Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Program

A minor in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies gives students a better understanding on how issues of gender, race, class, ethnicity, and ability intersect and influence social movements and personal experiences.  

View required courses for the Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies minor.

Career Opportunities 

With a minor in Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies, you will learn skills and knowledge useful for careers in community organizing, business, government, education, and health care.

Graduates of the WGSS program have continued careers in:

  • Nursing in reproductive health care
  • Lawyers emphasizing civil rights work
  • Scientific researchers
  • Supervisor or advocate in an antiviolence center
  • Sexual violence prevention coordinators
  • Social workers supporting LGBTQ+ youth

Research Opportunities

Winona State University WGSS Program has co-sponsored the UW System Women’s and Gender Studies Consortium since 2014. Students have presented their original research at this academic conference ranging from topics on: 

  • dismantling a rape culture
  • Undocuqueer art
  • feminist activism for Palestinian solidarity
  • queer youth homelessness 

Students have earned research grants for this work.

Gender & Sexuality Studies Programming

Since 1993, WGSS has taken the organization of Women’s History Month events seriously and created a platform for critical feminist scholars and activists to educate the community and inspire action.

WSU has hosted a variety of speakers and events such as:

  • “On the Inside” Incarcerated LGBTQ+ Artist Show
  • Diane Wilson, author of The Seed Keeper
  • Loretta Ross, a renowned activist who helped establish the country’s first rape crisis center and coined the phrase “reproductive justice”
  • CeCe McDonald, a Black trans abolitionist
  • Colette Ghunim, a world-renowned filmmaker sparking social change through documentaries
  • Rosa Clemente, hip hop activist who ran for Green Party Vice President in 2008

Social Justice, Advocacy, & Community Change

The WGSS minor offers students hands-on learning through classroom to community engagement. For instance, WGSS 405 provides students an opportunity to become trained advocates to support victims and survivors of gender-based violence.

WGSS Students also organize Take Back the Night (TBTN), a movement aimed to create community, healing, and solidarity for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Students can educate and share their stories with other survivors and supporters as well as march in protest on campus and around downtown Winona.

Contact the Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies Department
Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies Department
Minné 328

507.457.5460

Email the Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies Department