About Gender and Social Justice
The Gender and Social Justice program launched in September 2019, replacing the Women’s Studies program. Gender and Social Justice teaches students about social justice, with particular attention to the role of gender. Students learn to put intersectional feminism into practice in diverse ways as they work to build inclusive, just, sustainable communities, locally and globally.
Students, whether they are majors or minors ( see GSJ programs), or taking GSJ courses as electives, will find our courses timely, accessible, relevant, varied, and surprising. These courses seek to cultivate awareness of the experiences of people marginalized by such features as gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, and class. More than this, students will learn to use the theoretical framework of intersectional feminism to critically analyze systems and representations.
The Gender and Social Justice program is closely associated with the Department of Philosophy our staff administrates both programs and many of our faculty teach in both areas. For more information on the Philosophy Department visit their website
Events
GSJ 2024 2025 Speaker Series
Each fall and winter, the GSJ department hosts a number of speakers who present on various GSJ-related topics. This is followed by a social hour when we get to discuss the talk over coffee and sweets. You're invited to join in on the discussion. Find out more about who is coming and when here.
The (Dis)Functions of Gender Identity
Gender identity is a popular concept when it comes to explaining trans people and our genders—especially when those genders are exploratory, expansive, or resistant. But what is this concept? What does it really do for us? Is it the best concept for that job? Find out more.
Black And Free: A Research-Creation Project
For centuries, Black people have used visual art, literature, performance, theatre, music and other aspects of Black expressive culture to imagine and advocate for freedom in the public and private spheres that influence everyday life. The overarching goal of Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Naila Keleta-Mae’s multi-year research-creation project, Black And Free, is to examine some of the ways that Black expressive culture defines what it means to be Black and free. Read More!
News
GSJ Committee Member, Jo Atlee, Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Congratulations Jo Atlee on winning the Lifetime Achievement Award in Computer Science
Remembering Ann Innis Dagg
GSJ mourns a founding figure:
Carla Fehr featured in Waterloo News
The Article, Society Needs Diversity in STEM, focuses on the research of the Philosophy department's own, Carla Fehr. It discusses the beneficial outcomes of inclusivity on the scientific community and society as a whole.