Women's and Gender Studies Major

Why Study Women's and Gender Studies?

Women’s and Gender Studies explores how our lives are shaped by gender and other forms of identity, such as sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, nationality and geography. Students learn how to strive toward a more just and equitable society. Women’s and Gender Studies majors study politics, theory, literature, history, sociology and psychology, and graduate with a broad range of career opportunities.

Why Study Women's and Gender Studies at Eastern?

Eastern is the only public university in Connecticut with a major in Women’s and Gender Studies. The program offers a quality undergraduate education in gender scholarship. Students learn about the achievements and activism of women and other historically underrepresented groups as they consider how gender and other identities shape social experiences. Students think about social change in informed ways and are able to apply their acquired knowledge, analytical skills and competencies to their careers and everyday life. A minor in Women's and Gender Studies is also available.

Salary Potential

$60,600

Median salary, Health Education Specialist

$127,990

Median salary, Attorney

$119,860

Median salary, Public Relations Manager

* U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Hands-on Learning

Internships

The Women’s and Gender Studies program offers internships at social service agencies in Connecticut, in the news media and with transgender advocacy groups.

Clubs

Student clubs and support services on campus include the Women’s Center, the Pride Alliance and the Pride Center.

Events

On-campus events focused on women’s issues include panel discussions and Vagina Monologue theatrical performances.

Career Options

Law
Social work
Public health
Media
Public policy
Creative arts
Academia
Grant development
Public relations
Journalism

Successful Alumni

Recent Eastern students who earned a bachelor’s degree in women’s and gender studies work at youth development agencies, women’s centers, and community wellness programs. They also work in information studies, academic settings, the legal field and in the media. A number of graduates are pursuing master’s degrees in women’s studies at Southern Connecticut State University.

For more information

mcdonnellm@easternct.edu
(860) 465-0268

Alumni Testimonials

Women's & Gender Studies

Erika Sanchez ’15

Erika is a Bilingual Sexual Assault & Campus Advocate at the Center for Family Justice in Bridgeport. “We often see one narrative in main stream society. The study of women’s/gender studies pushes us to look beyond the societal systems that impact us, pushing us into a consciousness of challenging what is wrong in the world.”

Resident Director

Katherine Rettie ’13

Psychology major and Women’s Studies minor Katherine Rettie is assistant director for undergraduate resident life at MIT and resident director at Wentworth Institute of Technology. “Women’s studies showed me how identity shapes how we experience the world around us. This is very relevant to my line of work as I interact with a diverse group of students; being aware of how identities affect experience is essential.”

Young Women Project

Belinda Kwakye ’15

Women’s and Gender Studies major Belinda Kwakye is a program coordinator at the Young Women’s Project in Washington, D.C. “The women’s studies courses I took at Eastern help me to view the world through a different lens—a feminist lens, which is especially important when working with young, marginalized people. My studies have provided theories that help me and my youth to better understand the world.”

School Counseling

Darianne Mastricola ’17

English major and Women’s Studies minor Darianne Mastricola is a social media and marketing coordinator at M&T Printing and Embroidery, as well as a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling at Montclair State University. “I feel like the women’s studies program helped me find my voice, and I’m beyond thankful for having my eyes opened.”