WGST

By angelarae

  • Why WGST is important

    Susan Arpad wrote an article on the importance of having a women's and gender studies program on college campuses. As a professor, she has noticed that her greatest struggle in teaching WGST is breaking down negative barriers that her students have on the subject. But she is hopeful, and has begun to see a change in the attitudes of her students.

  • Female Engineers

    In addition to the WGST program at Gonzaga, there has also been an increased enrollment of females in the engineering program. In a usually male-dominated field, women at Gonzaga are proving that they can be successful in any career they chose.

  • The Enrollment of Women

    Gonzaga University started as a men's only college. It was not until 1948 that women were finally allowed to enroll. The Gonzaga community was not fully welcoming to the idea of admitting women, but 50 years later, female Gonzaga students have finally found a home. Gonzaga has come a long way from not allowing women to be in classrooms to having a Women's and Gender Studies program.

  • Female Athletes

    In 1999, women were not only excelling the classroom, but also on the courts. Title IX paved the way for women to feel empowered enough to participate in college level sports. But Gonzaga's female athletes did not just participate, they dominated women's sports on a national level. Volleyball, basketball and crew have all won national titles and tournaments.

  • Ten Year Anniversary

    The program of Women's and Gender Studies has been a part of Gonzaga for 10 years! Although it does not have an official department, the program has added new courses in history, sociology, religion, and political science that focus on gender equality and overcoming oppression.

  • Take Back the Night

    The Women's and Gender Studies faculty and CCASL held 'Take Back the Night' in the Crosby Student Center. Take Back the Night focuses on recognizing the struggle of surviving sexual assault and helping students take the first steps of healing. The event allowed survivors to know that they are not alone, and that the WGST staff, CCASL, and Gonzaga University are ready to help them.

  • Take a Stand

    'Take a Stand' allows students to speak up about sexual violence that they have witnessed or heard about. The Bing Crosby Theater hosted 10 Gonzaga students to express their emotions on the subject and educate their audience on the effects sexual violence has on its survivors.

  • Kay Ashe O.P

    Kay Ashe O.P was a Dominican Sr. who gave presentations on women and the Catholic Church. She aimed to increase women's equality in the Roman Catholic Church through lectures, books, and even started her own group that donated funds to small women's groups. In 2001, she came to Gonzaga University to talk about how students can think differently about women's roles in society and in religion.

  • The President of Gonzaga

    "The Vagina Monologues" were banned on campus by Reverend Spitzer, the president of Gonzaga University, and his board. In a public debate between Rev. Spitzer and Philosophy professor Mark Alfino, Rev. Spitzer stood by his decision. Professor Alfino expressed the voice of many professors and students that "The Vagina Monologues" create an important dialogue on sexual health, and that students should not be prevented from educating themselves in this subject.

  • WGST in Mexico

    Amid the "Vagina Monologues" debate, the Women's and Gender studies program was able to pass study abroad programs that focused on gender equality. Students had the opportunity to study abroad in Mexico for a semester and learn about how to close the gap of gender inequality in poverty.

  • Father Timothy Clancy

    "The Vagina Monologues" was banned from being performed on campus on religious grounds. The Women's and Gender Studies Department did book the play to perform at a nearby theater, but the community was still divided on the subject. Father Timothy Clancy defended the "The Vagina Monologues" by stating that its performance solidifies Gonzaga as a Catholic University. Catholics believe in a strong sense of identity, and the Monologues allows women to embrace all aspects of their identity.

  • GSBA weighs in on "Vagina Monologues" debate

    GSBA held a meeting about the controversy surrounding the monologues. They came to a decision that Gonzaga University should not compromise the right to freedom of speech. The student body association also encouraged administration to re-think their criteria of allowing speakers on campus.

  • Student Opinion

    Student Michael Birdsall was against bringing "The Vagina Monologues" to campus. In his opinion, The Women Studies club has objectified women by presenting a play only about vaginas. All the talk about sex, rape, and masturbation, only furthers the views that women are sexual objects that should not be respected.

  • The Vagina Monologues

    If you ask any of the Women's and Gender Studies faculty what they think when they hear "The Vagina Monologues", they will tell you, "controversy." The Vagina Monologues is a play written by Eve Ensler. It focuses on stories of women and their relationships with their vaginas. The purpose of the play is to educate, provoke thought, and bring up more questions. When the 'Vagina Monologues' were to be first performed on campus, the community became the center of controversy.