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Gender FAQs
1. What is Gender Studies?
Issues of gender are constantly being raised on a daily basis, from discussions on romance, marriage, sex and careers to questions about sex education in schools. We may not call it “gender” but we’re always “doing gender.” It’s part of life. When we argue over women’s reproductive rights ; homosexuality, expectations of being (a woman or man), husband or wife or being seen as “different” we are talking about our gendered identities. Societal debates about sex and violence in the media, (policing) women’s behaviour at Carnival or other festivals and whether to have a female Prime Minister (or whether a woman can or should be a Prime Minister) all happen in public and private spheres. Can a Woman ? Should a man?
 2. Why study Gender?
Studying gender/understanding life through a gender lens means being in a constant state of engaging in a dialogue with yourself and society, and of being on the cutting edge of research in the quest for social justice and equity for all. Gender studies is a journey into self realization, relationship building and problem solving. Gender cuts across all boundaries and is relevant to all levels of life and living- whether we’re talking about solutions for HIV/AIDS; environmental degradation and sustainable development or career building, or our sexuality; a gender lens provides an additional layer of understanding. For example, at a
micro level, who decides how , when and where to spend money in the household and other decisions? Why do girls (still) have to do the housework? Who makes decisions about reproduction? At a macro level, we can ask, “Is there such a thing as reproductive rights for women? and How do these decisions impact on women and men, boys and girls?” At a macro level, we can ask, “Is there such a thing as reproductive rights for women?" And "How do these decisions impact on women and men, boys and girls. Or, if we are studying the issue of males being “marginalized”, being left behind in the educational system, then we will need to also ask, where are they going too? Is it affecting their earning capacity in relation to women ? if decision makers are planning progammes on HIV/AIDS and fail to take into account issues of sexuality and the gender /power relations between men and women, which also affect how they behave in sexual situations, will any behaviour change campaign achieve its objective? A gendered approach unearths different questions, and different views. We ask “why?” At the UWI, through The Centre for Gender and Development Studies, a discipline called Gender Studies offers the opportunity to explore all of these questions and more, within a structured, academic framework. The Gender Studies programme is multi and inter-disciplinary in character and can be done in tandem with any other field of study.
3. What can I do with Gender Studies?
Internationally, Gender Studies is recognized as a discipline which brings added value to any field of work and is an integral aspect of research and planning in a wide range of areas. In both the public and private sectors there is a demand for highly qualified graduates with a broad theoretical background in Gender Studies.
4.What courses can I take?
MINORS
You can do a Minor in Gender Studies or Gender and Development Studies, according to your Faculty Regulations, whether you are in Humanities and Education, Social Sciences or
Natural Sciences and Agriculture, or you can take courses in gender to improve the quality of your degree. With gender courses, students have gone on to new, varied and exciting vocations. Media practitioners, psychologists, teachers, consultants to governments, researchers, development work in international organizations such as UNIFEM, UNDP, IDB or been employed with CARICOM, CIDA Government Projects. Others have pursued post-graduate study in the Caribbean and worldwide, or rewarding work as researchers .
The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus
Centre for Gender and Development Studies
Calling all Students!
(Humanities and Education, Social Sciences and Faculty of Science and Agriculture)
Looking for innovative courses? Can’t decide what to study but want something
meaningful, exciting and with good career prospects? Then think out of the box.
Think gender!
Core Courses Include the following fields of study:
Introduction to Women’s Studies: Theoretical concepts and Sources of Knowledge – How do gender studies and feminism add to our sources of knowledge?
Feminist Theoretical Frameworks -core theories and frameworks of feminism and the women’s movement. What does feminism and gender mean in the Caribbean
and wider community?
Gender and Development: with reference to Caribbean Society - impact of gender relations on Caribbean development
Men and Masculinities in the Caribbean –What does Masculinity mean and what are contemporary issues in masculinity studies
Sex, Gender and Society
NEW!
The Philosophy of Gender
The Philosophy of Gender in Caribbean Thought
Gender, Ethnicity and Class in the Anglophone Caribbean:
Issues of Identity, Nation and Citizenship
Electives include courses ranging from the study of philosophy of Gender in the Caribbean, examining Race, Class and ethnicity and their impact on gender relations to women and history and gender and literature and Gender and Science.
5. What students say about Gender Studies?
“I must confess that when I selected my first Gender Studies course - AR11C Introduction to Women’s Studies I was unprepared for the World it unfolded before me. What I had in
fact signed for was a course which made me probe beneath institution, policies, ethnicities, politics and in short everything. What started as an initial course to make up credits has evolved for me into a quiet ambition to pursue a minor in Gender Studies as well as possible graduate work.” (final year student, Minor in Gender Studies)
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