WMS Mission Statement
The discipline of women’s
studies has a vision of a world free from sexism.
By necessity, freedom
from sexism must include
a commitment to freedom from nationalism; class,
ethnic, racial, and heterosexual bias; economic exploitation;
religious
persecution; ageism; and ableism. Women’s studies
seeks to identify, understand, and challenge ideologies
and institutions
that knowingly or unknowingly oppress and exploit some for
the advantage of others, or deny fundamental human rights.
Thus,
women’s studies envisions a world in which all persons
can develop their fullest potential.. Read
more...
History of Women's Studies
Faculty at the University
of Rhode Island began teaching courses focusing on the
lives, experiences,
and culture of
women in the early 1970s. Our first course, "Women and
Society," was taught during the spring 1972 semester.
Enrollment was to be limited to 50 students, but 200 arrived
at the first class meeting. All were invited to join the
course. Professors Judith Anderson and Sharon Strom coordinated
the course and 20 faculty members served as teachers, visiting
lecturers or panelists.. Read
more...
What
Students at URI Say about Women's Studies
Colleen Hayes-Costello: I
like to think that having WMS programs in colleges and
maybe even one day in high
schools, will
help to demystify the false accusations that have
been
made regarding the feminist movement and to
encourage active participation in and outside of
the classroom.
The only way for social change to occur is to
have the participation needed to make the difference.
Tim Tierney:
You learn a lot in college
but I think the course that had the greatest
influence on my real life
was "Psychology of Women". Read
more...
