Housed within WPI’s School of Arts & Sciences, the Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies (GSWS) program is dedicated to the study of interlocking systems of oppression (including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, ethnocentrism, and colonialism) and their impact on the lives of those not only on campus, but across the world.
Through GSWS, WPI students have the opportunity not only to examine the centrality of gender and sexuality in arenas like law, religion, reproductive technologies, social contracts, art, literature, and popular culture, but to bring discussions about race, class, and identity to the forefront of their daily lives.
With a goal of nurturing a generation of inquisitive, empathetic students who aren’t afraid to challenge themselves and others, GSWS has also built a cross-campus collaborative partnership with the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI). With the opportunity for students to delve deep into their collective resources, expertise, and support systems, GSWS, OMA, and DEI work together to amplify and support the voices of all students as they learn and work to develop their “whole selves.”
Students are taught to embrace challenges and to not shy away from conflict. Their engagement with WPI’s pillars of theory and practice enable them to not only recognize the systemic inequalities in our classroom and communities, but to strive for dynamic response and change.