Testimonials from Women's Studies degree recipients:
I landed this job at [a nonprofit that gets state contracts] about six months ago, and one of the elements that impressed them most was the fact that I wrote 121 pages on Virginia Woolf and defended it. They hired me as a Network Development Specialist, which is a position that is primarily researching and writing.
So yesterday, I had my six month review. Among many compliments for my writing (thank you, thank you, Master's degree), one of the things my supervisor was impressed with was my ability to quickly understand the [complex state-private partnership] system on the meta- level. She qualified this with the following comment:
"I really think your women's studies background has given you an edge in understanding how things work on a larger, institutional level."
-Anonymous
"What can you do with a women's studies degree? Let's see...in a 4 year period I was a: Volunteer Coordinator for an HIV/AIDS nonprofit, a Student Life Coordinator at a community college (founded a gender & sexuality program so that was a direct result of my studies), a trainer in training at a doggie daycare facility, and a Director for Volunteer Services at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault nonprofit.
For me, my WS degree has mostly meant working with people in one way or another-which is why I went into WS to begin with so I got what I "came" for plus so much more. For others I would say that it is important to understand that what you have learned (re: gender and society, power, oppression and resistance, etc. etc) actually CAN and SHOULD be applied to pretty much every sector of the workplace. Even if you get a WS degree and end up in an insurance office, inevitably your knowledge base and convictions with ripple outward changing the world (or your workplace) one minute step at a time.
What can you do with a WS degree is a misleading question. In fact, I would say the question is not what can you do, but rather what can’t you do and why shouldn’t you?"
-Anonymous
"I've just been invited to head the booster at my son's high school and my W.S. M.A. was the clincher (no exaggeration)! Booster Club is like PTA/PTO... you know, over involved parents running the school from the outside in...! The principal freaking glowed with joy when I told her that I had an M.A. in W.S. and then in her rush to gush, invited me on the spot! I'll see if I can pencil her into my world-changing agenda..."
-Anonymous
And more...
Financial Aid Administrator
Social Work
Teaching at a community college a class on Mexican American Culture
HIV/AIDS health insurance advocate
Ph.D. candidate in sociology/science studies
Teaching tomorrow's future!!!
For more information on giving, contact Ginny Healy, Director of Development for the College of Socialand Behavioral Sciences, at 520-621-3938.