USU makes studying women possible for men
Women and gender studies may seem like the perfect minor for a woman, but men shouldn’t necessarily rule it out yet.
Miriah Griffith, a sophomore in print journalism and a women and gender studies minor, said there are a lot of misconceptions about women and gender studies.
“It’s not a man-bashing club,” Griffith said. “It’s about unifying and empowering women, not putting down men.
“It has helped me as a person, I’m married and I love my husband, but it doesn’t take away from me being a feminist.”
It’s important for everyone to take WGS classes, said Christie Fox, director of the honors program and a teacher for one of the women and gender studies classes. Gender affects the way we see and experience the world, she said.
Susan Mannon, an assistant professor in the sociology department, said she once had a student with a wife and two young children in her WGS class. They were learning about gender division of labor and its effects on women in negative ways. He went home and asked his wife is there was anything he could do for her.
“She thought it was pretty fair, but she was really impressed,” Mannon said. “I think I saved a marriage that semester.”
Helping men understand the women in their lives is one way men can benefit, Mannon said. There are always a couple of men in her classes. She said she thinks they are consciously trying to not be part of the problem.
“I think (WGS) helps personal, everyday lives because it makes them conscious of their actions and other people,” Mannon said.
Fox said the WGS program is needed at USU because “understanding more about women and gender can help us achieve equity between men and women, something we’re sadly still fighting for – as in pay equity: women still only earn 72 cents to each dollar that men earn.”
Fox said WGS is a great opportunity for students to learn about themselves.
“Gender shapes the way we interact with and experience the world, so it’s important that we understand how gender identity is shaped,” Fox said.
Griffith said her classes in the WGS program have helped her stop and think about who she is and also learn about the progression of women in history.
Women and gender studies is only offered as a minor or a certificate right now. Griffith said she hopes to see it offered as a major someday. Other universities offer graduate degrees in WGS.
“It’s a useful asset,” Griffith said. “I think it eventually will be offered, but we are behind the times.”
Fox helped design an honors track in WGS. Now students who are pursuing a minor or a certificate in WGS can receive honors.
There are a few scholarships offered to WGS students. The Pam Riley Student Travel Award and the Allison Comish Thorne Scholarship are both for WGS minors who want to get more involved and do research involving women.
“There is a core group involved with WGS,” Mannon said. “They are without a doubt the best students that I have had here at USU. They are the most socially conscious and politically engaged. It’s a great community of students and scholars.” Mannon said.
-hollyadams@cc.usu.edu