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Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies

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Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies

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 LGBTQ+ Center) 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.

For more information about the WGSS program including events, please visit us on Instagram.

Contact Info

Chair

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

Department Coordinator

Susan SerafinAcademic Department Coordinator

Phone

717-245-1519

Fax

717-245-1479

Location

219C, Denny Hall Mailing Address

Department Features


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Annual Research Series and Events
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Study Abroad
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Current Courses

Student Outcomes

Where Our Students Go From Here

Learn more about Dickinson Career Communities advising and Alumni Networks.

Jobs:

Higher Education:

  • University College London
  • Michigan State University
  • Dickinson College

Teaching K-12:

  • Teach for America
  • Marion P. Thomas Charter School
  • YouthBuild Charter School

Healthcare, Medicine & Counseling:

  • Planned Parenthood
  • The Autism Community Therapists
  • The Institute for Behavior Change
  • Robinson Counselling Center 

Social & Community Services:

  • AmeriCorps/Vista
  • Dauphin County Children and Youth
  • SafeHouse Denver, Inc.
  • A Piece of the Puzzle

Non-Profit:

  • Community-Word Project
  • Princeton in Asia
  • City Year
  • Economic Mobility Pathways
  • StoryCorps

Legal Services:

  • McShane Firm, LLC

Marketing, Communications & Consulting:

  • Intouch Solutions
  • Veranda Magazine
  • Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal
  • Abt Associates

Graduate Schools:

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

Learn more about Dickinson’s Internship Program and Dickinson Career Communities advising.

Internships:

Healthcare, Medicine & Counseling:                                                 

  • Planned Parenthood                                                               
  • Global Mental Health Program, Columbia University  
  • Kennedy Krieger Institute    
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness- Mercer
  • MOMENTUM Integrated Health Resilience
  • Complete Care
  • Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition
  • One You Nutrition

Social and Community Services:

  • National Network to End Domestic Violence  
  • YWCA - recently Carlisle, Cumberland County & Cambridge 
  • Dauphin County Social Services for Children and Youth
  • Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC)
  • 16 Strong Project
  • La Fundación Sobran Motivos
  • New Life Community Carlisle
  • Safe Harbour
  • Transitions of PA
  • Girls on the Run    
  • Rural Women Development Foundation, Guangdong      
  • Spectrum Community Services     

Social Justice and Political Organizing:

  • American Association of University Women (AAUW Carlisle)
  • Scaffolding Advocacy and Inclusive Leadership (SAIL)
  • The Feminist Majority Foundation
  • The Black Institute       
  • International Youth Foundation
  • United Way of Columbia and Montour County          
  • Connecticut Democratic Party    
  • REPRORising Virginia
  • Vermont Works for Women
  • Queer Wellness Center
  • Fund for Global Human Rights  
  • Girls Inc. of the Valley
  • TurnUp!

Sexual Violence Prevention Organizations:

  • Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)
  • National Sexual Violence Resource Center          
  • Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR)                    
  • North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Non-Profit:

  • YWCA Carlisle
  • YWCA Cambridge
  • LGBT Center Central PA History Project

Legal Services:

  • CASA Cumberland County
  • Center for Family Justice
  • MidPenn Legal Services
  • PA Office of the Attorney General

Marketing, Communications & Consulting:

  • Doner
  • Watson HCM Consulting

Research, Archives & Events:

  • Dickinson College: Title IX Office, WGRC, Archives & Special Collections, CCLA, LGBTQ+ Center, various academic departments
  • F&M Global Barometers
  • University of Missouri

Student Perspective

"Because of my positive experience in Psychology of Women and Gender, I decided to take Introduction to Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies the following semester with Associate Professor of Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies Katie Oliviero, which solidified my interest in the subject and developed my writing skills. These classes opened the door to many of my most treasured experiences at Dickinson and, most important, taught me the value of being open and curious."

— Ellie Pattillo ’23 


Women's, Gender & Sexuality News

All News Department News
Club Spotlight: Shakespeare Club

Club Spotlight: Shakespeare Club

Students are bringing the Bard to life through productions, readings and meaningful conversations.

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First Inclusive and IDEAL Innovation Grants Awarded

First Inclusive and IDEAL Innovation Grants Awarded

Grants encourage faculty to find innovative ways to enhance equity and inclusion in class and on campus.

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Social Justice by the Numbers

Social Justice by the Numbers

With a double major in data analytics and women's, gender & sexuality studies, Marin Moore '26 plans a career combining data analysis and social justice.

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The (Red) Devil Wears Prada

The (Red) Devil Wears Prada

There are fascinating lessons sewn into fashion. Researching in Italy, students explored the culture, history, politics and ethics of Italian fashion, from fast fashion to couture.

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Dickinson to Host Discussion on Gender Biases in the Workplace

Dickinson to Host Discussion on Gender Biases in the Workplace

The female chief information officers from two central Pennsylvania colleges will discuss gender biases in the workplace.

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Dickinson to Host Reproductive Justice and Human Rights Advocate Loretta J. Ross

Dickinson to Host Reproductive Justice and Human Rights Advocate Loretta J. Ross

Reproductive justice and human rights advocate Loretta J. Ross will discuss changing the dialogue and improving work in reproductive health, justice and rights.

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WGSS Department faculty response to the Dobbs decision

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