Men’s Studies Vs. Male Studies: What’s The Difference?

[Butterfly]

Men's Studies Vs. Male Studies: What's The Difference?
The Frisky
By Jessica Wakeman
11 January, 2011


http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-mens-studies/ 🔗


I took gender and sexuality studies as a minor in college, which is what my school offered instead of "women's studies." I assumed at first that they were just being PC with the name. But then when I took the first class, an introduction to the discipline, I realized it truly wasn't just about women. We learned about constructs like gender and sexuality, yes, but we also devoted a lot of attention to the intersectionality of race, class, religion and able-bodiedness. That introductory instructor encouraged us not to assume gender was what individuals identified with first and cautioned us against ignoring other ways people are oppressed by focusing solely on gender. Gender studies was actually the hip new term for the discipline; "women's studies," on the other hand, sounded hopelessly old-school. I took four gender and sexuality studies classes and only one—"Women and The Media"—focused on women almost exclusively (that class was about media depictions).