Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies

Fall 2023 Courses

New major/minor for Fall 2022!
RGS 100
RGS/SOC 105
RGS 377
RGS 350
RGS 340

Carrie Bero, '14

Women's Studies

"I loved that we had opportunities to choose where to invest our time and energy in the program; I had so many opportunities to tailor assignments to my interests, to write papers about topics that were especially compelling to me."

Mia Anderson, '20

Ethnic & Racial Studies

"My ERS minor has helped me develop a broader sense of the world other than the tiny corner of Wisconsin in which I have grown up all my life. With this, I have developed a greater understanding of the different cultures around me and the motivation to create meaningful and purposeful relationships with those I interact with."

Kaitlin Schmitt, '14

Women's Studies

"I felt a level of support from my professors that I have not felt in other settings—it was clear that they cared about my success as a student and my well-being. They were all incredibly helpful when I was applying for graduate school."

Paul Lee

Ethnic & Racial Studies

"After graduation, I plan to attend graduate school at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and my ERS minor will help me to further pursue my research goals of observing how race, segregation, and history plays a role today."

Megan Gokey, '09

Women's Studies

"I appreciate the friendships and mentors I will always have through this program. Each and every single professor was invested in my education and in my future, and because of the nature of the WGSS degree; every student was invested as well."

Miranda Martin, '18

Women's Studies

"I appreciate most about this program how open everyone is and how ready they are to learn things that can help. Overall, I really like that this program offers ways to actually get out there and change the world around us, and to shape our reality; rather than just sitting and discussing issues."

Program outcomes
& opportunities


The basis of many of our courses begins with:

  • a desire to make the world better,
  • to ensure that people are treated with dignity and respect
  • to allow people to live their lives more fully

We use an intersectional approach to understanding people/groups and students gain a deep understanding of how race, class, gender, sexuality, etc. all contribute to their experience of the world, physically, socially, and emotionally.

Did you realize that...

In 2018, women comprised 20% of all directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers working on the top 250 domestic grossing films.

Source:
Center for the study of Women in Television & Film

A heart attack is more likely to be fatal in a young woman than a young man, perhaps because women’s cardiac symptoms are more often misattributed to anxiety or depression than men’s.

Source:
"How one woman changed what doctors know about heart attacks" New York Times, Feb. 2019 

In 2018, 110 (81D, 29R) women hold seats in the United States Congress, comprising 20.6% of the 535 members; 23 women (23%) serve in the U.S. Senate, and 87 women (20.0%) serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Source:
Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics

Nearly 12% of high school females reported physical violence and nearly 16% reported sexual violence from a dating partner in the 12 months* before they were surveyed.

Source:
The 2015 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Women may make up 64% of the physical therapist (PT) workforce, but in 2013, they earned about 88% of what male PTs made, according to the latest data from the US Census Bureau.

Source:
"US Census: Median PT earnings nearly $10k lower for women than men in 2013" PT In Motion News, APTA

Multiple studies have shown that the presence of a [Gay Straight Alliance] at school is linked to safety at school for LGBTQ youth, as well as youth in general.

Source:
Kosciw et al., 2008; Lee, 2002; O’Shaughnessy et al., 2004; Szalacha, 3003

Experimental studies generally report that exposure to ultrathin bodies idealized in the media leads to body dissatisfaction, weight dissatisfaction, and negative affect among many women.

Source:
Grabe, Ward, & Hyde, 2008; Groesz, Levine, & Murnen, 2002

Lesbian and gay Christians who were part of an affirming faith community indicated higher levels of psychological well-being, so by providing information to LGBT clients regarding affirming faith groups, counselors might challenge the myth of incompatibility between LGBT sexual, gender, and spiritual identity.

Source:
Lease, S. H., Horne, S. G., & Noffsinger-Frazier, N. (2005). Affirming faith experiences and psychological health for caucasian lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(3), 378-388. doi:http://dx.doi.org.libweb.uwlax.edu/10.1037/0022-0167.52.3.378

The “severity” of sexual harassment experiences have no effect on the level of harm the person being harassed experiences. Infrequent “high intensity” sexual harassment (i.e. assault) is just as detrimental as frequent “low intensity” harassment (i.e. crude jokes, etc.).

Source:
Sojo, V. E., Wood, R. E., & Genat, A. E. (2015). Harmful Workplace Experiences and Women’s Occupational Well-Being. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 40(1), 10-40. doi:10.1177/0361684315599346

Hear our alumni discuss the relevance of their Women's Studies degrees to their various careers

Academic assistance


Below is a small section of resources which may help you in your pursuit of a college degree. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions along your journey.

We'd love to see you on campus.