Testimonials

"I chose to major in Feminist Studies because it was one of the few programs at Stanford where I could study issues that were directly pertinent to my life and my activism. There was never a concern that the knowledge I was learning was not 'practical,' or not 'applied' to the real world because the theories and methods I was exposed to...

... were directly related to how to challenge and eradicate power inequalities. Feminist Studies, thus, allowed for me to seamlessly integrate my queer and feminist activism with my coursework.  The most important aspect of the experience was writing my Honors Thesis on white supremacy and the LGBTI movement in South Africa as this allowed me to integrate theory with practice, have international research…

"Completing a minor in Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies granted me the opportunity to explore intersectionality (with race, ethnicity, ability, sexuality, and gender) with other students who were equally - if not more - interested in discussing these topics. I appreciated having faculty, advisors, and fellow peers in my classes who cared...

...about having these important conversations. My beliefs regarding identity were constantly challenged, allowing me to grow intellectually and form a critical societal lens. I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in social work, armed and ready with the feminist and queer theories - and social justice frameworks - I learned from FGSS. I am the deconstructionist, activist, and feminist I am today because of FGSS; and for that, I am incredibly appreciative."

“Studying feminist, gender, and sexuality studies at Stanford was one of the most enriching and engaging experiences of my life. In the FGSS program, I was surrounded by a community of faculty, students, and staff who all contributed to the cultivation of learning environments that push the boundaries of what can be questioned and illuminated. The complex understanding of gender, policy, and culture that I learned in the classroom informs my passion for social justice and liberation. I seek to extend the accessibility of the critical methodologies I learned in FGSS to my local communities in the ways that matter most to those who have historically been excluded."

“Through [the Global Studies] course series, I was able to intern in the anti-trafficking field with the organization, 3 Strands Global Foundation, and I am now volunteering for the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition (BAATC).”

“[My courses] gave me a solid background in the underlying theory and practice of social movements, and the tools/modalities to research them (and effectively participate!).”

“I chose my Thematic Concentration courses to develop a clearer picture of how we feel into our sexuality and gender. The political is made personal in how I sense queerness and transness in my body. These identities shape and are shaped by other embodied experiences along the spectrum of euphoria to trauma. I thoroughly enjoyed each course I took, but perhaps the most influential was Trans Performance. More than any other course, this one allowed me to feel experiences I had purposely numbed. I left the course better than I was when I entered it.”