Women’s Studies (Minor)

Trinity Washington University’s Women’s Studies minor program in Washington DC strives for a broad and complex examination of female experiences in global contexts. Our interdisciplinary curriculum explores women’s lives, labor, and arts. This program complements various major degree programs at Trinity.

Encountering cross-cultural and multi-racial perspectives, students examine the politics of gender and study the history of gender roles and representations in social media.  Focusing on the interaction of class, race, gender, and sexuality, we help our minors analyze the relations of power in various cultures, and we provide our students with a basic structure of ideas, a framework for analyzing the fundamental shift in understanding arising from a systematic retrieval of history and from women’s changing awareness.

The Women’s Studies curriculum offers students the chance to develop skills such as critical thinking, writing, research, and social activism. Students will find these skills are necessary for a wide range of academic disciplines. Our minor prepares students for careers in many fields, including research, policy, government and nonprofit agencies, publishing, global affairs, education and advocacy.

Why Study Women’s Studies in Washington DC at Trinity

Pursuing a Women’s Studies minor at Trinity Washington University offers unique advantages that enhance your college experience and career prospects in the nation’s capital:

Feminist Advocacy Capital

Among colleges in D.C., Trinity Washington University offers Women’s Studies students unparalleled access to national feminist advocacy organizations headquartered in the capital. Students can engage with policy professionals from organizations like the National Women’s Law Center, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, and the National Organization for Women—connections that transform theoretical concepts into practical advocacy skills only available to colleges in D.C.

Historical Women’s Leadership Context

Washington DC’s rich history of women’s leadership provides Trinity’s Women’s Studies students with unique historical context. With experiences unique only to colleges in D.C., Trinity has in its’ back yard, the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument, and the National Archives‘ suffrage collections. These resources bring women’s historical struggles for equality directly into the learning experience.

Intersectional Policy Perspective

The policy debates unfolding in Washington DC frequently center on issues of gender, race, and class. Because of our historic focus on social justice–and the fact that we are the oldest women’s college in the region–Trinity stands out among colleges in D.C. for its Women’s Studies curriculum that examines these intersections through study of congressional hearings, Supreme Court arguments, and agency rulemaking processes. This policy immersion prepares students to analyze how gender interacts with other identities in shaping societal structures.

Global Feminist Connections

Washington DC’s international community provides Trinity Women’s Studies students with exposure to diverse global perspectives on gender issues. Studying Women’s studies at colleges in D.C. often means myriad of unique experiences like access to guest speakers from embassies and international organizations, offering insights into how different cultures approach gender equality. This global perspective prepares students for careers in international development and human rights.

Women-Centered Educational Legacy

As the oldest women’s college in the D.C. region, Trinity Washington University brings a unique institutional perspective to Women’s Studies education. Our program builds on Trinity’s historic mission of advancing women’s education, creating a learning environment where gender analysis is central rather than peripheral. This women-centered legacy distinguishes Trinity from other colleges in D.C. and enhances the intellectual community surrounding gender studies.