Acquire a deeper understanding of social justice
GWS Welcomes New Faculty Member Dr. Cinnamon Williams
- Naturalization is a process that is typically celebrated as the end point on the path to U.S. citizenship. Immigrants choose to attach themselves to our nation, which extends to them its rights, freedoms, and opportunities.A new book looks at naturalization from a different angle, considering how... Read full story
- Gender and Women's Studies is excited to offer a brand new course for Fall 2026! GWS 295: Race, Gender, & Labor Are you curious about working class histories? Would you like to learn more about how work shapes people's lives? Are you interested in exploring... Read full story
- Download our Fall 2026 Course Guide here! We're offering a brand new class this semester (GWS 295: Race, Gender, and Labor), along with some classes that haven't been taught for a few years (GWS 282: Feminist & Queer Activisms; GWS 363: Gender, Health, & Popular Culture; and GWS 462:... Read full story
Repro Justice Micro-Syllabus
Learn more about reproductive activism through a collection of teaching materials on Reproductive In/Justice from our faculty. These resources will continue to be updated.
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Why Study Gender & Women's Studies?
Follow Juju Gonzalez-Moreno, a student in psychology and Latina/Latino studies, as Juju interviews Emma Velez, a professor of gender & women’s studies at the University of Illinois College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
This video is part of the 940 Feet series, where College of LAS students and professors give a sneak peek of one of the U of I's most beloved spots.
Gender, Race, and Power
Learn how ideas about race and gender have been developed over time and used to both maintain and question systems of power. Addresses institutions such as law, media, education, workplaces, and medicine to examine how power is used to oppress, and how seemingly powerless groups work to create change.
Latinx Feminisms
This class focuses on the complexities of Latinx feminist thought and practice. Students will engage topics including anti-Blackness, colonization, gender-based violence, reproductive justice, artivism, and more.
Feminist & Queer Activisms
From anti-lynching campaigns to Black Lives Matter, Wages for Housework to domestic worker organizing, and ACT UP to queer migration politics, this class examines the histories and principles of feminist, queer, and anti-racist social movements.
Internship Course
The GWS Internship class helps students apply knowledge from their GWS courses to the real world, while also honing skills relevant to their future careers. Students get meaningful hands-on experience by working on a project for a local organization while earning academic credit for the GWS program.
Feminist & Gender Theory
This class addresses key debates in contemporary feminisms and considers different theorizations of gender as they are lived, embodied, and performed. Students will learn the foundational concepts and interventions of feminist theory and develop their ability to apply theoretical arguments to current social and political issues.
Locating Queer Culture
This class teaches students hands-on research methods including oral history and archival research, while also exploring the rich legacy of queer culture and activism at the University of Illinois. Students will build their own original research projects that contribute to the archives of queer history on our campus.