What is intersectional gender studies?
Coined in 1989 by professor Kimberlé Crenshaw to describe how race, class, gender, and other individual characteristics “intersect” with one another, intersectionality is a framework for conceptualizing a person, group of people, or a social problem. It considers people’s overlapping identities and experiences in order to understand the complexity of prejudices they face. For a great primer, watch Dr. Crenshaw’s 2016 Ted Talk, “The Urgency of Intersectionality.”
Where is the Center for Intersectional Gender Studies and Research located?
We’re working to find a permanent home. For now, we’re housed in Old Main 224 F.
Does the program have a major?
Not yet. Right now students can get a minor in Intersectional Gender Studies or a minor in Sexuality Studies. We also offer an Inclusive Leadership Certificate. For more information on all of these programs, visit our Courses & Degrees page.
I want to declare an Intersectional Gender Studies minor. How can I do that?
We’re so happy to hear this! Please visit our Courses & Degrees page for more information.
How is CIGSR different from the Women & Gender Program that is housed in the Inclusion Center?
CIGSR is the academic center for intersectional gender curriculum and research. Housed in CHaSS, the Center serves the academic needs of students and faculty in each of the eight colleges on the Logan campus and all faculty and students on its statewide campuses. Women and Gender programming, with a focus on student outreach and engagement, is led by Sarah Timmerman in the Inclusion Center.
I declared a WGS minor before the Center changed. Who do I contact for questions about the old minor or certificate program?
You can contact Sarah Timmerman with those questions: sarah.timmerman@usu.edu. With questions about our new programs and degrees, please email intersections@usu.edu.
Do you offer any resources or financial support for teaching?
Yes! Part of our mission is to support outstanding intersectional & interdisciplinary instruction across the university, which we do through our Intersections Teaching Fellow program. We also have a Teaching Resources page where you can find inclusive teaching strategies and techniques.
Do you offer any resources or financial support for research?
Yes! Part of our mission is to support intersectional & interdisciplinary research by faculty and students at USU. Faculty can apply for support through our Intersections Research Fellows program and the Intersections Faculty Research & Travel grant. [Please note: due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are temporarily suspending this grant opportunity.]
Students can apply for the Intersections Student Travel Grant. [Please note: due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are temporarily suspending the travelgrant opportunity.]
We also have an Inclusive Research Resources page that provides best practices for writing inclusive survey questions.
Do you offer any student scholarships?
We have several scholarships for students. Please see our Intersections Student Scholarships page for a complete list, and for eligibility, guidelines and upcoming application deadlines.
What kinds of events do you sponsor?
To support the Center’s goal of increasing the visibility and impact of intersectional gender scholarship and creative activities, we accept proposals for co-sponsorship of campus-wide events and initiatives. The Center seeks to support a wide variety of events but is especially interested in programming that is intellectually enriching to undergraduate and graduate students and faculty across USU’s campuses. For more information, see our Intersections Co-Sponsorship application.
What other resources on campus support inclusion?
Please see our growing list of Inclusive Campus Resources and Inclusive Community Resources.
I’m uncertain about the differences between gender, gender expression, and gender identity. Can you explain?
Gender: A social construct used to classify a person as a man, woman, or some other identity. Fundamentally different from the sex one is assigned at birth.
Gender identity: One’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.
Gender expression: External appearance of one's gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, haircut or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine.
For a more complete glossary, the Human Rights Campaign provides an a great overview of terms often used in conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity. A more detailed list can be found at UCLA’s LGBTQIA Resource Center.