ABSTRACT

University and College Women’s and Gender Equity Centers examines the new institutional contexts surrounding women’s centers. It looks at the possibilities for, as well as the challenges to, advocating for gender equity in higher education, and the ways in which women’s and gender equity centers contribute to and lead that work.

The book first describes the landscape of women’s centers in higher education and explores the structures within which the centers are situated. In doing so, the book shows the ways in which many women’s centers have expanded their work to include working with athletics, Greek life, men, transgender students, international students, student parents, veterans, etc. Contributions then delve into the profession of women’s center work itself, and ask how women’s center work has become "professionalized?" Threats and challenges to women’s and gender equity centers are also explored, as contributions look at how their expansion has helped or complicated the role of centers? The collection concludes by highlighting current successes and forward-thinking approaches in women’s centers and asking how gender equity centers can best prepare for the future?

Through narratives, case studies, and by offering strategies and best practice, University and College Women’s and Gender Equity Centers will engage emerging and existing equity centre professionals and women’s and gender studies faculty and students and help them to move the work of gender equity forward in the next decade.

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|8 pages

Beyond parties and PNMs

An integrated model for women’s and gender centers and sororities

chapter 4|10 pages

Solidarity is for all

Women’s centers serving women of color

chapter 5|10 pages

Late to the game

The politics of opening a women’s center in 2015

chapter 6|9 pages

Where do we enter? How do we stay?

The role of consciousness-raising in developing women’s center professionals

chapter 9|7 pages

Putting our oxygen masks on first

Women’s and gender center staff and self-care

chapter 10|11 pages

Seeking relevance in an age of inequity

A case study of the identity struggle of one women’s center

chapter 11|10 pages

“Blue” language in a red state

Inclusive sexuality education in a conservative climate

chapter 13|9 pages

Paying homage to college and university women’s centers

Gender justice work in the center for diversity and inclusion

chapter 14|9 pages

Beyond the label

Leveraging the iconography of “feminist” from moments to movements

chapter 15|9 pages

The personal and the professional

Intersectional experiences in gender justice work

chapter 16|9 pages

Addressing and dismantling cisgenderism in womxn’s centers

Reframing womxn’s centers work toward an intersectional critical trans politic 1

chapter 17|9 pages

Vision to action

Inside out strategic planning

chapter 18|8 pages

Setting a transformative agenda for the next era

Research on women’s and gender centers