What attracted you to the WGS minor?

What attracted me to the Women’s and Gender Studies minor was its uniqueness and the expansive perspectives offered by the program. I always knew that my perspectives were different than those of my community and culture, so I felt the need to go further. My first class in the program was Study of Fiction taught by Megan Novell and she mentioned on the first day that this minor required six classes and a portfolio in the graduating semester. Megan gave me the push and I took off running. My initial reasons for joining this program were vastly different than the outcomes I expected so for those diversifying views, I thank all of the professors and faculty in the WGS department.

What has been most interesting about your experience with the Program so far?

The most interesting aspect of this program I found was the growth in my perceptions of society and everyday life. The content taught in these courses was eye-opening for many reasons, most importantly, because of the societal disparities amongst different genders and races that I learned about across the world and our history. Learning the sad realities of our past and present have helped to diversify my views and enabled me to educate others about community justice. I feel that my respect for other groups and minorities has grown to truly define what equality means in my life. The lens that I have now is massively different than the lens I had before starting this minor.

Have you found any aspect of your WGS studies surprising?

What I found most surprising about my studies in this field is the limited public knowledge about injustice across the world. Had I not chosen to obtain this minor I would never have been able to learn about certain calamities that happened in our history. Many injustices caused by humanity are simply not taught in the normal curriculum to preserve the image of our nation’s history and those on top of our society. Hence, the hidden truths that I learned through this minor surprised me and allowed me to better comprehend how and why our societies are the way they are.

Has your work as a WGS minor impacted your other course work?

This minor made me capable of dissecting the content of other classes that have biased viewpoints. A prime example of this is my Catholicism class in which the writings and history are dominated by white Christian males. Jesus was a great leader and prophet in my eyes, however, there have been injustices and biased acts committed in his name. If we are supposed to love everybody, even our enemies, then why do people choose to spread hate in his name? I am a spiritual person that knows right from wrong, and religion should not be used as a tool to bring harm to others.

Have you seen any intersections between your work as a WGS minor and your experiences outside the classroom?

My experiences outside the classroom were most impacted through my learnings in the field of women’s and gender studies. Growing up in a home with Middle Eastern cultural norms, I found myself internalizing biases taught by family, friends, and the community as a whole. Liberty means that I should be able to do what I want as long as I am not bringing harm to anybody around me. There is a reason that my parents raised me in America and that is the liberty to be who I want without restriction. Although this is mostly true there are still social norms that some people must be willing to break to grow past the negativity. The ability to be outside the norm without fear brings me joy. This minor is the most effective tool in allowing me to live freely and to help others learn how to live freely.

What attracted you to the WGS minor?

I was attracted to the WGS minor because of its ability to seep into all the other areas of study I was doing. No matter what class I was in–literature analysis classes, psychology classes, philosophy classes–the principles of WGS were woven into the curriculum. When doing anything, either in an academic setting or out in the world, it is important to be aware of one’s identity and how it interacts with others and society as well as others’ own identities. WGS was a program I wanted to take part in because it didn’t exist in a bubble; it became a crucial part of everything.

What has been most interesting about your experience with the Program so far?

The most interesting part of the program was its ability to make me aware of phenomena, history, and biases that form my own and other people’s daily experiences that usually fly under the radar because it is so normalized. How people view and value race, class, gender, and sexuality, among other factors of one’s identity, affects more than just personal interactions; it is the fabric of our society. From how characters are written in works of fiction to actual legislation in the real world, one cannot pretend that any of the above factors don’t play a role. Rather, they usually end up being a deciding factor.

Have you found any aspect of your WGS studies surprising?

There’s no part that I would necessarily consider “surprising;” however, my WGS studies showed me my own limitations and offered me a more expansive vocabulary and a more informed and conscientious way of being in the world. As mentioned before, there is so much we don’t consider or try to pretend aren’t even factors when interacting with media or thinking about the world. People’s identities are always at the center of it all, however, and once you start noticing it, it’s impossible to turn away.

Has your work as a WGS minor impacted your other course work?

Absolutely, especially when encountering classic works. I’ve heard many people in today’s world use terms such as “identity politics” or claim that the world today is too soft and takes too much notice of things such as race. However, this simply is not the case. When reading a classic novel from the early 1800s or whenever, one can find instances where race or gender plays a factor, but the interactions and social rankings are normalized in the world of the novel, so it is not the main focus. The fact that the main focus of these novels themselves is almost entirely on white people is a statement. Take Jane Eyre, for example. When the reader encounters Bertha Mason (the woman trapped in Mr. Rochester’s attic) for the first time, while she may not actually be black, she is explicitly written as an “other” with darker skin. Charlotte Bronte then does not focus on Bertha or the horrendous situation she has been put in; we continue on with the hurt feelings and situation of her white heroine. The intersection of race, gender, and mental disability is not the main focus of the reader’s interactions with Bertha Mason, but it is underlying her entire character and our viewing of her. Issues of race, gender, class, and other parts of someone’s identity maybe were not as openly discussed, but it always mattered.

Have you seen any intersections between your work as a WGS minor and your experiences outside the classroom?

Again, absolutely. To basically reiterate my answers to the other questions, understanding my own identity and how that affects how I interact with the world helps me to better understand and be aware of how others do the same and how we all affect each other. In one of my classes, we talked about how privilege is basically being able to exist without notice–without something sticking out that defines you as an “other.” That defining trait can be anything from the color of one’s skin, a disability, one’s gender, an open expression of one’s sexuality, among other things. Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, there is what society deems as the “normal” or the “standard,” that through its existence elevates certain members of society while pushing down others. By studying WGS, I have become better aware of myself while also becoming more aware of others. To not take notice of oppression (both socially and systemically) usually leads to unwillingly holding it up. Whether in an academic setting or outside of the classroom, the lessons I learned in WGS help me remain aware and be ready for action.

What attracted you to the WGS minor?

What first attracted me to this minor was Professor Novell’s class Study of Fiction. I always loved the way the course was taught and decided to check out the minor that was advertised in the class. I was involved with another minor at the university but was never drawn to it. With the WGS minor, I felt like I was truly learning more about myself as a person. The WGS minor not only challenges you, it makes you reflect on current issues and helps you empathize different perspectives in life.

What has been most interesting about your experience with the Program so far?

I think the most interesting thing about my experience with the program so far is how much it relates to the real world. With many things going on, I have found that the courses and material is relatable. Many of the course material ranges from the Black Lives Matter movement to acknowledging what other minorities like the Muslim and Asian community have experienced.

Have you found any aspect of your WGS studies surprising?

The thing I found most surprising is how flexible the courses have been. Many of the courses I have taken had different perspective throughout the semester by reflecting on what was happening in the world. Another thing I found surprising was how as students we were also able to control most of the discussions in the course which was very different to my major which is biology.

Has your work as a WGS minor impacted your other course work?

I think my minor has impacted my other course work with my major because of my passion for service learning. I love giving back to the community and this minor allows for me to be more understanding with the issues that are presented in the world nowadays. I’ve been able to be more aware of my surroundings keeping in mind that many people could be going through things.

Have you seen any intersections between your work as a WGS minor and your experiences outside the classroom?

The WGS minor made me even more empathetic to others and definitely gave me a new lens. There were definitely some things I would not have thought to research about but the courses in this minor made me want to learn more. I feel like I am able to analyze cultural practices and understand differences in peoples social and economic lives in not only the United States, but globally. I am very appreciative of the diverse perspectives I am able to apply my new skills to.