Male Women's Studies Major....Thoughts?

Question

I am a future Women's Studies major at a college that has very recently gone co-ed. I will be a sophomore in the fall and I am planning to take several WS courses. This is a field I am very interested in (and not for the reason - girls - that most people assume) and am looking forward to plunging forward in this thriving field. Anyway, here is my question. It is the summer after my first year of college and the family wants to know what I'm majoring in (or planning to major in). I come from a "traditional" Southern family and when I reveal that I am a future WS major I've gotten all sorts of reactions - from supportive warmth to downright coldness. How would you react if I was your son (or your grandson, nephew, or whathave you) and I told you I was going to major in WS? I would also like to hear from other men (and women) who have done the major and are in the "real world" outside of college!

Answer 1

Enjoy your useless major.

Answer 2

To be honest, I would be disappointed. I would prefer them to major in Science or Math. I don't understand the practical application of WS. However, it is your choice to determine your own future. Just do me one favor. When ever you make an important life decision like this one. Always look at it from a long term perspective. This view will ensure an informed decision.

Answer 3

I would give you my full support, just as long it's what you really want.

Answer 4

If you were my son and Women's Studies was your passion, I would fully support you in your endeavor.  I see nothing wrong with a man wanting to go into that field.  Good for you.  And best of luck to you in your studies!

Answer 5

If my son wanted to major in Women's Studies, I'd say "HIGH FIVE,"  same as I'm saying to you!  Good luck in your career!

Answer 6

I have to admit I would probably wrinkle my nose at anyone who majored in WS.  Not so much because I find there's something specifically wrong with it but because it seems like a very unbalanced choice.  

The cost of the education as compared to the earning potential it provides makes it a useless education in my mind.  Much like majoring in art history, unless you plan to teach what good is it? (yes I know some people make big money from this but it's a small field and hard to find good positions).  

Now if you can afford to attend university solely for the joy of learning (I sure wish I could) then that's great but I have to admit I'd be pissed if my son asked me to spend $50+K on and education that will never earn him more than an average income of $20K a year in a position that he probably could have entered without that $50+K education.  And if it was another family member I would consider it greedy of him to ask this of his parents.

Answer 7

I have to warn you that the coordinator of the women's centre on my campus only works about 12 hours a week and makes about $15 CDN an hour. I imagine it's considerably less where you come from. So you might want to consider a different job.

As for the major, I would probably be less open to my kid (of either s*x) studying it as a major than as a few elective courses. I don't see it as a very practical degree. Still, it's their choice.

Answer 8

It's cool dude, s***w anyone who doesn't support you. The fact that you're in college and graduating with a major is awesome enough. Some people in this world are too thick headed and stubborn to see the world in a rational light..... You can't change them, just ignore them.

Answer 9

I'm a feminist, so  I would be unlikely to react anything but positively. I can't help you with personal experience, however, because I did not major in women's studies.

It depends on what you plan to do as a career. If you would like to go into victim advocacy,counseling, education or the law, I'm sure it will be helpful.

Talk to a campus career counselor or your adviser.

Answer 10

Kudos. I am taking a Graduate Studies Program in Gender and Cultural Studies at Simmons' College this Fall 2008 myself. As a feminist man I think that's fantastic. If my son wanted to major in whatever he chooses as his passion, I would support him as much as I could financially and emotionally with my love. My family knows and they support my decision fully.

The reason I choose this program myself is because I have worked in various fields, teaching Phys. Ed, cement worker, bricklayer, shoe shop, fire service, environmental engineer, landscaper, floral designer (I am still doing this one) I even have a CDL B license to drive the big trucks with air brakes.

So, at this point in my life I wanted to work in a field that I was "passionate" about. Not some job where I just accepted the work and adapted my body and mind to. Feminism, women's organizations and supporting women's cause. I don't worry about how much money I will make as long as I am doing work I love. I want a job where I can say this isn't work, it's love! So maybe working for a women's organization likes NARAL Pro-Choice, NOW, or some other organization in the Social Justice realm would be what I am looking for. I wish you great success in WS

Answer 11

I bought into Feminism with zeal about 15 years ago.  I was young.  I actually believed that we could all be happy and the same.  So I would say I can relate to you.  Age and wisdom have exposed to me feminism for exactly what it is however.  It's not women's rights, that's called women's rights.  In women's studies they will blur those lines until you believe women's suffrage and the fight for women's rights were the result of feminism.  Here's the real world outside of college.  Many women are completely overwhelmed because they need to work and still want to do all the things motherly instinct tells them to do.  Men are not able to provide, we're on a two income per family system.  Men are not able to lead their families (which is an instinct).  Women sense that something is wrong, can't better it, can't turn to their men to have them better it and wind up divorcing.  Children are growing up fatherless.  Male leadership favors justice and rules.  Despite what anyone argues kids who grow up without this grow up without direction, with a blurry sense of right and wrong, more inclined to have s*x outside of marriage, and young, more inclined to use drugs, without a sense of how to lead for boys, and without an understanding of what a good man is, how to choose him, and how to be a good wife to him for girls.  Despite everything you'll be taught, bad wives CAN NOT make good mothers.  Healthy children come from households where a mother respects her husbands lead.  Period.  Children learn by the model method.  They learn to obey while watching obedience.  They learn to be fair leaders by watching fair leadership.  All the arguing in the world, all the skewed statistics in the world can't change this fact.  A family with two or more people driving it is going to crash just as spectacularly as a car with two or more working steering wheels.  It's certainly wise, if I'm driving a car to take advice from passengers, but I have to be the one to drive it.  I believe Feminists to by and large to be very well intentioned people, caught up in a highly toxic movement.  The egalitarian agenda has dismantled the family unit.  I bought into, I played a role.  We have to pick ourselves up though.  Having different roles does not make men and women any less equal in value.  Families are indeed made up of complimentary parts that fit together.  We've been experimenting with cutting all the pieces of the puzzle into identical pieces and trying to fit them together.  They fall apart, this simply has not been working.  For the sake of our children we need to give them families that are whole.  These kids need a Father who is a Father and strong Husband, a Mother who is a Mother and a loyal Wife and they need to see this and follow it and to be raised up right into good husbands and wives.  Our society will flourish when our families are strong.  The chaos and disruption in our society is fall out from chaotic, disrupted homes.

Answer 12

good for you, doing what you want. however, it would probably be more prudent to major in history and minor in Women's Studies. this way, you have a surefire back-up plan!

good luck with all you do!

Answer 13

That's great.  I only took the women's studies 101 class, but it was great to have a couple guys in there with the sea of women.  In addition to learning something, I think you'll probably have a lot to contribute to class discussions because of your experience being male.  I hope you're not shy.  :-)

Answer 14

Depends if you were making your own way in the world and this was your choice alone. If so then I would say your life, if that's what you want go for it

IF however I'm paying for your education i'd be pretty annoyed to learn that this investment I'm making will have virtually zero practical application for you in the real world and thus you may remain dependent. But this is merely a speculative concern and perhaps you would find a career which means you wouldn't have to continue to leech off me :)

Answer 15

If youre looking for a successful (financially speaking) career, I would advise you not to take Women's Studies.

If you're persistent, I suggest you be very careful, and if you have any questions, ask. Don't take cr*p from anybody. The feminist propaganda that is sometimes taught and mixed with WS tends to rile up women, and make them view men as competition rather than comrades and partners.

http://www.iwf.org/campus/show/19136.htm...

The first part of the website linked by doodlebugjimv2 isn't a joke. It's what you can expect.

You have been warned. I'm in no way discouraging you but only telling it like it is. The rest is up to you.

Answer 16

Here is your cookie....

As long as my son, grandson, etc. was happy with what he was doing and becoming successful at it I would not care what he majored in.

To me this is like introducing yourself as a single parent, g*y or the many other things people overly identify themselves with.

Answer 17

It's your life but it's not very practical if you want a decent paying job from your undergrad education, especially as a man.   Your History degree might help you get a teaching job though.

Answer 18

This is a sensitive question, coming from a man ! Since you have fixed your path (workin in Women's or GLBT centre on a college campus), your campus career counsellor is the best resource. A majority of the responders here are just being nice to you ofc. Their responses also highlight the need for additional skills Sir !

Honesty is the best policy - even if it gets deleted/TD'ed.

Good luck !

Answer 19

I can't believe that people here are saying that a WS degree is impractical.  It opens you up to many types of jobs, and further education.  Though these jobs may not make a ton of money, but you can still do a lot.  And if you decide to continue your education you can do a lot with it.  Social work, health management, library sciences, history, computer science, and hundreds more.  Instead of being locked into a specific field you have hundreds of choices.  

Right now I am working for a non profit making fundraising events, helping with media contacts, and helping with research.  I am planning to get my masters in computer science

Answer 20

I had seen many persons who are always giving excuse that

1>"if I had done ____ this in past ,I would be at a better position then my present one. There was a problem of ___ and ____ else I was a millionaire now  etc."

2>some of them were saying that "Oh what a work man ,life is not going anywhere .  I'm getting bored man what can I do now. should I change my line ?. NO not now ,what would  happened to my family. Now i don't think i will do it . "

3>"This is bullshit man ,now I have money but no relaxation at all ! what can i do now? well life is going anyway"

  I don't want you to be one of  these type of men who would like to give excuse  always .

Just whatever you do keep in mind these points.

1> You will  always get what you wish for.

2> The decisions you made would have good or bad impact on your life.

3> If you like your work , you will be on a permanent holiday.

4> Some people would give you mixed response but you should always ready to whatever it takes they will give you only guidance and how to walk on that path.

5> It's not necessary that your job will always give you relaxation and money ,but by making right , proper decisions you may get these two things at one place only.

6> if you are young mistakes can be tolerate , but as you grew older you would  like to first think about the family not your self. Even if you tried to do it , would be impossible to change your line .



   Everything ,each and every step must be taken form you only. By putting your 100% efforts success is guarantee and you will definitely deserve it.  

  

                         So choose wisely and carefully my friend.

Answer 21

I think it's great to want to further your education, and you should pick something that is fascinating to you, regaurdless of what other people thing!

For the record though, I think it's important for men to be more supportive of women's studies and I welcome your involvement. Sure, there may be people who treat you with a bit of coldness, but that might give you some insight into what it feels like to be a minority. It can be a great learning experience for you in understanding women better and give you an alternative view on education in general.

No matter what you decide, though, thanks for considering it. Good luck with your studies!

Answer 22

BTW: As a long time taxpayer, I am delighted to see my tax dollars at work supoporting people who want to get an education and use it to improve the lives of others. What I hate paying for are extra prisons to keep people locked up who could have been turned around if they had counsellors and intervention at some early stage.

~*~*~*~

Congratulations, it's an interesting field of study and you have some fascinating educational times ahead of you, as well as some lively debates and discussions.

I'm from Australia so have no idea whether traditional 'southern' families vary much from conservative families here, but I do know from personal experience that however much you love your family, your life is what YOU make of it.

It's good to be family oriented, but living your life to please others makes it less YOUR life.

Like all studies in the humanities, WS is a great way to open doors to knowledge. You may get halfway through and discover an interest in archeology, history, biology or any one of a dozen things, and you will have a useful 'launch pad' for any of them.

Many of the most successful people have backgrounds in the humanities, especially where they are involved in jobs which rely on human to human interaction.

If you enjoy that type of thing, WS may be ideal for you.

If you prefer numbers, head for accountancy NOW, don't look back :-)

Best wishes and good luck :-)