Welcome to Women's Studies!

Women’s Studies is a discipline; it is also a space where disciplines converge and are questioned. Women's Studies students engage in the world and seek to make a difference.

Current and former students attributed much of their growth and development while at Hope College directly to their experiences in women’s studies. Hope has a strong program that provides an institutional “home” for over 30 majors and minors and 40+ faculty affiliated with the program. The most honest and important praise comes from our students. As a recent graduate told us,

"Continue in faith that you’re doing good work, making tremendous change in your students’ lives, and creating a beautiful, saving, caring place on Hope’s campus… You’ve changed, challenged, rescued, delighted, and believed in me, and I will carry myself differently, with more confidence in the world because of you."

Women's Studies is liberal arts at its best. It is more than a classroom education; Women's Studies is about personal and intellectual growth. Students are encouraged to question and learn from one another thereby empowering them to be agents of social justice.

Many opportunities exist for students that wish to explore a Women's Studies major or minor. We trust that you will find, as previous students have discovered, that Women's Studies becomes much more than an academic discipline. It evolves into an integral and transforming part of your education.

Iota, Iota, Iota

Hope College Women's Studies is pleased to announce the formation of an honors program for our students. If you have completed 12+ credits of WS core or cross-listed course, have a GPA of 3.3 or above in these courses, and are committed to women's issues both nationally and internationally, you are invited to see Dr. Dandavati for more information.

Our Events from Spring 2009:

Spectrum Health Presents Sandra Steingraber

12:30 P.M. Friday, January 9, Calvin College Fine Arts Center - "Living Downstream: Health and the Environment" Ecologist, author, and cancer survivor, Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized expert on the environmental links to cancer and reproductive health.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Events

10:30 A.M. Tuesday, January 20, Maas Auditorium - "Presidential Election Panel Discussion"

11:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 21, The Anchor - "Civil Rights Commemorative March"

2:00 P.M. Thursday, January 22, Maas Conference Room - "Cultural Competency for Leaders Workshop" and "Unlearning Racism"

West Michigan Women's Studies Council Presents Kathleen Hall Jamieson

7:00 P.M. Tuesday, February 3, Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids (24 Fountain St. NE) - "Gender Power Politics and the Media in the 2008 Presidential Election" Kathleen Hall Jamieson is a professor of Communication and the director of the Annenburg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania and is considered one of the country's leading experts on political advertising and campaigns.

3:30 P.M. Wednesday, February 4, TBA - Kathleen Hall Jamieson comes to Hope College

Vagina Monologues

Thursday, February 19-Saturday, February 21, Park Theater - Hope College presents Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues

Young Women, Strong Leaders Conference

The Michigan ACE Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education, the Michigan Women's Commission, and the Michigan State University Women's Resource Center are hosting a Young Women, Strong Leaders conference which aims to support the personal and professional development of women who are developing leaders. Through mentor relationships and leadership training, participants will be equipped with the tools to become student leaders in communities throughout Michigan:

1. Friday, March 20, 2009, Kirkhof Center, Grand Valley State University

2. Friday, March 27, 2009, McGregor Center, Wayne State University

3. Friday, April 17, 2009, Tyler-Van Dusen Center, Alma College

- If you are interested please see Dr. Dandavati

2009 Women's Studies Graduate Dinner

Come celebrate the graduating seniors and spend some time geting to know other majors, minors, and Women's Studies faculty.

Date: Saturday, April 4th, 2009

Time: 11:30-1:30 (Come for the whole time or stay a short while)

Location: Taj India

Please RSVP to Dr. Dandavati as soon as possible!

Slideshow:
Women's Studies Dinner
March 29 - Taj India