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The Center for Women’s and Gender Studies is a unique interdisciplinary program that offers courses, degrees and organized events each year. The focus of the program is on understanding women’s experiences from a variety of perspectives as well as the role that gender plays in shaping society.  Started by a handful of faculty and students in 1979, CWGS now has over two hundred faculty affiliates from fourteen different schools and colleges who contribute to our programs.  Among them are several award-winning teachers and nationally recognized scholars. Our faculty teach many bright and gifted students, who go on to become political leaders, legal advocates, socially oriented writers, teachers, and artists, as well as scientists and engineers dedicated to addressing the problems faced by women, men, and families.

The central mission of CWGS is to further knowledge and understanding of the role of gender and the experience of women in our society. Every year the Center for Women's and Gender Studies brings together scholars and researchers trained in different methodologies and disciplinary traditions around a common theme.

For the 2007-08 academic year, the annual theme will be Gender and Technology.

Read more about our annual theme...

Download this file Download our Annual Theme Events Poster


Current News

WGS and Information School Dual MA Degree Officially Approved
The graduate dean and provost have approved the proposal for a dual degree for an MA in Women's and Gender Studies and an MS in Information Studies!

It will be available starting Fall 2007 and should be listed in the 2007-2009 version of the Graduate Catalog in both print and online versions.

Dual MA requirements Offsite Link

People Spotlight

Matt McGlone
Dr. Matt McGlone, Communications Studies

Dr. McGlone is a CWGS Faculty Affiliate

Dr. Matthew McGlone (Ph.D., Princeton University, 1994) investigates the cognitive, cultural, and psychological foundations of interpersonal communication and persuasion. His primary research interest is the linguistic strategies people use to overcome communication challenges.

Dr. Matt McGlone first became interested in the influence of stereotypes on academic performance as an undergraduate statistics instructor in the 1990s. He was perplexed to observe many talented women and ethnic minority students stumble on standardized tests, despite appearing to master concepts in homework, class discussions and one-on- one interaction.

Full Story by UT Office of Public Affairs Offsite Link



Catherine Jones
Catherine Jones, MA Student

Catherine is from Long Beach, Mississippi and came to Austin in 2000. She earned her undergraduate degree in English from UT in 2004. She traveled the country, living in Chicago and L.A., before returning to UT in 2006 to earn her Master's in Women's and Gender Studies. Her goal in continuing her education is to become the best agent of social justice possible, and in approaching the end of this portion of her academic career she believes her pursuit of a Master's in WGS has served her well in reaching for this goal.

Her academic interests include: the historic and continuing marginalization of feminist of color texts in the WGS cannon and the colonizing effects of white U.S. women's activism across borders. Her Master's thesis explores the colonizing effects and discourses of white women's activism and how this activism is not only ineffectual but harmful to local efforts for gender equality in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Catherine will graduate in the summer of 2008. In the future, Catherine plans to return to academia to earn her Master's in Social Work.