Gender studies – Resources

Definition of Gender Studies

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Put simply, gender studies is a field of study that devotes itself entirely to the analysis of gender identity and gendered representation. It can also be referred to as sexuality studies. Gender studies also include women’s studies-which is basically studies revolving around gender, women, politics and the feminist theory. The field of gender studies also incorporates the study of gender relations, men and queers. It can be categorized as a social science, though there is still debate going on about that.

Why should I study it?

This is a question asked by any college student when picking out a course or a major. When it comes to gender studies, the question to ask should be why not study it’. This is because the course offers its students a wide range of benefits.

There is a common belief that gender and women studies only benefit women and women’s rights. This is, of course, a highly publicized misconception. This misconception is also highly fueled by the fact that most people have greatly misunderstood and mis-conceptualized the feminist theory. Gender studies mainly teaches students how to identify and oppose oppression, through critically reviewing theories and adopting a new way of viewing things, from all possible angles. The field also branches out into other areas where oppression is highly present, such as sexism, class difference, exploitation, and sexism. Additionally, gender studies takes on the rigid task of helping us gain an accurate perception of our history.

The same way that a biology or economics course helps learners understand the living or financial world around them, women’s and gender studies equip learners with tools to comprehend the blunt and implied roles that gender plays in our day to day lives. Students get to examine the complexities of gender-from current affairs, feminist theory, history- and it is through this that they understand gender’s Herculean effect and its nature.

Conclusion

Whether you decide to get a gender studies degree or to become a gender studies major, you can be assured that it is one of the best decisions you will make. Should you be interested in the course, simply find out the entry requirements of your college of choice. You can also visit a center for gender studies in any college to learn more about the course and how its taught. Students already enrolled in a gender studies course should consider joining a gender studies association to make their learning experience more worthwhile.

Check our useful sources for Gender studies subject:

• • Gateways
    BUBL (Bulletin Board for Libraries): Gender Studies

    http://bubl.ac.uk/link/g/genderstudies.htm

    Eldis Gender Resource Guide

    http://www.eldis.org/gender/

    from Eldis: the gateway to development information

    Intute: Women’s Studies

    http://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/cgi-bin/browse.pl?id=120998

    Feminism and gender

    http://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/cgi-bin/browse.pl?id=120596

    QWEER Literature Web

    http://www.library.yale.edu/wess/qweerlanglit.html

    Voice of the Shuttle: Gender and Sexuality Studies

    http://vos.ucsb.edu/browse.asp?id=2711

    WSSLINKS Women and Gender Studies Web Sites

    http://libr.org/wss/wsslinks/index.html
• • Discussion groups
    JISCmail

    http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/index.htm

    national academic mailing list service facilitating discussion, collaboration and communication within the UK academic community and beyond
• • Organisations
    Arts and Humanities Research Council

    http://www.ahrb.ac.uk/

    supporting research into the arts and humanities

    British Academy

    http://www.britac.ac.uk/

    the national academy for the humanities and the social sciences

    Stonewall

    http://www.stonewall.org.uk/default.asp

    equality and justice for Lesbians, gay men and bisexuals
• • Other sites of interest
    Border crossings

    http://www.uiowa.edu/~commstud/resources/bordercrossings/gender.html

    from Karla Tonella at the University of Iowa

    Feminism and Women’s Studies

    http://feminism.eserver.org/index.html

    from the English Server at the University of Washington

    Feminist aesthetics

    http://www.cddc.vt.edu/feminism/aes.html

    from the Feminist Theory Website, hosted by the Center for Digital Discourse and Cultureat Virginia Tech University

    Freud Museum

    http://www.freud.org.uk/

    London at 20 Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead, was the home of Sigmund Freud and his family when they escaped Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938. The centrepiece of the museum is Freud’s library and study, preserved just as it was during his lifetime.

    Gay History: a trail exploring LGBT heritage in London collections

    http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/trlout_gfx_en/TRA33973.html

    from the 24 hour museum

    gayzoo

    http://www.gayzoo.com/

    the search engine for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender internet community.

    gender Inn

    http://www.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/englisch/datenbank/e_index.htm

    Women’s and Gender Studies database, providing access to over 6000 records pertaining to feminist theory, feminist literary criticism and gender studies focusing on English and American literature.

    Genesis

    http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/genesis/

    The Genesis project is a mapping initiative, funded by the Research Support Libraries Programme (RSLP) to identify and develop access to women’s history sources in the British Isles.

    The Gender & Technology Study Group

    http://mcs.open.ac.uk/gentech/

    based at the Open University, aims to provide a focus and a forum for research into all aspects of gender in respect of technology.

    Gender, race and ethnicity in the media

    http://www.uiowa.edu/~commstud/resources/GenderMedia/index.html

    links from the University of Iowa Department of Communication Studies.

    GLAAD Advertising Media Program

    http://www.commercialcloset.org/common/11064/default.cfm?clientID=11064

    from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and including the Commercial Closet

    glbtq

    http://www.glbtq.com/

    an encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, & queer culture

    Lesbian and Gay Newsmedia Archive (LAGNA)

    http://hallcarpenter.tripod.com/lagna/

    a collection of 120,000 press cuttings covering all aspects of lesbian and gay life from the 1930s to the present, from Middlesex University

    Naomi Symes Books

    http://www.naomisymes.com/

    Out-of-print, antiquarian and in-print books in the field of women’s history and social history.

    theory.org.uk

    http://www.theory.org.uk/

    Social theory for fans of popular culture. Popular culture for fans of social theory. – a website about the relationship between the mass media and people’s identities, genders and everyday lives.

    XY: Men, masculinities and gender politics

    http://www.xyonline.net/

    Women and society

    http://www.womenandsociety.buffalo.edu/mainpage.htm

    an internet dictionary and bibliography of ideas, concepts, theories and praxis

    Women and the economy

    http://www.unpac.ca/economy/index2.html

    from the UN Platform for Action Committee (UNPAC)

    Women, Enterprise & Society

    http://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/wes/

    from the Harvard Business School

    Women’s and gender studies

    http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpsubject/socsci/womgenstud/womens.html

    a guide to resources from the British Library

    Women’s Studies Database

    http://www.mith2.umd.edu/WomensStudies/OtherWebSites/

    links from the University of Maryland