Hi! My name is Zoe and I studied an MA in Women’s Studies at the Centre for Women’s Studies (CWS) in the 2023/24 year. I had a great time learning about feminist issues and theories, and loved exploring the variety of literature I was exposed to during my time here. I valued the freedom I had to work with the books and articles I had wanted to explore, and on top of that I valued how the course offered the chance to discuss these texts with other feminists in enriching class discussions. I especially enjoyed the feminist histories module I took. Getting to explore how feminist ideas have evolved over time was a fascinating and fulfilling experience.
I have also made some really good friends during my MA and think that was partly down to how the department organised social events, as well as the friendly environment both inside and outside of classes. I am grateful to have the chance to talk about why I think you will enjoy studying here too!
An amazing community feel
When I was in your position and looking at studying at CWS, I did not fully understand just how amazing the community that is cultivated here could be. As someone who studied at York for both undergrad and postgrad, I have found that this department is special for the care it puts into providing events. The highlights for me were the winter potluck, where staff and students brought in food they associate with the winter months, the introductory social, and the karaoke social – where I ended up singing Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie with my soon to be dissertation supervisor!
Outside of the socials CWS felt like a department where there was so much to take part in. Be that the student-run feminist journal Cultivate, the organising team behind the CWS conference Sisterhood in Action, or the student body FRACS that organises the departmental socials and skill sessions. As one former lecturer told us during Sisterhood In Action “we may be a small department, but a mighty one!”
The friendliest staff!
Not only do the students pull together to cultivate the community feel of the department, the staff do too! The staff make efforts to make themselves approachable for both academic questions and to make students feel comfortable in the department. A thing I found helpful while I was settling into my degree was how the centre itself is all one corridor with staff’s offices, a shared kitchen, and a CWS dedicated research study space all in one place. The staff themselves are all lovely people who work hard to promote the welcoming atmosphere of CWS. They provide clear feedback on assessments and during class discussions. One of the icebreaker sessions was creating a ‘teaching contract’ where staff and students got to be open about what we expected from each other. Not only are they approachable but they are all active researchers and proud feminists which leads to really fascinating classes!
Intersectional and interdisciplinary throughout
CWS is not only a feminist centre but an intersectional feminist centre. Intersectionality refers to the overlapping oppressions surrounding aspects of identity such as race, class, disability, and queerness, with teaching orientated to how these relate to feminist causes. This was really important to me as intersectional feminist research is at the forefront of the many issues of today. What I found most reassuring is how Intersectionality was not just an afterthought tacked on in the last week of teaching, but was the foundation of how things were done during my time at CWS. I found this interdisciplinary teaching really interesting and deeply rewarding.
The combinations of feminist research, feminist theory, sociological insights, politics, philosophy, green political theory, and others, may sound overwhelming. But the flexibility of the department allows you to tap into the aspects you are most passionate about, while pushing your thinking with the insights of each discipline.
Balance of learning and researching
The teaching style adopted by the department I found had a great balance between reading and learning about fascinating feminist theories, issues, and histories and research methodological modules. This balance was great for me as I had never studied research methods before. These modules, especially Feminist Research Methods, helped prepare me for undertaking a dissertation. This was alongside the various academic skills sessions that the department offered alongside the university-wide services, such as the Maths Skills Centre and the Academic Writing Support.
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