Gender Studies

Director: Rishona Zimring
Administrative Coordinator: Lisa Wilson

Lewis & Clark’s Gender Studies Program has received national recognition. Begun in 1985, the program was the first of its kind in the country. It offers an interdisciplinary minor, identifies resources, gathers information, sponsors an annual symposium, and serves as a catalyst for change.

In keeping with Lewis & Clark’s commitment to gender issues and gender balance, gender studies is integrated into the curriculum. Program faculty members are housed in departments across the campus, and students combine the minor with widely varying majors.

The Minor Program

The interdisciplinary minor in gender studies examines the relationship between gender and social inequality, explores the construction of gender and sexuality, and analyzes the variations in gender systems that have occurred across cultures and over time. It illuminates the images of femininity and masculinity that shape cultural representations and explores gender through artistic expression. Courses take gender as a subject of focus and investigate how gender interacts with race, class, and culture. Lewis & Clark’s internationalized curriculum and overseas study programs make it possible for students to examine the intersections of gender, race, and class in a variety of cultures. Finally, the minor engages students in the political and philosophical exploration of strategies for transforming coercive and unequal gender systems and enhancing individual choice and our common humanity.

Minor Requirements

A minimum of 24 semester credits, distributed as follows:

  • GEND 200 Gender and Sexuality in U.S. Society

  • GEND 300 Gender and Aesthetic Expression

  • GEND 440 Feminist Theory

  • GEND 231 Genders and Sexualities in Global Perspective or an approved alternative chosen from the following courses:

    Postcolonial Literature: Anglophone Africa, India, Caribbean
    Gender and Sexuality in Latin America
    Social Change in Latin America
    Culture and Power in the Middle East
  • 8 additional semester credits selected from the following list of approved electives. 
Art
Sculpture I
Classics
Roman Women
English
Introductory Topics in Literature (when topic is related)
Jane Austen
Topics in Literature (when topic is related)
The Brontës: Legends and Legacies
Women Writers
Women and Film
Romanticism in the Age of Revolution
The Victorians: Heroes, Decadents, and Madwomen
Postcolonial Literature: Anglophone Africa, India, Caribbean
Major Figures (when topic is related)
Special Topics in Literature (when topic is related)
Senior Seminar (when topic is related)
Ethnic Studies
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
French
Francophone Literature
Topics in French and Francophone Literature (when the topic is gender and identity in 19th-century France)
Gender Studies
Gender Studies Symposium Chair
Gender Theory and Praxis
German
German Literature in Translation (when topic is related)
History
U.S. Women's History, 1600 to 1980
Race and Ethnicity in the United States
History of Family, Gender, and Sexuality in China
American Culture and Society: 1880 to 1980
Race and Nation in Latin America
Overseas Programs
Gender and Society in Morocco
Psychology
Infant and Child Development
Social Psychology
Adolescent and Adult Development
Psychology of Gender
Religious Studies
Gender, Sex, Jews, and Christians: Ancient World
Gender in American Religious History
Family, Gender, and Religion: Ethnographic Approaches
Rhetoric and Media Studies
Rhetoric of Gender in Relationships
Gender in Public Rhetoric and Media
Queer Film and Television
Race, Rhetoric, and Resistance
Feminist Discourse Analysis
Sociology and Anthropology
Race and Ethnicity in Global Perspective
Reproductive Justice: Bodies, Health, and Society
Medicine, Healing, and Culture
Gender and Sexuality in Latin America
Gender and Sexuality in South Asia
Social Change in Latin America
Culture and Power in the Middle East
Labors of Love
Anthropology of Violence
Anthropology of Suffering
Cyborg Anthropology
Affect Theory and Feminist Inquiry
Anthropology of the Body
 Theatre
Fundamentals of Movement
Contemporary Dance Technique

At least 16 semester credits must be exclusive to the minor (may not be used in any other set of major or minor requirements). In addition, at least four of the courses for the minor must be taken at Lewis & Clark. No more than 4 semester credits of internship (courses numbered 244 or 444) may be applied to the minor.

Faculty

Katharina Altpeter-Jones. Associate professor of German. German, Medieval and Early Modern German Literature, Women Writers. PhD 2003 Duke University. MA 1995 Bayerische Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Würzburg, Germany.

Therese Augst. Associate professor of German and department chair. German, German Literature and Culture of the 18th through 20th Centuries, Intellectual History, Critical Theory. PhD 1997, MA 1992 University of California at Santa Barbara. BA 1989 University of California at Davis.

Sepideh Azarshahri Bajracharya. Assistant professor with term of anthropology. Political culture of violence, communal politics, memory, narrative, urban ethnography, anthropology of space, South Asia. PhD 2008 Harvard University. BA 1999 Wesleyan University.

Andrew Bernstein. Professor of history. Japanese History. PhD 1999, MPhil 1996, MA 1994 Columbia University. BA 1990 Amherst College.

Philippe Brand. Associate professor of French. French, 19th-, 20th-, and 21st-Century French and Francophone Literature and Culture. PhD 2011, MA 2006, BA 1998 University of Colorado at Boulder.

Kimberly Brodkin. Associate professor with term of gender studies and ethnic studies. Gender and politics in the U.S. PhD 2001 Rutgers University. BA 1992 University of Pennsylvania.

Maryann Bylander. Associate professor of sociology. Development and globalization, migration, rural livelihoods, microfinance/credit, environment, gender, qualitative and quantitative research methods. PhD 2012, MA 2006 University of Texas at Austin. BA 2003 Rice University.

Kim Cameron-Dominguez. Assistant professor of anthropology. Race/ethnicity, gender, affect theory, work and mobilities, urban/place-centered ethnography, discourse theory, U.S. and Latin America, Black diasporic populations. PhD 2018, MA 2006 University of California at Santa Cruz. BA 2004 Mount Holyoke College.

David A. Campion. Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. associate professor of history. British and South Asian History. PhD 2002, MA 1997 University of Virginia. BA 1991 Georgetown University.

Mary Clare. Graduate professor of counseling psychology.

Rachel Cole. Associate professor of English. 19th-Century American literature. PhD 2005, MA 2000 Johns Hopkins University. BA 1994 Williams College.

Isabelle DeMarte. Associate professor of French. French, 17th- and 18th-Century French Literature. PhD 1999, MA 1993 Michigan State University. MA 1992 Université Blaise Pascal. BA 1990 Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle.

Jerusha Detweiler-Bedell. Professor of psychology, director of the health studies program. Clinical and community psychology, health psychology, psychology of gender, internships. PhD 2001, MPhil 1998, MS 1997 Yale University. MA 1995, BA 1995 Stanford University.

Kurt Fosso. Professor of English. British Romantic Literature, Critical Theory, Classical Backgrounds. PhD 1993, MA 1988 University of California at Irvine. BA 1987 University of Washington.

John M. Fritzman. Associate professor of philosophy. 19th- and 20th-Century Continental Philosophy, Ethics, Feminist Theory, Social and Political Philosophy. PhD 1991 Purdue University. BA 1977 Eastern Mennonite University.

Daena J. Goldsmith. Associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, professor of rhetoric and media studies. Social media, health communication, gender. PhD 1990, MA 1988 University of Washington. BS 1986 Lewis & Clark College.

Karen Gross. Professor of English. Medieval Literature, Classical Backgrounds. PhD 2005, MA 1999 Stanford University. MPhil 1998 University of Cambridge. BA 1997 University of Southern California.

Andrea Hibbard. Assistant professor with term of English. Victorian Literature and Culture, Law and Literature, Gender Studies. PhD 2000 University of Virginia. MA 1991 Georgetown University. BA 1986 Pomona College.

Reiko Hillyer. Associate professor of history and department chair, director of the ethnic studies program. U.S. South, African American History, History of the Built Environment. PhD 2006, MPhil 2001, MA 1999 Columbia University. BA 1991 Yale University.

Sidra Kamran. Assistant professor of sociology. Gender and Sexuality, Digital Culture, Social Inequality, Qualitative Methods, Sociology of Work, Global Social Theory. PhD 2022, MA 2015 The New School. BS 2011 University of Lahore.

Gordon Kelly. Associate professor with term of humanities, director of the classics program. Latin and Greek Language and Literature, Roman and Greek History. PhD 1999, MA 1993 Bryn Mawr College. BA 1991 Rutgers University. BA 1985 Villanova University.

Melanie E.S. Kohnen. Associate professor of rhetoric and media studies. Digital media, global television. PhD 2010, MA 2002 Brown University. MA, BA 2001 Heinrich-Heine-Universität.

Oren Kosansky. Associate professor of anthropology, director of the Middle East and North African studies program. Political economy of religious experience, postcolonial nationalism and diaspora, textual culture, Morocco. PhD 2003, MA 1994 University of Michigan. MAT 1990 Binghamton University. BA 1988 Brown University.

Robert A. Kugler. Paul S. Wright Professor of Christian Studies. Judeo-Christian Origins, Dead Sea Scrolls, Early Jewish Literature. PhD 1994 University of Notre Dame. MDiv 1984 Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. BA 1979 Lewis & Clark College.

Jennifer LaBounty. Associate professor of psychology. Child, adolescent, and adult development; methodology; internships. PhD 2008, MA 2005 University of Michigan. BS 2001 University of Oregon.

Diana J. Leonard. Associate professor of psychology and department chair. Identity, social judgments, and categorization. PhD 2012 University of California at Santa Barbara. BA 2004 Northwestern University.

Rebecca Lingafelter. Associate professor of theatre and department chair. Acting, Voice, Movement, Devising, Contemporary Performance, Modern American Drama, Ancient and Medieval Performance. MFA 2005 Columbia University. BA 2000 University of California at San Diego.

Suhaila Meera. Assistant professor of theatre. Global-Majority Theatre History and Theory, Dramaturgy, Performance Studies, Critical Refugee Studies, Childhood, Affect, Representation. 2023 Stanford University. 2013 BA Cornell University.

Susanna Morrill. Associate professor of religious studies. Religion in America. PhD 2002, MA 1993 University of Chicago. BA 1989 Bryn Mawr College.

Dawn Odell. Professor of art history. Early Modern East Asian and European Art History. PhD 2003 University of Chicago. MA 1992 Harvard University. BA 1986 Carleton College.

Jess Perlitz. Associate professor of art and department chair. Sculpture. MFA 2009 Temple University. BFA 2000 Bard College.

Paul R. Powers. Professor of religious studies. Islamic Studies. PhD 2001, MA 1992 University of Chicago Divinity School. BA 1990 Carleton College.

Will Pritchard. Associate professor of English. Restoration and 18th-Century Literature. PhD 1998, MA 1992 University of Chicago. BA 1986 Yale University.

Magalí Rabasa. Associate professor of Hispanic studies. Latin American Literature and Culture, Social Movements and Resistance. PhD 2014 University of California at Davis. BA 2004 University of Oregon.

Jolina H. Ruckert. Assistant professor with term of psychology. PhD 2014 University of Washington. MA 2006 Pepperdine University. BA 2004 University of Miami.

Thomas J. Schoeneman. Professor of psychology. Personality, abnormal psychology, internships. PhD 1979, MS 1974, BA 1973 State University of New York at Buffalo.

Catherine Sprecher Loverti. Visiting professor of German. PhD 2008 University of Chicago. MA 2000 University of Zürich.

Jessica D. Starling. Associate professor of religious studies and department chair. East Asian Religions, Buddhism. PhD 2012, MA 2006 University of Virginia. BA 2000 Guilford College.

Mary Szybist. Morgan S. Odell Professor of Humanities. Modern Poetry, Poetry Writing. MFA 1996 University of Iowa. MT 1994, BA 1992 University of Virginia.

Cara Tomlinson. Associate professor of art. Painting. MFA 1993 University of Oregon. BA 1986 Bennington College.

Sarah D. Warren. Associate professor of sociology and department chair. Race and ethnicity, social movements, nations and nationalism, gender, Latin America. PhD 2010 University of Wisconsin at Madison. MA 2004 University of Texas at Austin. BA 2001 University of Arizona.

Elliott Young. Professor of history. Latin American and U.S.-Mexico Borderlands History. PhD 1997, MA 1993 University of Texas at Austin. BA 1989 Princeton University.

Rishona Zimring. Professor of English, director of the gender studies program. Modern British Literature, Postcolonial Literature. PhD 1993, BA 1985 Yale University.

Courses

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GEND 200 Gender and Sexuality in U.S. Society

Content: Interdisciplinary exploration of gender and sexuality in connection with race, class, and ethnicity in the United States. Investigation of social and cultural ideas about difference and equality in the past and present. Materials include literature, film, memoir, poetry, feminist philosophy, political tracts, and queer theory, as well as classic and recent scholarly work in history, sociology, economics, communication, psychology, and other fields. Topics may include mass media and consumer culture, work, law and social policy, family, political activism and social movements, sexuality and the body, public health, medical research, violence, and theories of privilege and oppression.
Prerequisites: None.
Usually offered: Annually, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 4.

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GEND 231 Genders and Sexualities in Global Perspective

Content: Gender as it has been socially, culturally, and historically constituted in different times and places. Theoretical developments in the anthropology of gender. Cross-cultural exploration using examples from a wide range of societies, past and present. The relationship between cultural definitions of gender and the social experience of women, men, and alternative gender roles, such as the Native American two-spirits, the hijra of India, and global perspectives on contemporary transgender experiences.
Prerequisites: None.
Usually offered: Annually, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 4.

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GEND 299 Independent Study

Content: Independent study topic to be arranged with instructor.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing and consent required.
Usually offered: Annually, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 1-4.

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GEND 300 Gender and Aesthetic Expression

Content: An exploration of ways gender informs the theory, history, and creation of literature and art. The role gender norms and constructs play in establishing, reproducing, or contesting aesthetic values, traditions, and hierarchies; feminist perspectives on subjects such as the gaze, the self-portrait, autobiography, and costume; gender and its relationship to theories of beauty, taste, and the body. Materials may be drawn from literature, art, film, cultural studies, art history, theatre, dance, and queer studies. Emphasis on an interdisciplinary topic to be chosen by the professor. Recent topics have included 20th-century experimentation in novels, films, and photography; the Victorian crisis in gender roles from the sensation heroine and Pre-Raphaelitism to the dandy; gender and self as artistic and theoretical constructs from the Enlightenment to the present.
Prerequisites: One course in humanities or arts.
Restrictions: Junior standing required.
Usually offered: Annually, spring semester.
Semester credits: 4.

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GEND 345 Gender Studies Symposium Chair

Content: Student chairs perform substantive analytic work related to this interdisciplinary field of study, conducting extensive research to explore speakers, develop panels, identify important issues, and develop the program of events. Working closely with each other, the planning committee, and the faculty director, chairs also develop leadership and professional responsibilities. Preference given to minors in gender studies, but students with relevant coursework or other experience will be considered. Spring registration limited to those students who have completed GEND 345 in the fall of the same academic year.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: Junior standing. Requires permission of instructor after completion of application and interview.
Usually offered: Annually, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 2.

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GEND 440 Feminist Theory

Content: Advanced course exploring concepts and debates that have animated feminist and queer theorists from a range of political traditions, disciplinary perspectives, and philosophical approaches (such as existentialism, Marxism, liberalism, poststructuralism, and postcolonialism). Readings examine topics such as patriarchy, capitalism, labor, family, the state, the body, and identity in exploring how ideas about gender, sex, and sexuality have been produced and transformed.
Prerequisites: One course in gender studies.
Restrictions: Junior standing required.
Usually offered: Annually, fall semester.
Semester credits: 4.

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GEND 444 Practicum

Content: Development and execution of extensive projects relating to gender issues in organizational settings. Placement in community-based social and educational agencies concerned with gender-related problems, such as employment discrimination, rape, sexual harassment and abuse, reproductive rights, freedom of sexual identity, the law and public policy, political organization. Credit-no credit. May be repeated, but no more than 4 credits of GEND 444 or GEND 445 may be applied to the minor.
Prerequisites: One Gender Studies course.
Restrictions: Declared Gender Studies minor. Sophomore standing and consent of program director and faculty sponsor required.
Usually offered: Annually, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 1-4.

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GEND 445 Gender Theory and Praxis

Content: This advanced seminar juxtaposes contemporary feminist theory with research methods, focusing on collaborative ethnography, participatory action research, historical/comparative methods, and discourse analysis. Students will complete semester-long field research culminating is an analytical research paper and final presentation.
Prerequisites: Two gender studies courses.
Restrictions: Junior standing required.
Semester credits: 4.

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GEND 499 Independent Study

Content: Independent, student-designed research project supervised by a faculty member with expertise in the topic or methodology of the project. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: Declared Gender Studies minor. Junior standing and consent of program director and faculty sponsor required.
Usually offered: Annually, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 1-4.