Gender and Women's Studies

Why choose gender and women's studies at North Central?

How does gender impact the world around us? By looking at research and its application to a wide range of topics, students observe the role that gender historically and culturally plays in policies, customs and practices. For instance, the practice of medicine has been shaped in recent years by the differences between men and women. As a result, women are routinely included in clinical research trials. Students will be introduced to research methods, theory and practical solutions for pressing concerns from domestic violence to micro-loans for women abroad. Fields like athletics, sociology, psychology, global studies, marketing and education all find value in the insights to human development, behavior, physical performance and consumer choice that gender and women’s studies provides, making it a perfect minor to complement most majors.

You can also:

Participate in discussion groups on relevant topics like women and world religions, domestic violence, women's bodies and self-image or reproductive health care.
Attend special presentations by visiting lecturers like Robert Jensen on "Masculinity, Pornography and the End of Empathy" or Krista Danis about "Free-Range Women and Liberated Beasts: the Animal/Women Connection."
Design an individualized major in gender and women's studies as preparation for graduate school.

Biology major Scott Blaszak ’14 and biochemistry major Samantha DeWerff ’13

North Central College students to present research at NCUR

National Conferences on Undergraduate Research accepts 32 proposals by 34 students, placing North Central in nation’s top 5 percent for most acceptances.

North Central College alumnus Dr. Karl Brooks speaks at MLK prayer breakfast

Alumnus Karl Brooks ’90, a Joliet Junior College administrator, was keynote speaker at the College’s MLK prayer breakfast.

Students may apply by Feb. 20 for Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research

Students may apply by Feb. 20 to present their original research at the College’s 16th annual Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research May 14.

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Internships

Sarah's Inn, Oak Park, IL

Graduate Schools

Recent graduates in gender and women's studies have been accepted at:

Emporia State University, Portland, OR
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

Careers

Recent graduates in gender and women's studies include:

Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Aurora, IL

Candice Caldwell

Interactive Media Studies major, Gender and Women’s Studies minor

Coming from a small town like Industry, IL, Candice fell in love with everything downtown Naperville had to offer. “North Central’s small school size, set in a city like Naperville, was perfect for me.”

Since arriving on campus, Candice has met her best friends and added Gender and Women’s Studies as a minor after taking GWS 100. She recommends this course to anyone who wants to explore a challenging topic. “This course brought up topics you would never consider related to gender,” she says.

To gain experience in the field, Candice is collaborating with a professor on research related to the portrayal of women in the media. “I’m majoring in interactive media studies and would love to tie my...

Kelly Martin

Political Science major, Gender and Women's Studies minor

Like many students who take "Women and Men in Society" to fulfill a general education requirement, Kelly was exposed to ideas she had never before considered. By the end of the course, she was hooked on gender and women’s studies. "I had always been interested in women's rights,” she says, “but I didn't realize how much I was interested until I took that class." Through her close ties with faculty, Kelly secured an internship as a legal advocate in the Domestic Violence Courthouse in Chicago. That experience helped her discover her life's work. "I’m getting experience in the field that I would like to work in after graduation—legal advocacy for women," she says.

Frances Wuts

Theatre major, Gender and Women's Studies minor

Frances has a long-standing interest in how gender affects interactions among humans. When she enrolled in her first Gender and Women’s Studies (GWS) course, she found she loved the area of study. North Central’s GWS program is interdisciplinary and draws on faculty expertise and participation from across the curriculum. “I took one class taught by a theatre professor and another by a sociology professor,” says Frances, a theatre major.

“I decided to take more classes to learn more, which led me to adding the minor. Most important for me was learning about gender in different cultures across the world. It’s been eye-opening.”

North Central’s small campus environment and “personal attention and...

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