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Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies

Women's Studies

 

Engendering Positive Change

 

EVENTS CALENDAR

Jan 26 11:00 am
The exterior of the Teaching Unit 2 building

WGSS Open House

Come check out WGSS's new space in Teaching Unit II. We'll be providing snacks, tours, and plenty...

Feb 4 4:00 pm
The cover of Dr. Kim

WGSS Now!: Care at the End of the World, Author Dr. Jina Kim in conversation with Dr. Jesse Waggoner

In conversation with Dr. Jesse Waggoner, author Dr. Jina Kim will discuss her new book Care...

Mar 4 All Day
A headshot of Dr. Darkwah in a bright yellow patterned dress

WGSS Now!: A Visit with Dr. Akosua Darkwah

WGSS is excited to host Dr. Akosua Darkwah from the University of Ghana, Legon. Dr. Darkwah currently...

 

FEATURED COURSES

 

Table Talk Webpage » Join the Friends of WGSS » Course Offered » 

The Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies (WGSS) Program at the University of Houston is more than an academic program—it’s a catalyst.

Since its inception as Women’s Studies in 1991, WGSS has become a space for intersectional, multidisciplinary, and transnational inquiry, urging students to critically examine power, privilege, inequality in all their forms. We offer a WGSS major, minor, and graduate certificate, as well as an LGBT Studies/Queer Studies minor. Our program draws its vibrancy from the dynamic global energy of Houston, Texas, one of the most diverse cities in the world. We celebrate the brilliance of Houston’s diverse communities while challenging students to explore the ways that their intersectional social position—shaped by gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, dis/ability, citizenship and more—inform their knowledge and experiences as well as  the lives of those around them. WGSS students and faculty at the University of Houston immerse themselves in critical thought through attending WGSS lectures, workshops, conferences, and cultural events.

With global feminism at its core, WGSS thrives on the diversity of expertise from a range of faculty across 14 disciplines, as well as connections with local and transnational communities and organizations in Houston. Connecting theory with practice, our program also brings gender studies to the community through the Friends of Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies (FWGSS), the Carey Shuart Women's Archive and Research Collection, and the Institute for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality (IRWGS).

WGSS connects applied research and social action in the field of gender and sexuality studies, promoting community engagement and preparing students to be active citizens in a deeply interconnected world. Students who graduate with a WGSS major or minor from the University of Houston pursue careers in a wide range of professions including, but not limited to, non-profit leadership, the arts, government, public policy, education, communication, law, and healthcare. Our graduates use their intellectual growth and academic skills to foster positive change in Houston and beyond!

Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies offers an Bachelor of Arts in WGSS, two undergraduate minors (Women's Studies and LGBT Studies) and a graduate certificate. Doublemajoring is also an option.

 

  • News

    TABLE TALK

    Table Talk, an annual fundraiser benefiting WGSS, is a fascinating combination of conversations over lunch, led by dynamic women of various cultures, professions and experiences. Learn more »

  • Zelma

    FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

    Zelma Oyarvide Tuthill
    As a health scholar, my research addresses issues concerning health vulnerable minority populations across nativity status, race/ethnicity and gender and sexuality. As a previous caseworker, I worked with historically overlooked communities to help them obtain access to health promoting resources. This has pushed me to believe that research is valuable because it can guide policy and programs to ensure that resources and services are utilized in the most successful ways possible in order to promote equal access in achieving optimal health and well-being. 
  • Student

    STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

    Nine Abad
    (they/he)
    BA in WGSS & Political Science
    Nine Abad (they/he) is an Honors student pursuing a BA in WGSS & Political Science. They explore critical interdisciplinary humanities research related to colonialism, gender minorities, and the Filipino diaspora. 

  • IRWGS

    INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN, GENDER & SEXUALITY

    Founded in 2019, the CLASS Institute for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality is the first university-based think tank on gender and sexuality in our region.