Women’s, gender & sexuality studies is a dynamic interdisciplinary field that explores how gender and sexuality intersect with race, ethnicity, class, ability and nationality, in turn shaping access to opportunities, power inequalities and social advantages/disadvantages. Reflecting our roots in feminist social movements, we explore how the lived experiences of women, men and people of diverse gender identities—both in the U.S. and globally—are molded by systematic forces such as law, culture, globalization, medicine, family, economics and imperialism. Students are encouraged to consider how these interlocking power systems can be transformed to create a more just world where people can sustainably thrive.  

With a core faculty of four professors and more than 30 professors contributing cross-listed courses, Dickinson offers a WGSS major and minor, as well as a sexuality studies minor for students specifically interested in sexuality and QLGBT perspectives.

We sponsor Dickinson’s Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality by Students Symposium and contribute to the Central Pennsylvania Consortium Conference on Women, Gender and Sexuality. We also work with other academic departments and college offices (particularly the Women’s & Gender Resource Center and the Office of LGBTQ Services) to bring compelling scholars, artists and activists to campus.

Our graduates apply their interdisciplinary WGSS knowledge and strong research, writing and speaking skills to such professional areas as public health, social welfare, law, technology, the arts, publishing, teaching, medicine and business, among other fields.

Contact Info

Chair

Katie OlivieroAssociate Professor of Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies

Department Coordinator

Nico HavenAcademic Department Coordinator

Phone

717-245-1519

Fax

717-245-1479

Location

219C, Denny Hall Mailing Address

Department Features


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Annual Research Symposium
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Study Abroad
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Current Courses

Student Outcomes

Where Our Students Go From Here

Jobs:

  • Princeton in Asia
  • Community-Word Project
  • Marion P. Thomas Charter School
  • Intouch Solutions
  • YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School
  • Veranda magazine
  • AmeriCorps/Vista
  • City Year
  • Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic
  • Travel for Teens
  • McShane Firm, LLC

Graduate Schools:

  • Boston University
  • Boston College Law School
  • University of Michigan
  • Emory University
  • Columbia University Teachers College
  • Northwestern University 
  • Columbia University
  • University of Connecticut School of Law
  • Adelphi University
  • Claremont Graduate University
  • Johns Hopkins University 
  • University of East Anglia
Where Our Students Have Interned

Internships:

  • Girls on the Run                                 
  • United Way of Columbia and Montour County                                             
  • The Black Institute                             
  • National Network to End Domestic Violence                        
  • Planned Parenthood                          
  • Rural Women Development Foundation, Guangdong                                                                      
  • Global Mental Health Program, Columbia University                                   
  • Connecticut Democratic Party                                  
  • National Sexual Violence Resource Center                           
  • LGBT Center Central PA History Project                                
  • Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR)                                         
  • North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault                                                                   
  • Fund for Global Human Rights                                  
  • Spectrum Community Services     

Student Perspective

Taking classes in the WGSS department quickly became one of the most impactful and powerful aspects of my college experience at Dickinson. The courses challenged me both intellectually and personally, and the faculty interactions and classroom environments helped me to gain confidence in other areas of school and life while expanding the boundaries of my knowledge. My experience with the WGSS department continues to empower me and my ability to evaluate and identify the systematic structural and institutional inequities that exist. One of the gifts that I believe I have gained from the WGSS department is the continued confidence I now have to challenge injustice when I encounter it.

—Morgan Silverman ’20


Women's, Gender & Sexuality News

All News Department News
Dickinson Student Visits White House to Discuss Dobbs Decision

Dickinson Student Visits White House to Discuss Dobbs Decision

Grace MacDougall '24 was among 70 student-leaders from across the U.S. who met with Vice President Kamala Harris and discussed the effects of the Dobbs decision on college-age communities.

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Student Snapshot: Ellie Pattillo ’23 

Student Snapshot: Ellie Pattillo ’23 

"The faculty and staff here want us to succeed,” says Ellie Pattillo ’23, a psychology and women’s, gender & sexuality studies double major, who created a podcast while studying abroad.

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Student Snapshot: Rebecca Fox

Student Snapshot: Rebecca Fox '22

Learn more about why studio-art major Rebecca Fox ’22 says, "The professors at Dickinson care so much about the interactions they have with students, both inside the classroom and out."

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Dickinson Professor Probes Links Among War Crimes, Terrorism and Gender Issues

Dickinson Professor Probes Links Among War Crimes, Terrorism and Gender Issues

Mireille Rebeiz explores the connections among such issues as war crimes, terrorism, Lebanese women writers and sexuality, and readers will soon get a look at it all through her first book.

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Student Snapshot: Cassandra DiPierro ’23

Student Snapshot: Cassandra DiPierro ’23

Learn more about Cassandra DiPierro ’23, a psychology major with two minors, who's pursuing a health-studies certificate, is an avid hiker and is certified in reiki.

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Dickinson Professor Amy Farrell Selected as 2021-22 Harvard Radcliffe Fellow

Dickinson Professor Amy Farrell Selected as 2021-22 Harvard Radcliffe Fellow

Farrell will join a “uniquely interdisciplinary and creative community” as she completes the research and writing for her new book.

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WGSS Department faculty response to the Dobbs decision

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