Date: June 4, 2008
Contact: Lindsay Gladstone
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: l-gladstone@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, IL, June 4, 2008 – Drs. Rosemary Johnsen and James Howley of Governors State University are bringing the issue of gender as a social reality to the forefront in a new course to be offered this fall at the university.
“Introduction to Gender Studies” will provide students with the opportunity to understand gender and its impact on society.
“Students will understand how central gender is to our social institutions as well as our social interactions,” said Howley, Liberal Arts Division Chair in the College of Arts and Sciences.
“The course will illustrate how gender impacts everyday life, not solely in a sexual way, but in cultural, economic, religious, and political ways as well. We will also examine the impact of gender and gender issues in other cultures. We will consider how gender is shaped and represented in cultural productions in literature, the arts, media, and social sciences.”
While this course is offered as an introduction, it is hoped that it will lead to more detailed and advanced coursework in gender studies. The expertise of Johnsen and Howley combines an emphasis on the humanities with the social sciences to create a multi-disciplinary approach to gender studies.
According to Johnsen, “Courses like this give educators and their students the opportunity to investigate specific social issues that are both prevalent and pressing but often overlooked. Gender is frequently regarded as an afterthought in the study of our society, culture, politics, and economy. Its impact, however, is felt everywhere and in every facet of our lives, our history, and our future. It should be investigated and understood.”
For more information about “Introduction to Gender Studies” to be offered in Fall 2008, call (708) 534-4010 or visit www.govst.edu/cas.
