

Recently, Harmony Newman, Ph.D., chair of Gender Studies, joined Chelsie Romulo, Ph.D., of the Geography, GIS, and Sustainability department to attend the 2024 White House Summit on STEMM Equity and Excellence: Propelling Progress and Prosperity by 2050. The White House Office of Science and Technology and Policy and the STEMM Opportunity Alliance co-hosted the event to bring together leaders across multiple industries to discuss ways to increase diversity, equity and access to careers in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine).

Read more about their visit here

New Equity and Inclusion Certificate Program

The College recently launched a new certificate in Equity and Inclusion, 12-credit hour program housed in the Sociology department that verifies a solid grounding in diversity, equity, and inclusion, supporting pursuit of a variety of careers. This certificate will equip students to build self-awareness, examine others’ perspectives, address diversity issues in specific contexts, seek equity and inclusion grounded in social scientific evidence and theory, and could serve as a great addition to your academic experience as a Gender Studies student!

Learn more about the certificate 

Students Recognized at 2024 Honors Convocation

Students from the Gender Studies program were recently celebrated at the 2024 HSS Honors Convocation ceremony in February. Cass Fanning, Gale Mikesh and Mercedes Schultz were the honorees from Gender Studies. Congratulations to these outstanding students from the program! 

 

Want to Create Content About Gender Studies? Join PUGS!

Popularizing Undergraduate Gender Studies (PUGS) is an e-zine that provides students with an opportunity to share their work and ideas around Gender, Gender Studies and Culture. Published student work, including relevant photo essays, write ups from classes, interviews with the community and faculty members, and other gender-related work will be showcased here. The focus of PUGS is to extend conversations around gender and gender dynamics and popularize the application of feminist lenses in the classroom and outside world. 

Learn more about PUGS and how to get involved

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