Gender and women studies: why you should not hesitate to enrol in those courses
Why you should not hesitate to take courses in gender and women’s studies at university.
In 1969, a Yale student asked a History professor for a course on women’s studies, he replied that “It would be like teaching the History of dogs.”[1] Since then, more and more gender studies developed throughout the academic community. However, it is legitimate to ask how this can be useful. In order to answer the question, let me introduce you to some university courses I enrolled in.
The introduction of courses on women’s rights or feminist literature provided many students with insight into some concepts and ideas around women studies which had not yet been clear to some of us. The classes I had taken since secondary school had not really given me a proper understanding of the impact women have had in history. I asked my fellow Master’s students for their opinions, and one of them said that it was “nice to be able to relate to a part of history when most courses focus more on men.” It taught us about the struggles women have had to gain rights that we now feel as natural, and in a way, it made us appreciate our status today and gave us a new perspective on the world.
“The Birth of the Women’s Rights Movement in the United States” course, taught by Dr Claire Sorin-Delpuech, allowed me to better understand the heritage of the first women’s rights advocates of the 19th century. In that class, we studied various texts on womanhood, birth control, gender equality, the reasons for opposition to women’s suffrage, and many other topics. I also discovered some surprising facts, such as how, in colonial times, it was believed that a menstruating woman could spoil food. Also, if a woman asserted herself or rebelled too much, she was accused of witchcraft, which was based on a mistrust of women. The « Power of Ideas: an introduction to British political thought » class, given by Dr Marc Calvini-Lefebvre and Dr Valérie André, allowed me to better understand the influence of the feminist ideology. I learned that different branches of feminism exist, as well as different ways of practicing it. This led to class discussions about what the movement meant to students. The debates were always very interesting and engaging. Finally, the “Feminist Book Club” course, taught by Dr Calvini-Lefebvre and Dr Nicolas Boileau, allowed me to diversify my knowledge of feminist literature. We studied feminist texts ranging from The Vagina Monologues[2] to The Handmaid’s Tale[3]. We also analyzed paintings and posters. This course strengthened my general knowledge as it gave me the opportunity to work on very informative and insightful readings.
On a personal level, these courses have had a great influence. They allow those who take them to understand better the experiences of women in society . One in ten women have experienced sexual assault in the university environment in France,[4] and this results from a system marked by sexism. Perhaps, teaching these types of courses could help to educate students. It can also contribute to personal reflections on more sensitive subjects such as rape culture and street harassment. It also allows the students to gain in-depth knowledge about current issues and to encourage equality by spreading this knowledge around.
From a professional perspective, Rose Weitz, a Professor of gender studies, says that to work effectively around people “you need to know how our society is structured.” [5] This will allow you to strengthen your critical thinking , and this is true for all disciplines, as they cover a variety of different topics. It could also give you the opportunity to think outside the box and challenge yourself. Whatever your career aspirations are, gender studies will help you become a more effective employee and leader because it will provide you a comprehensive view of the diversity of the work environment.
[1] Staff writers, “What Is Women’s Studies and Why Is It Relevant?”, Best Colleges, July 16, 2021, https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/womens-studies-programs/
[2] Ensler, Eve. The Vagina Monologues. New York: Villard, 1998.
[3] Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1985.
[4] André-Micolon Dorothée, « Les chiffres stupéfiants des violences sexuelles dans le milieu étudiant » October 12, 2020, www.orientation-education.com/article/en-france-une-etudiante-sur-20-dit-avoir-deja-ete-victime-de-viol
[5] Jihan Reksodiputro,“Opinion: All college students should take a gender studies class”, The State Press, December 09, 2018, https://www.statepress.com/article/2018/09/spopinion-everyone-should-take-gender-studies-classes
[6] Photo Details: Michel Christopher, Women’s Studies. Wikimedia Commons.
OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
Clémentine Soussignan (10 juillet 2022). Gender and women studies: why you should not hesitate to enrol in those courses. EN-globe. Consulté le 10 novembre 2025 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/oe7i




What a great article ! Very insightful and well-written. Thank you for sharing your experience and your opinion on this course which is a necessity for students, and for women.