Women's and Gender Studies Collection

Please note that this section was written by Jennifer Smith, Belk Library staff member. A minor in Women’s Studies was first offered at Elon in the Fall of 1988 after having been approved during a February 1988 faculty meeting. In the mid-1980s Elon professors, Dr. Seena Granowsky and Dr. Martha Smith attended a conference on Women’s Studies programs at Duke University and were inspired to create a program at Elon. The two worked together to create the minor and the program of Women’s Studies in order to expose students to women’s issues through courses in English, History, Philosophy, Economics, and other related fields. Some examples of early course titles included Introduction to Women’s Studies, Feminist Approaches to Literature, and History of Women in the United States. Dr. Martha Smith became the first coordinator of the program and held that position until 1994. Smith started working at Elon in 1963 as an English professor and retired in 1994. When asked about creating the minor Smith said that “We weren’t doing this because somebody up there said you should go out and do this; we did it because we wanted to do it, and because the students responded to it.” In 2013, the Elon’s Women’s and Gender Studies program offers classes that help students analyze gender, inequality, and sexuality taught by faculty that are highly distinguished in their fields of study. Although a minor, there have also been students that have chosen an Independent Major focusing on Women’s/Gender Studies. The program has developed strong ties to the newly formed Gender and LGBTQIA Center; working with the center’s director to create programs and other learning opportunities that explore the study of gender identities and feminism at the university. The program brings speakers to campus, helps to support a feminist student group (EFFECT), and also sponsors programs such The Vagina Monologues and a film series.