Women's and Gender Studies Departments and the Work they do

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

2025 has been a year of attacks against groups focused on expanding ideas of women’s, gender and sexuality. Programs and departments dedicated to researching issues related to women, gender and sexuality have been shuttered, with rhetoric representing these spaces as exclusionary. The reality could not be more different in many cases, however; this work has increased equity and access in education and professional spaces while also shining a light on the history of advocacy for both individuals and community groups committed to justice. This session offers the opportunity for scholars to reflect on the impact of women’s, gender and sexuality studies programs and departments in a time when that work is often dismissed or silenced.

These cuts remove critical research capacity, eliminate proven pipelines for underrepresented scholars, and weaken institutional commitments to gender equity.

Sub Unit

• Committee on Scholars and Advocates for Gender Equity in Education

Chairs

• Francesca López, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Susan Anne Cridland-Hughes, Clemson University

• Shameka Nija Powell, Tufts University

Session Organizer

• Francesca López, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Panelists

• Laura Chavez-Moreno, University of California - Los Angeles

• Marleen Villanueva, Texas Christian University

• Juliann T. Anesi, Syracuse University

• Amy Reid, PEN America

• Marisol Lebron, University of California - Santa Cruz

• Deniece Dortch, The George Washington University