The Women's Studies Department at California State University believes that developing skills in civic literacy must be a significant part of a 21st century university education.
Gender Literacy — understanding the social meaning of the distinction between the sexes — is a key component of comprehensive civic literacy. Equally important is understanding how race, class, and sexual orientation intersect with gender to create social meaning and political impact. Central to the Women’s Studies curriculum and assessment is the critical exploration of gender, race, sexuality, and class. This provides the foundations for active engagement in contemporary society.
Our students demonstrate gender literacy through critical thinking, analytical, written, and oral communication abilities. A further skill our students develop is to demonstrate the connections between unexamined assumptions about women and the sociopolitical conditions that result. Women's Studies understands that competency in these gender-literacy skills is necessary for maximum civic engagement in the global community today.
Questions and comments? Contact wst@csulb.edu.
Member: National Women's Studies Association
For students seeking a career that makes a difference in the world through social justice, political activism or in any other arena, the Women's Studies program is a critical step to teaching the skills needed to create change.
-- Genelle Buchert, Class of 1993, Buchert Development
