Women’s and gender studies might be the most important elective class an undergraduate can take. Despite the stigma that these classes are just for activists, they provide practical academic skills that can be worthwhile for all students.

The field is relatively new compared to others like biology or English, and is less popular. Growth has been hindered by long-standing stereotypes that the classes are only meant for females or feminists and can’t apply to the rest of the student population.

A columnist at The Ithacan, Ithaca College’s student newspaper, reported only having two male students in her Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies class. She quoted her professor, who felt like she was “preaching to the choir” due to the lack of diversity in the class.

Many students fail to realize that the study of gender and sexuality goes far beyond just discussing women’s issues. These classes broaden students’ perspectives on these issues, and they teach students the importance of being uncomfortable.

“Everyone should be challenged,” said Dana Olwan, a women’s and gender studies professor in at Syracuse University. “It should be uncomfortable. In this political climate, people are nervous, and it brings them together. Courses like ours offer hope and an alternative vision for the world that is anchored on justice.”

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These classes are necessary. They are important. In them, people discuss ideas such as abortion rights, gender stereotypes, same-sex marriage, gender violence, racism and the environment. All are pressing topics in the current political climate, and all of them deserve our attention.

These subjects are important humanitarian issues that everyone, regardless of identity, should be well educated about. It is our duty as students to get informed about matters of gender and sexuality that are affecting our neighbors, friends and family.

Progress can’t happen if people only focus on issues they’re connected to. Developments come from stepping outside personal boundaries and understanding the struggles of others. It takes maturity to step into unfamiliar territory, but there’s a big difference between being uncomfortable and being unsafe.

It might be uncomfortable to be a straight male discussing when men have used their power to take advantage of others, but talking about those issues empowers men to recognize their place in history and make positive changes for the future.

It is time for the women’s and gender studies program to be more widely accepted as useful and informative for all students, not just a select few. There’s plenty we can all gain from these classes.

George Hashemi is a sophomore writing and rhetoric and broadcast digital journalism major. His column appears bi-weekly. He can be reached at gbhashem@syr.edu. He can be followed on Twitter at @geohash123.

Published on September 3, 2019 at 10:12 pm