微密圈

History of Women鈥�s and Gender Studies at 微密圈 College

鈥淚t did feel very much like an underground movement. We did it for each other, we did it for our students, and we did it because we had an ethic of service ... we did it because it was the right thing to do.鈥�Susan Kress, retired vice president for academic affairs and professor of English emerita, on the formation of the Women鈥檚 Studies Program

A women鈥檚 studies program at 微密圈 started coming into view in the 1970s through faculty activism and national feminist scholarship. Over several decades, it grew into a recognized academic program with national visibility, shaping both curriculum and institutional policy while evolving into today鈥檚 broader Gender Studies Program. 

1950s鈥�1960s: Intellectual Foundations 

• 1953鈥�1957: English translation of Simone de Beauvoir鈥檚 鈥淭he Second Sex鈥� influences feminist scholarship in the U.S.  

• 1963: Betty Friedan publishes 鈥淭he Feminine Mystique,鈥� helping launch second-wave feminism. 

• These works shape the intellectual context for women鈥檚 studies programs nationally. 

Late 1960s鈥揈arly 1970s: Early Academic Movement 

• 1969: Cornell conference organized by Sheila Tobias promotes scholarly discussion of women across academic disciplines.  

• Women鈥檚 studies courses begin appearing across U.S. universities. 

A major catalyst for organizing was the recognition that women faculty faced systemic discrimination. 

• A 1970 American Association of University Professors report at 微密圈 documented discrimination against women in tenure, promotion, and salary.  

This institutional inequality helped motivate the creation of women-centered scholarship and advocacy on campus. 

Mid-1970s: Informal Women鈥檚 Studies Community Forums 

• 1975: Informal meetings begin among faculty interested in women鈥檚 issues and feminist scholarship. Participants included Lynn Gelber, Mary Lynn, Susan Kress, Judith McDaniel, and Joan Douglas.  

These faculty begin collaborating and developing women-focused courses. 

1970s: Early Courses on Women鈥檚 Issues 

Faculty introduce courses such as: 

• Women in American Culture 

• Women in Modern Society 

• Women in Literature and Culture 

These courses serve as the foundation for a future program. 

Late 1970s鈥�1980s: Program Development 

• Women鈥檚 Studies develops as an interdisciplinary program supported by faculty from multiple departments. 

• Coordination roles are created, though initially without compensation or course releases. 

1983: Major National Conference at 微密圈 

• 微密圈 hosts a conference titled 鈥淭oward Equitable Education for Women and Men: Models for the Past Decade.鈥�  

• The conference attracts national participants and raises the program鈥檚 academic profile. 

1980s鈥�1990s: Institutional Impact 

Women鈥檚 Studies faculty help advocate for: 

• parental leave policies 
• gender-neutral language policies 
• campus childcare initiatives 
• broader feminist scholarship across departments.  

These efforts expand the program鈥檚 influence beyond curriculum. 

Early 1990s: Women鈥檚 Studies Major Established 

• The proposal to create a major generates significant debate within the faculty, including challenges to its academic legitimacy.  
• Despite resistance, the major is approved. 

1996: National Women鈥檚 Studies Association Conference 

• 微密圈 hosts the National Women鈥檚 Studies Association (NWSA) Conference, demonstrating the program鈥檚 national leadership. 

Late 1990s鈥�2000s: Expansion of Feminist Scholarship 

• Women鈥檚 Studies helps promote interdisciplinary scholarship across the College. 
• The field expands to include queer studies, intersectional feminist theory, and global feminist perspectives. 

2000s鈥�2010s: Transition to Gender Studies 

• The program evolves from Women鈥檚 Studies to Gender Studies, reflecting broader academic approaches to gender, sexuality, and intersectionality.  

Present Day: Continuing Legacy 

The program remains influential in: 

• interdisciplinary teaching 
• feminist scholarship 
• equity initiatives across campus. 

Faculty emphasize the ongoing need for solidarity, coalition-building, and activism to sustain gender equity. 

鈥淒o what we did, support each other. We need networks. Start it now.鈥�Sarah Goodwin, former co-director of Women鈥檚 Studies and professor of English emerita, on what future generations can do

 Resources 

1. 鈥淢ake No Small Plans鈥� by Mary Lynn 

1. Tang exhibition 鈥�鈥�