mea Le Rela te ry aetna ete Section-I Understanding Basics of Gender Studies « What is Gender? + What is Gender Studies? + Evolution as an Academic Discipline + Gender Studies in Pakistan + Gender Studies - Multidisciplinary in Nature ® ®What is Gender? > Origin Originally ‘Gender es @ grammatical term borrowed from linguistics; it is the collective '€ categories of masculine or feminine or neuter into which nouns of many languages are allocated. Anthropology borrowed the term to discuss the social roles occupied by males and females in society. Historians the world over have accepted the challenge of a new global perspective on women’s and gender history as mentioned by Oliver Janz in Gender History in a Transnational Perspective. The gendered roles in society were assumed to be the ‘natural’ result of one’s sex, but cross-cultural studies demonstrate that while sex is a universal condition of humans, gender roles vary across culture. > Definition “Gender is seen as the process by which individuals who are born into biological categories of male or female become the social categories of men and women through the acquisition of locally-defined attributes of masculinity and femininity” Gender refers to the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person’s biological sex. Behavior that is compatible with cultural expectations is referred to as gender-normative; behaviors that are viewed as incompatible with these expectations constitute gender non- conformity. » Sex Sex is a concept that emerges from anatomical and physiological characteristics that differentiates males and females biologically whereas gender can be seen as a social construct manifested by masculine and feminine * toles prevalent in a culture or a society. Thus gender can be seen as an artifact of social, cultural and psychological factors which are attained during the Process of socialization of an individual. Sex refers to a person’s biological status and is typically categorized as male, female, or intersex (i.e. typical combinations). There are a number of indicators of biological sex, including sex chromosomes, gonads, internal reproductive organs, and external genitalia. » Key issues to be Noted in Definition of Gender * It is socially and culturally constructed. This means that gender is a matter of socio-cultural construction or definition. It is not innate or in-born. It is defined or assigned within socio-cultural domain. Pipes de = ci sai Sac seep pen aie os a a ai ect een SL fy(@) Understanding Basics of Gender Studies as a member of a community. Gender lly through the Pe of socialisation. i ‘0 buttresses that it is not a naturt con ition. . pete is dynamic: it changes over time. Within any culture, there could be re-definition of gender roles over time. Reeve and Baden (2000) averred that gender identities and associated expectations of roles ae To ans are, therefore, J between and within cultures. s Genter ie defined in relational context. This is relationship between the sexes in any particular culture. These relationships show specific roles attributed to each of the sexes in terms of decision-making, power sharing and division of labour. » Difference between Sex and Gender Gender should not be mixed with sex. Sex is biological, ascribed and natural. Sex refers to the biological attributes that define a person as female or male. Sex refers to physiological attributes of female and male. Gender on the other hand {s the social definition of what it means to be female or male in socio- cultural context. For instance, gender indicates that a female should know how to cook and should be in charge of cooking in the household while a male should be the breadwinner by providing the needs of family. The preceding instance is socially constructed from prevailing religious or cultural norms of the society, The instance also indicates gender division of labour which has been challenged by gender scholars or feminists. ‘The terms ‘sex' and ‘gender’ are closely linked, yet they are not synonyms. Robert J. Stoller, American Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA Medical School and a@ researcher at the UCLA Gender Identity Clinic, in the 1960s, in his book r: The Develo; ulinity and Femininity has etlon between them. He suggested thet the West See ee on to refer to the physical differences between men and women, while the term ‘gender’ be used in connection to the behaviour and cultural practices of men and women. This distinction is the basis for all the definiti ‘ ' itions of ? ‘gender’ that are provided in the literature nowadays. brine Sex refers to a person’s biological status and is female, or intersex (i.e. typical combinations} of biological sex, including sex chromoso: Organs, and external genitalia, Gender is the social significance of the difference in sex. Gender, according to Professor Lois Self, the Chair of the W ’s Studi partm, Northern Illinois University, is a social eotepe Manca see are the usual descriptors of gend i Masculinity and fernininity characteristics and behaviors thet arene fea ee ramplex set of Sex category; it is an achieved social Status. PE members af a Particular * Gender tole is acquired roles are learnt, especial typically categorized as male, ). There are a number of indicators mes, gonads, internal reproductive =2 paecmot Gender Studies a sth ‘gende' Sometimes it is hard to understand exactly what is meant by the tere Bre he and how it differs from the closely related term ‘sex’. Understanding ©. | social construction of gender starts with explaining the two concep’ Paes gender and sex. Often these two terms are used interchangeably: however, bear different meanings as concepts. » Exploring What Gender refers to...? “Gender” refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activite” and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and wome al, Gender emphasizes that masculinity and femininity are products of ane cultural and psychological factors and are acquired by an individual in the process of becoming a man or woman. in which a culture redefined, culturally ‘Gender’ is the term widely used to refer to those ways modifies what begins as a fact of nature. The biological sexes are represented, valued, and channeled into different roles in various dependent ways. What is the significance of the concept ‘gender’? In understanding the social and cultural construction of masculinity and femininity, gender allows us to see these dimensions of human roles and personalities as based not on inherent nature but on social factors. It then allows us to address issues like subordination and discrimination as issues where change is possible. Therefore the meaning of sex and gender, femininity and masculinity fluctuates within societies and cultures across the globe. > Key Differences between Two Terms The term ‘sex’ is easy to understand. Gender refers to the cultural, It simply refers to the natural socially-constructed differences biological differences between men and women, for example, the differences in the organs related to reproduction. between the two sexes. It refers to the way a society encourages and teaches the two sexes to behave in different ways through socialization. It is natural It is a social construct. It is biological. It denotes visible differences in genitalia and related differences in procreative function It is a socio-cultural construct and it refers to masculine and feminine qualities behavior patterns, related roles and responsibilities etc.Understanding Basics of Gender Studies It is a universal term. It is variable. It changes under the influence of time, geographical and socio-cultural settings. Policies can respond to gender stereotype and traditional gender roles. Policies respond to sex differences in areas to do with the physical body. Can be changed since gender identity is determined by society Difficult to change (we are born male or female) ‘At different times in history and in different societies, gender roles are different. Throughout history and across cultures, sex differences exist. In Gender studies, the term gender is used to refer to proposed social and cultural constructions of masculinities and femininities. In this context, gender explicitly excludes reference to biological differences, to focus on éultural differences. This emerged from a number of different areas: in sociology during the 1950s; from the theories of the psychoanalyst; and in the work of feminists. What is Gender Studies? > Defining Gender Studies Gender Studies investigates the actual (physical and biological) gender differences between men and women and critically analyses how these differences translate in a socio-cultural context. Gender is a classifying principle in society and culture. It is a remarkable discriminating tool in the distribution of labour, care, possession, income, education, organizational qualities or diseases. The perspectives which define the male and female identities influence the oe ae! en and imagination of material and immaterial human products; from clothes, accessories, computer desi De pe oF rod. ipl signs to mythology and the Social and cultural gender patterns are internalized to an exten! a : a 2 it where our selling is partially determined by the fact that we are male or female as ins icated by Judith Spector in her publication, Gender Studies: New rections in Feminist Criticism. Academic scholars who do research on people or their products cannot neglect gender. s—_§_—_—_—__—_—_—————_-Gender Studies 7 omen and Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary field that Upon sexgender as a cultural and social construction. Drawing cotter sademic areas such as history, psychology, popular crosses and bhenticism: and anthropology, this major discipline The seaand blends the boundaries of traditional disciplines. ‘ademic discipline which analyses constructions of gender in society, often with referen i society, ce to class, race, sexuality and other Sociological characteristics, " > Understanding Gender Studies Gender studies looks at the manner in which the norm: ferns of behavior associated with masculinity and femininity come into being Ieatatice the features of these norms and patterns - which traits are considered masculine, which feminine, and why? How do stereotypical models of men and women develop? How do they change over time, and what factors contribute to changes? Also, and very importantly, what impact do such stereotypes have upon actually existing men and women? > Focus of Gender Studies Gender studies lay emphasis upon actually existing men and women differences. It is significant because within gender studies, there is a recognition that men and women do not exist in isolation from their other social roles and positions. A woman is not only a woman within our society; she also has a certain class position, caste position, religious identity, sexual identity, and many more. All of these factors impact her life and must be considered while studying it as pointed out by Catherine Orr in the book, Rethinking Women's and Gender Studies Another feature of gender studies is that it examines how the world is gendered. Asa field, Women and Gender Studies [WGS] integrates feminist theories and Practices to challenge socio-economic, philosophical, representational, and Political hierarchies. WGS both contests multiple forms of oppression and transforms knowledge, institutions, policies, representations, and social telations. Through diverse methodological practices, WGS scholars inwestients how gender relations and practices are embedded in, and shaped by, a wide Tange of social, political, material, and cultural realities. > Defining Women’s Studies Women’s studies is an interdisciplinary academi Concerning women, feminism, gender, and politics. ‘ol hisiety, cory, women’s history (e.g. @ history of women one ie pore and Women fiction, women health, feminist psychoanalysis ‘dea and social Sender studies-influenced practice of most of the human’ ‘lences, ic field devoted to topics It often includes feminist 7 i , but they Early on courses drew especially on history, literature, and parati studies, Wickly expanded to the other humanities (philosophy, rehe! 07Oitoery, : (@\ Understanding Basics of Gender Studies comparative literature, art, music) and the social sciences (anthropology, Political science, economics, psychology, geography). Science and technology have been slower to embrace women studies, > Development of Women’s Studies Development of Women’s studies, as an area of academic study, came into being during the emergence of feminism’s second wave and a new dawn of Political activism. The first courses were developed in the late 1960s in the USA, and although some courses were present in adult and higher education i it wasn’t until 1980 t Masters Degree in women studies was_offer iniversity of Kent, followed by other masters and undergraduate degrees elsewhere. San Diego State University's program was formally approved in 1970. This growth in academic programs has been paralleled, and perhaps exceeded, by a tremendous growth in the published literature on women's studies, much of which has dealt with descriptions and analysis of the emerging field as indicated by Bonnie G. Smith the book, Women's Studies: The Basics. At present, the consensus is that women studies is, and always has been, interdisciplinary, a field akin to American, black, urban, and ethnic studies. Since the 1970s, scholars of women’s studies have taken post-modern approaches to understanding gender as it intersects with race, class, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, age, and (in) ability to produce and maintain power structures within society. With this turn of events, there has been a focus on language, subjectivity, and social hegemony, and how the lives of subjects, however they identify, are constituted. At the core of these theories is the notion that however one identifies, gender, sex, and sexuality are not intrinsic, but are socially constructed. > Emergence of Men’s Studies As-a-zelatively new field of study, men studies was formed largely in response “>. to, and as a critique of, an emerging men's rights movement, and as such, has “"~ been taught in academic settings relatively recently, since the 1970s. In many universities, men studies is a correlation to women’s studies or part of a larger gender studies program, and as such its faculty tends to be sympathetic to, or engaged in, advocacy of feminist politics. > Development of Men’s Studies Then it became established as specialized areas of academic inquit theoretical developments began to undermine their very Tationile de cepiaiced by Michael § Kimmel in the book, Handbook of Studies on Men and Masculinities. In postmodernist and Post-structuralism approaches, the very idea of ‘women’ and ‘men’ as discrete and unitary categories is challenged. tea, (ON Gender Studies a Men’s study is an in , i cerning terdiscipli i d to topics con men, masculinity, gears °Plinary academic field devote history and sociat i Ba n's 4 and politics. It often includes feminist theory, ae and th al history, men's fiction, male health, feminist psychoanaly e feminist and gender studies-influenced practice of most of t 105: 2 humanities and social sciences) ond of those we atus and Position of those we group together and call ‘women’ © en ime, space an culture that there is Tee are argued to vary so greatly over time, sp: Similarly, f Justification for the use of these collective nouns. _\1 Post-structuralis; constructions or = ™ analysis, ‘women’ and ‘men’ are regarded as io1 Presentations, achi i e, performance and repetition rather than being “Teal caved, through discourse, p » From Women’s studies & Men’s Studies to ‘Gender Studies’ aenee euties’ is seen by many to further open up the field of women studies, pon is beginnings in the politics of the Women Liberation Movement. The discipline provided strength to Women’s studies simultaneously giving birth to men’s studies. Since the late 1980s it became more common to find the term ‘women’s studies’ contested and at times replaced in favour of ‘gender studies’, the rationale being that feminist theories had Opened up the wider possibility of the analysis of gender difference and its maintenance, so that masculinity and male social roles might be of legitimate concern, gender studies in an academic arena may seem to be inclusive, more attractive to male students and academics, for many feminists tudies makes a far more powerful political statement to remind us that women and their contributions to knowledge were largely on: neglected in the academic institution for so many years, and its presences goes Past traditional disciplinary divisions in some way to remind us that in the : academia might be referred to from a feminist viewpoint as ‘men studies” Even if one holds the view that women’s studies lasts only as long as it takes ini ft iently absorbed into existing disciplines, for feminist perspectives to be sufficiently ng. the debate hasnt reached the critical point at which such a decision could be de, and is unlikely to happen for a number of years. This fact in itself offers eaeee eee ini ’s studies as a separate area of study. compelling reasons for retaining women’s s > Gender Studies as all Inclusive i a great impact on feminism, qowether, these reer Eee hare beat ake driver of the increased Feet ane dig; and difference, inequalities and diferences, not just recognition of a genders, based on class, sexuality, nnlelty, age, between genders but wi ligion, and citizenship status, for eran le, ee now disability, Aart “women studies’ and ‘men studies’ have attended to. In this > St eeil 5 Understanding Basics of Gender Studies increasingly contested terms. Since the understanding of gender has developeg as a complex, multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary area, involving the study of relationships within as well as between genders, the term ‘gender studies’ hag gained currency, albeit not uncontested. >» Why there is More Focus on Women than Men? Gender studies consist of men and women studies. It is often mis-conceiveg that gender involves only women studies. This is not to deny that the mis. conception arises because there have been more focus on women than men in justifiable because women bear greater brunt of gender imbalance than men, For instance, Prof. Jimoh Amzat in his book Gender Studies lists out some of the conditions of women that attract the attention of gender scholars. * Women are vulnerable in gender relational context. There should be equality irrespective of gender but gender inequality is a reality with women at the disadvantaged position. . Wamen bear greater burden of gender injustice. They are mostly the oppresséd in ts of tife-Phis form of injustice is socially constructed and rationalized. * Women generally contribute less in decision -making as men extract conformity to the patriarchal norms from women in different societies. Therefore, women are mostly I subordinate position and experience subordination I adverse conditions. = Resource allocation is often unfavorable to women. Women generally have limited access to resources that constitute essential needs in the society. This explains why women are mostly dependent on men for life needs. This dependence often leads to cruel exploitation and alienation. * Gender stratification is the first form of social inequality or stratification. Unfortunately, the history of such stratification is fraught with inequity against women. * The natural conditions of women such as experiences of menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and children, explain some of the domestic activities of women. * Feminisation of social problems is another major reality in the world. Women generally suffer more because of different social constraints. All these aforementioned gender issues draw attentions of many scholars of gender studies towards women’s condition. This is not to deny that men do not also face numerous social problems. Of course, there is also gradual growing interest in men’s studies. > Importance of Gender Studies ‘Gender studies’ is a multidisciplinary discipline that focuses on the socio- cultural construction of roles of male and female in society and how such construction engenders socio-political and economic conditions of each sexes. 10Gender Studies ooo It is multi-disciplinary because it cuts across many disciplines such as history, sociology, psychology, political science, geography, anthropology and other humanities. Gender studies investigate the disparities between men an women and implications of such disparities within societal context. One of the major important aspects of the focus is how inequality is produced and reproduced in gender relations in human society. Gender studies interrogate how gender becomes a discriminating tool in the distribution of labour, care, property, income, education and political process in general. Gender studies often advocate for the use of gender perspective in all facets of life. Apart from the general condition of women, ‘gender studies’ is important because of the following issues: The understanding of gender and gender roles in human society. The discipline enables students to understand the meaning of gender and gender division of labour in various society; The explanation of how gender varied historically and cross- culturally. There is no universal gender role as there are variations both historically and cross-culturally. It is thus important to understand these variations and factors responsible for them. The typical focus of ‘gender studies’ is the examination of lived experience of both men and women. It is important to understand how gender is, and is not experienced in everyday life. The discipline also examines how pleasant and unpleasant are such experience. ‘Gender studies’ is necessitated because gender is ubiquitous and enduring. Gender flows from historical experience and it is also part of the modern society. Women have become an important sociological group or put in another form, a vulnerable group because of disadvantaged position. This is why ‘gender studies’ is something referred to as women’s studies because there is more focus on women than men. Gender has become a critical factor which influences access to life needs- both material (such as food, shelter, educational and work opportunities, etc.) and immaterial needs (such as justice, rights, leisure, freedom, etc.). > History and Evolution Women’s studies is a term used to refer to the theory and practice of feminist Tesearch and teaching in the academy. * The first women’s studies course is purported to have been. created by American historian Mary Ritter Beard, who in 1934 constructed a 54-page syllabus for a course titled "A Ch, Political Economy as it Affects Women". Although the course a ee ee ee ENE il4 ‘a ¥ Understanding Basics of Gender Studies j it foundation for the development taught, it prepared the i r ; Orthe first ea ‘Studies program in the United States: > 2nd Wave Feminism & Develo: ment as an Academic Discipline ic study, ’s studies, as an area of academic s' ee of feminism’s second wave and a new dawn of p F = The first courses were developed in the late 1960s in ne lUSA: and although some courses were present in adult and higher ducation in the UK, it wasn’t until 1980 that the first Master’s Deg udies was offered at the University of Kent, De e in women’s st followed by other masters and undergraduate degrees elsewhere, Since the late 1980s it became more common to find the term ‘women studies’ contested and at times replaced in favour of ‘gender studies’, the rationale being that feminist theories had opened up the wider possibility of the analysis of gender difference and its maintenance, so that masculinity and male social roles might be of legitimate concern. Although the term gender studies in an academic arena may seem to be inclusive, more attractive to male students and academics, for many feminists the term women’s studies makes a far more powerful political statement to remind us that women and their contributions to knowledge were largely neglected in the academic institution for so many years, and its presence goes some way to remind us that in the past traditional.disciplinary divisions in academia might be referred to from a feminist viewpoint as ‘men studies’. came into being during the litical activism, Even ifone holds the view that women’s studies lasts only as long as it takes for feminist perspectives to be sufficiently absorbed into existing disciplines the debate hasn't reached the critical point at which such a decision eenld te made, and is unlikely to happen for a number of years. This fact in itself offers compelling reasons for retaining women studies as a Separatist area of study. » Growth of Gender Studies and political ‘woman’ can exclude and affitm j ity once fat @ mMono-lithi addressing this concern,’ WAlity, and gender studies is one et of > Features of the Discipline Whatever label given to the academ; : ic first century, the following features hae oe gender relations in the twenty. ired: fenty-Gender Studies (@ * First, the study of gender remains resolutely multi and inter- disciplinary and that is its key strength, and has had the most profound impact on contemporary theory and attitudes to the production of knowledge. * Second, alongside the more focused, if varied, constellation of texts, knowledge and theorizing on and about gender that constitutes gender studies, gender issues continue to penetrate mainstream disciplines more widely (though not always with ease) and are enthusiastically embraced by students. * Third, feminism remains a central perspective for the study. Women’s Studies > Difference between Women’s Studies and Gender Studies Gender Studies Women’s studies is an interdisciplinary field. It is the study of women and gender in every field. Gender studies is interdisciplinary too as it also studies differences between women and men. Make women visible. It shifts focus from man as dominant to women as legitimate. Women’s studies work in support of women with regard to first and second wave of feminism Gender studies is another form of third wave of feminism. Women’s studies is an interdisciplinary academic field which developed the topics concerning women, feminism, gender and politics. It often includes feminist theory, women’s history (e.g. history of women’s suffrage) and social history, women’s fiction, women’s health, feminist Psychoanalysis. The feminist Perspective influences the practice of Most of the humanities and social Sciences, Within gender studies, there is a recognition that men and women don’t exist in isolation from their other social positions and roles. A woman is not only a woman-within our society, she has a certain class position, caste position, religious identity, sexual identity and many more. All of these factors impact her life and must be considered while studying it. Another feature of gender studies is that it examines how the world is gendered. Women’s studies is the educational Strategy of a breakthrough in Consciousness and knowledge. It studies the differences among men and women on the basis of their socially constructed roles. DR et 13Understanding Basics of Gender Studies Women’s studies is the educational It studies the differences among strategy of a breakthrough in and women on the basis of their consciousness and knowledge. socially constructed roles. Gender studies views the manners It owes to the movement for which norms and patterns of liberation of women. behavior associated with masculinity and femininity came into being Women’s studies is diverse as its components include class, ethnic bias, sexism, and racism. Masculinity is not biological rather it is a social construct. Freedom from sexism by necessity Gender studies shape women’s lives must include a commitment to in relation to gender differences freedom from patriarchal norms. among men and women. The rise of women’s studies led to feminism leaving impacts on multiple disciplines for the purpose of research in humanities and social Breaking stereotypes. sciences. It examines how the world is Aforementioned factors should be __| 8¢Mdered Clothing, accessories, titles considered in women stoma etc is gendered. For example set patterns of clothing for men and women. Furthermore, many women/gender studies academics the academy constitute the first generation to be e > Conclusion Women’s studies, gender studi » tudies ini: be undertaken within thease a feminist work collectively Continues to © institution and the Publications Produced, » 4Gender Studies conferences organized and opportunities for communication between feminists are valued as part of the maintenance of a thriving feminist scholarship. The system, as Rich cynically suspected, does provide individuals with access to resources and even when the position of women studies seems embattled (as it does in the UK currently), the work from feminist academics continues to push forward the boundaries of feminist thinking. Since some of the advocates of third wave feminism are the product of a feminist’ education, so the other individuals who carry feminist ideas into education, social work, policymaking and mainstream politics help to continue to bring feminist ideas to a wider audience as indicated by-Jeffrey Skinner in his publication, Gender studi Ts en ee It was the goal of many feminist scholars to question original assumptions regarding women’s and men’s attributes, to actually measure them, and to report observed differences between women and men. Initially, these programs were essentially feminist, designed to recognize contributions made by women as well as by men. Soon, men began to look at masculinity the same way that women were looking at femininity, and developed an area of study called “men studies.” It was not until the late 1980s and 1990s that scholars recognized a need for study in the field of sexuality. This was due to the increasing interest in lesbian and gay rights, and scholars found that most individuals will associate sexuality and gender together, rather than as separate entities. So “Gender Studies” aligned and addressed all these in a single domain. Evolution as an Academic Discipline > Introduction Development of Women’s studies, as an area of academic study, came into being during the emergence of Feminism’s second wave and a new dawn of political activism as Renate D. Klein has mentioned in her book Theories of Women Studies The need of women’s studies arose to create awareness among women as well as men and spearhead the cause of women liberation and their demand for justice and equality. " The Beginning; 1960s in the USA The first courses were developed in the late 1960s in the USA, and although some courses were present in adult and higher education in the UK, it wasn’t until 1980 that the first Master’s Degree in women’s studies was offered at the University of Kent, followed by other masters’ and undergraduate degrees elsewhere. " San Diego State University's 1970 __ San Diego State University's program was formally approved in 1970. This growth in academic programs has been paralleled, and perhaps exceeded, by a tremendous growth in the published literature on women’s studies. ee i tg 15hear iQ Understanding Basics of Gender Studies > Evolution as an Academic ipline The academic study of gender has a relatively short history. Its emergence can be dated as recently as the late 1960s, and its development was triggered by second wave feminism. Along with developing a critique of gender inequalities, in both personal relationships and in social positioning (especially economically and politically), second wave feminism began to draw attention to the ways in which academic disciplines and sets of knowledge acted to exclude the experiences, interests and identities of women. For example, prior to the 1970s, the social sciences in general, and sociology in particular, large ignored gender. The ‘people’ it studied were mainly men and the topics it focused on were aspects of the social world especially significant for men, such as paid work and politics as indicated in Feminist Thoughts by Rosemarie Tong. Women were almost invisible in pre-1970s" gender-blind sociology, only featuring in their traditional roles as wives and mothers within families. Differences and inequalities between women and men at this time were not recognized as an issue of sociological concern and were not seen as problems to be addressed. Thus, in sociology during the 1970s, differences and inequalities between women and men came to be regarded, especially by women sociologists, as problems to be examined and explained. Initially, studies were focused on ‘filling in the gaps’ in knowledge about women, gaps left by the prior male bias. Attention gradually moved to those aspects of experiences especially significant to women, including paid work, housework, motherhood and male violence. » The History and development of Women’s Studies The first women’s studies course is purported to have been created by American historian Mary Ritter Beard, who in 1934 constructed a 54-page syllabus for a course titled "A Changing Political Economy as it Affects Women" ——_——_——_—. ———_ Pees Women’s Studies in Colleges and Universities in USA There were hundreds of women’s studies courses offered at colleges and universities in the United States in the late 1960s, and by 1970 formal women’s studies programs were launched.The first accredited women’s studies course was held in 1969 at Cornell University in New York and San Diego State University in California. Every year after that saw an increase, from 276 programs in 1976 to i . Most of these programs offered minors, certificates, concentrations, or majors. A Campus Trends report for the American Council on Education in 1984 found that women studies courses were offered at a majority of four-year colleges and universities and at 25 percent of community colleges. Their number bas increased substantially. Women’s studies at the beginning of the twenty fi century enrolled the largest number of students than any othe interdisciplinary field. 16 4Gender Studies ite The Department of Education estimates that 12 percent of all undergraduat students in the Uniteq States have received credit for a women’s studies course. But the in formal programs does not tell the whole story; many more students enroll in separat SP oriedinior ini the field. The frst scholarly © courses than choose to maj ; journal in interdiscipli n’s studies, Feminist Studies, began publishing in 1979" The Neen eee Studies Association lof the United States) was established in 197) Monee aD program in Women's Studies was established at Enory University in 1990. As of 2012, States, Courens ututions offering a Ph.D. in Women Stadiee in the United States. Courses in Women’s Studies in the United Kingdom can be found throughout the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. When we speak of the ee of Women’s Studies, it is important to emphasize that this is ae ident tities, diss men’s Studies have differed widely over time, and ‘es, and institutions. > Timeline "1970: First official women’s studies program was at San Diego State University. 1970s: Men’s Studies. f » Sometimes known as masculinity studies, erged in response to perceived advantages brought to women by feminist Political action. “Women’s Study truly is and always will be a field in motion.”(Bonnie Zimmerman, President of National Women's Studies Association) "1972: The Women’s Studies Quarterly and Feminist Studies Journals are founded as interdisciplinary forums for the exchange of emerging perspectives on women, gender, and sexuality. "1974: The Women’s Educational Equity Act (WEEA) is established to fund research, professional development, and a variety of resources to schools to bring attention to gender equity issues. "1977: The National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) is created, "1978: Congress includes educational services in the Civil Rights Act designed to eliminate sex bias in school and society. * 1979: The first meeting of the National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) discusses the subject of whether women studies were a discipline in its own right. | . * 1980s: Women’s studies undergoes an intensely self-reflective period as it grapples with the issues of how to identify the concept of “women,” which had largely been defined as white, middle~ class, heterosexual, Christian, education women of. privilege. (Betty Friedan) | ion commissions a series *, 1980: The National Insti et tuion aa well an the Womens of eight monographs enaee 1 ion Dc tle . Teper Tie Tene Oroap of Men's Studies is formed. ee 17- , ‘tudies Understanding Basics of Gender 5! izati ing Men (N National OE ee ete foc “Men’s Studies ieaeie ’g studies will one day fill libraries and soar whole * ‘Women's seychology, sociology, and history.”-Betty Friedan Cothor of the Feminine Mystique A ; 1990s: Development of “queer theory” moves to include Sexuality seadies in women’s/gender studies. $900: Rise of third-wave of feminism seeks to challenge or avoid hhat it deems the second wave's "essentialist" definitions of Femininity and uses a post-structuralist interpretation of gender and sexuality as its central ideology. = 1991: The American Men’s Studies Association (AMSA) is founded. ; | + 1992: The Courage to Question: Women’s Studies and Student | Learning is published after The Fund for Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) funded a comprehensive evaluation of women’s studies programs. * 2000s: The great naming debate over Women’s Studies versus Gender Studies**. Some of the most predominant institutions to have women's studies programs at the undergraduate or graduate level include the University Of California system, Emory University, and universities in Michigan, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New York. > At Present Many women's studies courses are designed to explore the intersectionality of gender and other topics. For example, in gender and science research, the Sciences are explored and critiqued through feminism, as when Anne Fausto. Sterling, Professor of Biology at Brown University, explores biology through the feminist lens. Presently, Women’s studies is engaged in a heated debate over the move to eliminate the term women and replace it with gender. The change to gender studies suggests that the field needs to be paying attention to the relationships between men and women rather than focusing predominantly on women’s experiences and knowledge itself. The main argument against the change to Gender Studies is the claim that this shift will undo the past forty years in bringing women and women’s Perspectives to the forefront in research, knowledge, and cultural production. But there are also many arguments for the change to Gender Studies. One is that it is a more appropriate title as it also includes gay, lesbian, and transgendered individuals. = 1984: The institutes the The naming of women’s studies as gender studies shall develop the discipline to attract men who will feel more comfortable with the latter term, In the end, though, the change from women’s studies to gender studies will ultimately be up to the universities and colleges in which they are offered.Gender Studies > Gender Studies ug Gender Studies in UK In the 1960s and early 1970s, the sheer number of women concentrated in the humanities in comparison to other academic fields made it an area ripe for feminist critique, since women’s existence in such numbers here was itself the result of the gendereq logic of the workplace. Te was at this stage, during the late 19604 in the US and from the mid- to late 1970s in the UK, that women’s studies as a Specialized area of academic interest began to develop, as well as rapidly Spreading elsewhere around the globe (the first batch of students who had studied gender studies had each eae Master’s Degree, “merging first in Kent (1980) and then York cud Warwick). and universities beginning in 1969, twas a similar story in the UK and it was only retrospectively that teachers in the field communicated nationally and internationally and debated what women’s studies was and could. be (the first national women’s studies conference in the UK took place i was tangible — these scholars women’s liberation newsletters, at conferences and generally networking with like-minded thinkers. Firmly interdisciplin: in perspective, women’s Studies initially resided inky (if uneasily) within the disciplines of English, history ae sociology, and was dependent upon the energies of sometimes isolated in a Is we oe within a generally male-oriented curriculum. Once women’s s ies progra ams cmerged, often gathering together the work of echelans pctaes) ce jet ees into one center or as the core team of Masters” or unc ergradu ate deg ae area, developed a clearer identity. Rather than seeing its mm ajor ee gaat 4 Critical eye over the traditional disciplines, ae se sas iy fonatelicn Ta Tate a a Si Tevaluation of knowledge, art and expt women’s lives. ; f empowerment Even though the women’s studies’ identity ee ee a critique that for feminist knowledge, it is always pulled in Me 19Understanding Basics of Gender Studies i‘@ @) transforms existin; even separatist, area academic concern. > Other Parts of the World Since American educational institutions, especially newer, less-traditional ones, were flexible regarding change in curriculum, women's studies grew and expanded in the United States more quickly than anywhere else in the world, studies programs in Japan, Australia, New wha University in Seoul, South Korea and EX s "s Studies program in 1977, Taiwan and the g disciplines and as a specialist, Before long there were women's Zealand, Finland, Sweden, India, South Korea began its first Women’ Philippines. 1 countries in Western Europe, in By the 1980s there were programs in all and Uganda. Finally, addition to Thailand, South Africa, China, the Caribbean, in Eastern Europe, programs were after the change from Communism caetituted in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine, and others, in addition to Malaysia, Vietnam, and other African nations. ‘two series of international conferences gave impetus to the growth of women’s studies, both within universities and in community-based organizations se idwide. The International Interdisciplinary Congress on Women began in Haifa, Israel, in 1981 and has met every three years since—in the Netherlands in Costa Rica (1993), in Australia (1984), in Ireland (1987), in New York (1990), (1996), in Norway (1999), in Uganda (2002), and in South Korea (2005). Two to three thousand delegates, mostly women, both academics and community organizers, attend to present their work. Bach conference draws especially on thet continent's practitioners. Thus the Costa Rica conference brought together many indigenous women from Central America as well as Latin ‘American delegates. Languages which were taught during the year were Spanish, English, and a variety of Indo languages. The fact that this congress a eetinues to meet, without governmental or formal organizational support, is testimony to the personal importance consigned to women all over the world providing global scholarships and academic aid. ~ ‘The United Nations has sponsored four international conferences as a part of ite "Decade for Women," in Mexico City (1975), Copenhagen (1980), Nairobi (1985), and Beijing (1995). ‘The nongovernmental organizations (NGO) forums held in conjunction with each conference brought together thousands of activists and women's studies groups from all over the world, consequentl Feminding those from the developed world of the connections Deen education and broader social justice issues, India established vigorous Women’s Studies research i cate vrai’ Sach nh cy 29700 and experience and thought. Even this phenomenal growth hard roapturea the Serre ent tuat-goutines'o motivate'the ones in aver af Worevt sucka. ia cit esis, aofficers, Gender Studies i@\ In 2015 at Kabul Univers Se a ity the fi q women's studies in Afghanistan began, master's degree course in gender and ‘The founding of Women’s Studies w, the first students and teachers met war wo! drama, as the positive energy of male authors, and male leaders o} There was also a time when celebrate d Western intellectuals in sociobi ani i Paes tual: a rennet eee asserting women’s biological and intelinerae ow as a scie Fo ponting, in contrast, to the risk-takd intalicentel originality of men. Women’s Studies “taking and intellectual we 5 one without the slightest intellectual mene ‘34, other naysayers claimed, and > Research and Publication Scholarly journals in women's studies began in the United States eark (1972 for Feminist Studies; 1975 for Signs: A Journal of Women in Cu itare and Society; but not until 1988 for the National Women's Studies Association Journal), and before long numerous journals starting publishing around the world. In 1999 an informal International Network of Women's Studies Journals (now the Feminist Journals Network) was formed, meeting first in Tromso, Norway, then in Halifax, Canada, in 2001 and in Kampala, Uganda, in 2002. Thirty editors from twenty-seven journals in twenty-one countries were represented in the membership in the early twenty-first century. Joint publishing projects, including a book series by Zed Press, reprinting of articles from journals in the "economic south" (developing nations) by journals in the "economic north" (industrialized nations, mostly in the north except Australia), a Web site to make members aware of current issues are all part of their work. Ellen Messer-Davidow surveyed the number of books and scholarly monographs available in English between 1980 and 1998 and estimated that 10,200 feminist books were published during that period. As she says, the print knowledge is so voluminous that scholars cannot keep track, zach less tread it all. The topics are superabundant: "Everything and arin gendered, gendering is narrated, quantified, or modeled, and ‘gender’ analytical category is interrogated" > Conclusion Women’s studies programs, courses or Europe Australia, Asia and the Midd pal educational phenomenon’ even Maynard’ ‘something of a i end on cultur: though the scope ofthe framework of SUCH COUHES YF cond wae context and social and institutional attitudes to the 7 .dge itself excludes rua ideas and knowledge 1 i feminism focused much more on tne we establishment of women’s studies. AS women’s interests, their identity an a Jes have also developed across mods atl it has become in Mary