The University’s Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies department celebrates their 50th anniversary of establishment this year. In 1976, Brandeis began its Women’s Studies program with a single course offering – Women 10A: Women in American History. In 2014, the program evolved and became Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and in 2020 was promoted to official departmental status. Today, the department is one of the wealthiest at Brandeis and remains financially stable despite broader university funding concerns.

In a Feb. 26 interview with The Justice, WGS Chair Prof. Sabine von Mering (WGS/CGES) reflected on the department’s history and growth. “WGS is unique in that leadership early on were extremely good at being entrepreneurial,” she observed. Shulamit Reinharz, professor emerita of WGS and Sociology and the wife of former University President Jehuda Reinharz, helped raise significant funds for the department and went on to found the Women's Studies Research Center, now located on South Street in the Epstein building. Her efforts contributed to the establishment of The National Board for Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies which privately funds the WGS department. The National Board includes 20 members appointed by the Brandeis president and is chaired by Hinda Shuman Marcus. The board meets twice each year to provide the department with guidance and financial support. Prof. von Mering explained that this degree of independent funding is rare at Brandeis and helps WGS “shoulder its own expenses as much as possible.” 

One challenge facing the WGS Department is its limited number of full-time positions. Only one professor in the department, Professor V. Varun Chaudhry (WGS), holds a full-time position, while the rest of the WGS professors are jointly appointed with other departments. Prof. von Mering noted that many departments benefit from endowed chairs – permanent academic positions funded by large endowment gifts rather than the university’s operating budget. The WGS department does not currently have an endowed chair appointment, which presents a barrier to expanding full-time positions. Additionally, an ongoing university-wide hiring freeze in effect since March 2024 has further limited departmental growth. 

Today, the WGS department is committed to exploring intersectionality between sex, gender identity and sexual orientation. The department offers a Master’s degree in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and supports a minor in Sexuality and Queer Studies. Currently, the undergraduate department is offering WGS 166A: Gender, Sexuality, and Social Media and WGS 6B: Sexuality and Queer Studies, as well as multiple courses cross-listed with other departments. 

Prof. von Mering emphasized that the department’s history and the dedication of its faculty position it to become a “signature department” for Brandeis. The University’s commitment is reflected in its support for WGS research and its faculty. However, the absence of additional full-time faculty continues to constrain the department’s development. During a critical time of political and social instability, von Mering believes that it is more important than ever for Brandeis to proudly commit resources to WGS in support of queer, transgender and feminist students. “Its fiftieth birthday would be the perfect moment to make the department shine, grow and thrive,” Prof. von Mering expressed.