So, What Are You Going to Do with That? A Look at Activism in the Lives of Women's Studies Students and Graduates.

Location

CSU 284

Start Date

25-4-2006 9:30 AM

End Date

25-4-2006 12:00 PM

Student's Major

Gender and Women's Studies

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Susan Freeman

Mentor's Department

Gender and Women's Studies

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

Many students at Minnesota State University, Mankato are interested in ways that they can become active and promote social change based on concepts delivered to them in the classroom. In an effort to promote action within our community and give perspective to students wondering how to apply the skills they have learned in Women's Studies classes, I have collected data from undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent Women's Studies graduates, who are involved in community activism. Through interviewing ten people and examining their responses, various themes emerged about the ways in which feminist students and graduates engage in activism. Some of these themes included the frustrations involved in doing and organizing activism, practicing integrative activism, balancing another job with activist work, and negotiating community action around a family. Through analysis of these interviews, I illustrated how multiple qualities of activists' identities and values contribute to their struggles for social change. Using these results, I will create an online resource for the Women's Studies department to help answer the question, "So, what can I do with a degree in Women's Studies?"

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Apr 25th, 9:30 AM Apr 25th, 12:00 PM

So, What Are You Going to Do with That? A Look at Activism in the Lives of Women's Studies Students and Graduates.

CSU 284

Many students at Minnesota State University, Mankato are interested in ways that they can become active and promote social change based on concepts delivered to them in the classroom. In an effort to promote action within our community and give perspective to students wondering how to apply the skills they have learned in Women's Studies classes, I have collected data from undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent Women's Studies graduates, who are involved in community activism. Through interviewing ten people and examining their responses, various themes emerged about the ways in which feminist students and graduates engage in activism. Some of these themes included the frustrations involved in doing and organizing activism, practicing integrative activism, balancing another job with activist work, and negotiating community action around a family. Through analysis of these interviews, I illustrated how multiple qualities of activists' identities and values contribute to their struggles for social change. Using these results, I will create an online resource for the Women's Studies department to help answer the question, "So, what can I do with a degree in Women's Studies?"

Recommended Citation

Trippe, Kristen A.. "So, What Are You Going to Do with That? A Look at Activism in the Lives of Women's Studies Students and Graduates.." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 25, 2006.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2006/oral-session-L/6