• <a href="/live/image/gid/72/width/650/86389_2020_Gender_Studies_Symposium_cochairs.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image86389"> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(max-width: 500px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/72/width/500/height/479/crop/1/86389_2020_Gender_Studies_Symposium_cochairs.rev.1607126800.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/72/width/500/height/479/crop/1/86389_2020_Gender_Studies_Symposium_cochairs.rev.1607126800.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/72/width/500/height/479/crop/1/86389_2020_Gender_Studies_Symposium_cochairs.rev.1607126800.jpg 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(min-width: 501px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/72/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86389_2020_Gender_Studies_Symposium_cochairs.rev.1607126800.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/72/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86389_2020_Gender_Studies_Symposium_cochairs.rev.1607126800.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/72/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86389_2020_Gender_Studies_Symposium_cochairs.rev.1607126800.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/72/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86389_2020_Gender_Studies_Symposium_cochairs.rev.1607126800.jpg" alt="The 2020 Gender Studies Symposium cochairs at the keynote dinner." width="720" height="690" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/72/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86389_2020_Gender_Studies_Symposium_cochairs.rev.1607126800.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/72/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86389_2020_Gender_Studies_Symposium_cochairs.rev.1607126800.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="3067" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a><div class="hero-split_image_caption collapsable-caption"> The 2020 Gender Studies Symposium cochairs at the keynote dinner.</div>
  • <a href="/live/image/gid/72/width/650/86388_Gender_Studies_Symposium_-_Maggie_Nelson.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image86388"> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(max-width: 500px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/72/width/500/height/479/crop/1/86388_Gender_Studies_Symposium_-_Maggie_Nelson.rev.1607125693.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/72/width/500/height/479/crop/1/86388_Gender_Studies_Symposium_-_Maggie_Nelson.rev.1607125693.jpg 2x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(min-width: 501px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/72/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86388_Gender_Studies_Symposium_-_Maggie_Nelson.rev.1607125693.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/72/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86388_Gender_Studies_Symposium_-_Maggie_Nelson.rev.1607125693.jpg 2x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/72/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86388_Gender_Studies_Symposium_-_Maggie_Nelson.rev.1607125693.jpg" alt="The Argonauts author Maggie Nelson was one of the keynote speakers at the 2019 Gender Studies Symposium. " width="720" height="690" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/72/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86388_Gender_Studies_Symposium_-_Maggie_Nelson.rev.1607125693.jpg 2x" data-max-w="1440" data-max-h="1380" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a><div class="hero-split_image_caption collapsable-caption"><i>The Argonauts </i>author Maggie Nelson was one of the keynote speakers at the 2019 Gender Studies Symposium. </div>

Why Choose a Minor in Gender Studies?

Our program will engage you in the political and philosophical exploration of strategies for transforming coercive and unequal gender systems. Minoring in gender studies will not only provide you with an expanded range of resources for understanding self and society, but also help you cultivate a love for lifelong learning—the best preparation for your life after Lewis & Clark.

What You’ll Study

Our courses in the gender studies minor examine the formation of racialized ideas of gender, explore constructions of sexuality, and analyze gender systems through historical perspectives as well as groundbreaking, emerging work. Lewis & Clark’s global curriculum and overseas study programs encourage you to examine the intersections of gender, race, class, and other axes of power and identity in a variety of cultures. You will also analyze images and vocabularies of gender expression that shape cultural representations, and explore how art both conforms to and resists categories of gender and sexuality.

Outside the classroom, the annual Gender Studies Symposium is organized by a committee of students with support from faculty and staff. This multiday, interdisciplinary event addresses complex topics through a focus on gender and sexuality, including care, security, power, space, law, religion, science, and more. Scholars, students, public figures, writers, artists, and community members come together for a series of workshops, lectures, performances, panel discussions, and a student-curated art exhibit. Our program also develops critical workshops that respond to current issues as a way to facilitate discussion between the larger student body and Portland, and we regularly engage in critical dialogue featuring speakers who are experts in their field.

Students may satisfy a gender studies elective with an internship. Past internship sites include Girls Inc., Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC), Cascade AIDS Project, and NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Curriculum

Complement Your Education With One of These Majors

Students from nearly every major across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and math/natural sciences have minored in gender studies. The most popular majors for our gender studies minors are biology, English, psychology, and sociology and anthropology.


What Students Are Saying About Lewis & Clark

  • As a gender studies minor, I was able to find solace in a tight-knit community full of compassionate and excited individuals ready to learn. I was so grateful for my professors who opened my eyes and ears to so many opportunities in the gender studies world.

    Julia Salomone BA ’23
    Environmental Studies | Gender Studies | Parkland, Florida
    More about Julia
  • The discussions I have had within my gender studies classes have been some of the most interesting I have had in college. I appreciate the interdisciplinary and intersectional approach my professors take when teaching about gender, sexuality, and race.

    Burton Scheer BA ’25
    English | Gender Studies | Gainesville, Florida
    More about Burton
  • I originally had no plans to do a gender studies minor until I took an intro class on a whim my first year. I was so excited and engaged by the course content that I knew I wanted to study more!

    Sofia Reeves BA ’23
    Biology | Gender Studies | Sacramento, California
    More about Sofia

What Can You Do With a Minor in Gender Studies?

Our alumni use their minor in gender studies in a variety of careers in nonprofit organizations, academia, and advocacy work. Many go on to pursue advanced degrees in anthropology, law, public health, and other disciplines.

Dedicated Faculty

Our expert professors are your expert mentors. You will learn directly from faculty (no graduate assistants here!) that are nationally recognized in their fields of study and who love to work with and learn from their students. Your professors will inspire you to be a thoughtful and passionate participant in a diverse world. Your small classes will support you as you explore new ideas, find your voice, and speak your truth.

Meet the Professors

  • Value 

    Lewis & Clark is on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023–24 “Best Value Schools” list.

  • 29+33 

    Lewis & Clark offers 29 majors and 33 minors.

  • 12:1 

    Lewis & Clark College has a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1.

  • 47 

    U.S. states represented in our undergraduate student body

  • 54 

    nationalities represented in our undergraduate student body

Invest in Yourself

A private liberal arts education is often more affordable than you think. Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. Additionally, we’re so confident that our first-year students will graduate in four years with their bachelor of arts degree that if you don’t, we’ll cover the extra semester of tuition.

Find Your People

Students can join a variety of student-run organizations that relate to their gender studies minor, like the Feminist Student Union, Gender Studies Symposium, and Queer Student Union. Many of our minors also work with the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness as peer sexual health educators. Don’t see what you’re looking for on the club list? Start something new and build your own community of peers!


Where Lewis & Clark Will Take You

Gender Studies Events

March 19

2024 Gender Studies Symposium Art Show

One important part of the symposium is an art exhibit of work from community members from Lewis & Clark and beyond. The 43rd Annual Gender Studies Symposium art exhibit encourages viewers to reflect on their own and others’ experiences around gender and digital technology.

This year’s exhibit includes a physical gallery in the Watzek Library atrium and an online gallery.

Curated by L&C students Isha Elboctorcy ’24, McKenna Jones ’24, and Cecily Munster ’26

until April 1
March 19

“A Wall is Just a Wall”: Reiko Hillyer in Conversation with Jerry Harp

Please join Associate Professor of History and Department Chair Reiko Hillyer discuss her latest book, A Wall is Just a Wall: The Permeability of the Prison in 20th Century America (Duke University Press, February 16, 2024)  in conversation with Jerry Harp. Influenced by her work teaching in the Inside-Out program, Hillyer traces the decline of practices that used to connect incarcerated people more regularly to the free world.  

March 20

2024 Gender Studies Symposium Art Show

One important part of the symposium is an art exhibit of work from community members from Lewis & Clark and beyond. The 43rd Annual Gender Studies Symposium art exhibit encourages viewers to reflect on their own and others’ experiences around gender and digital technology.

This year’s exhibit includes a physical gallery in the Watzek Library atrium and an online gallery.

Curated by L&C students Isha Elboctorcy ’24, McKenna Jones ’24, and Cecily Munster ’26

until April 1
March 21

2024 Gender Studies Symposium Art Show

One important part of the symposium is an art exhibit of work from community members from Lewis & Clark and beyond. The 43rd Annual Gender Studies Symposium art exhibit encourages viewers to reflect on their own and others’ experiences around gender and digital technology.

This year’s exhibit includes a physical gallery in the Watzek Library atrium and an online gallery.

Curated by L&C students Isha Elboctorcy ’24, McKenna Jones ’24, and Cecily Munster ’26

until April 1
March 22

2024 Gender Studies Symposium Art Show

One important part of the symposium is an art exhibit of work from community members from Lewis & Clark and beyond. The 43rd Annual Gender Studies Symposium art exhibit encourages viewers to reflect on their own and others’ experiences around gender and digital technology.

This year’s exhibit includes a physical gallery in the Watzek Library atrium and an online gallery.

Curated by L&C students Isha Elboctorcy ’24, McKenna Jones ’24, and Cecily Munster ’26

until April 1
March 23

2024 Gender Studies Symposium Art Show

One important part of the symposium is an art exhibit of work from community members from Lewis & Clark and beyond. The 43rd Annual Gender Studies Symposium art exhibit encourages viewers to reflect on their own and others’ experiences around gender and digital technology.

This year’s exhibit includes a physical gallery in the Watzek Library atrium and an online gallery.

Curated by L&C students Isha Elboctorcy ’24, McKenna Jones ’24, and Cecily Munster ’26

until April 1
March 24

2024 Gender Studies Symposium Art Show

One important part of the symposium is an art exhibit of work from community members from Lewis & Clark and beyond. The 43rd Annual Gender Studies Symposium art exhibit encourages viewers to reflect on their own and others’ experiences around gender and digital technology.

This year’s exhibit includes a physical gallery in the Watzek Library atrium and an online gallery.

Curated by L&C students Isha Elboctorcy ’24, McKenna Jones ’24, and Cecily Munster ’26

until April 1

More News and Events →