Barbara F. Luebke and Mary Ellen Reilly conducted interviews with Women and Gender Studies graduates from around the U.S. to learn about where and how they applied their Women and Gender Studies education.

Their findings:

  • All graduates reported that Women and Gender Studies taught them valuable critical thinking skills; many said their education gave them the confidence to pursue careers traditionally held by men.
  • Many Women and Gender Studies graduates chose to work for social change. Graduates took jobs as battered women’s advocates, teachers, librarians, HIV educators, and lawyers.
  • Graduates had a diverse range of careers in journalism, small businesses, government, social services, banking, medicine, law, higher education (student services or women’s centers) and the publishing industry. UIS graduates with a WGS minor have gone on to important positions with Planned Parenthood, the National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce, the University of Illinois and numerous other employers and internships.
  • Students have gone on to graduate school in law, education, sociology, and a number of other fields.

"WGS courses push students, including myself, to become stronger writers and critical thinkers, better public speakers, and they teach students to collaborate with one another—skills that they can apply in courses outside of the minor and beyond the college."

WGS Student

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