What is Women's Studies?

The discipline of Women’s Studies emerged in the late 1960’s and is now present on over 500 college campuses.  The second wave of the women’s movement was in full swing, and academics began to notice the bias in the typical college curriculum.  Courses all across campuses were taught from a male perspective, presented male ideas, and studied male experiences.  In response, Women’s Studies was born with two major goals: 1) to teach classes that examined women’s experiences, recognized women’s achievements and addressed women’s status in society and 2) to infuse gender balance into the rest of the curriculum.  Women’s Studies is interdisciplinary in nature, and involves sociology, biology, economics, political science, anthropology, literature, psychology, linguistics, and more.

Women’s Studies at Shoreline Community College focuses on the study of gender as a central aspect of human existence.  How does gender affect the conditions of our lives?  When analysis of these conditions reveals discrimination, how can we create change?

Women's Studies distinguishes between sex (our biological status as male, female, or other) and gender (our socially constructed, learned status as woman/man, feminine/masculine).  Women's Studies makes visible the process by which we are shaped as gendered beings, and the institutions that participate in this shaping: family, education, employment, politics, the media, etc. 

Students in Women’s Studies classes often say that it is the most useful class they take in college.  The information and skills learned in these classes apply to your work, your relationships, and your role as a citizen. 

Student Success: Stephanie Houchins
Stephanie is graduating with a transfer degree and plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in Women’s Studies, and then a medical degree and a Ph.D simultaneously.  She was one of the driving forces behind the fundraising effort that netted $8,000 to support local non-profit agencies serving women, including New Beginnings, V-Day, and the Jubilee Women’s Center.  She also served as stage manager and producer of the Vagina Monologues performance at the College.  Stephanie is an active leader of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance.  Stephanie was also instrumental in organizing the “Women’s Words of Fire” presentation of inspirational poetry and essays by women.

Links:

National Women's Studies Association
What Can I Do With a Degree in Women's Studies?
List of Women's Studies Programs in the U.S.

Transfer Degree: Associate in Arts and Science - Option A
with preparation for Psychology Transfer
Program Requirement Sheet | Homepage | Course Descriptions | Classes offered this quarter
Designed to provide students with a broad liberal arts background of study during their first and second years of college. The state’s two-year and four-year schools developed transfer agreements that allow students from a community college to transfer at least 90 credits (60 semester credits) to a four-year college or university. The degrees satisfy some – or all – general requirements for a bachelor’s degree.

Faculty

Rachel David | Faculty Web Page
Office 5337, (206) 546-4760, rdavid@shoreline.edu

Amy Kinsel | Faculty Web Page
Office 5353, (206) 546-4679, akinsel@shoreline.edu

Associate Faculty

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  16101 Greenwood Avenue North, Shoreline, Washington 98133-5696 * 
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