Department of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies

Information about the Department of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies

WGSS

Office

Engineering and Technology A405
Phone: (323) 343-4100
Website: Department of Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
Instagram: @wgssla

Chair

Alejandra Marchevsky
email: amarche@calstatela.edu
Phone: (323) 343-4100

The Faculty

Professors: Dionne Espinoza, Alejandra Marchevsky (Chair)
Assistant Professors: Pau Abustan; David B. Green

Overview

Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies (WGSS) engages students in the interdisciplinary study of gender and sexuality as interwoven with race, ethnicity, colonization, class, nation, and ability. We employ intersectional feminist and LGBTSTGNC frameworks to explore hidden histories, understand complex social structures, confront injustice and oppression, and imagine more liberatory futures.

WGSS is grounded in humanistic approaches that emphasize the importance of language, storytelling, cultural representation, history, and creative arts in understanding and transforming the world. Our classes invite passionate dialogue and hands-on learning, where students build exceptional skills in verbal, written, and visual communication, critical thinking, rigorous research, and team-based problem-solving. WGSS students connect their research and classroom learning to diverse publics through the creation of social media, podcasts, zines, public art, and performance, curriculum for K-12 education, and public archives.