What's in a name? Reflections on what we call our discipline, and who gets to decide it

Abstract

A doctoral student in a program formerly titled Women's Studies – and who is not quite sure what their program is called anymore – analyzes the name-change process their department recently experienced and reflects on the North American trend of renaming Women's Studies programs: where this trend comes from, where it could lead, and what sort of feminist praxis surrounds the process of moving away from Women's Studies.

Keywords::

• women's studies
• gender studies
• feminist theory
• feminist praxis

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hans Rollmann

Hans Rollmann is currently pursuing a PhD in Women's Studies at York University. His research focuses on gender and representation in the labor movement. His background includes work in archaeology, radio-broadcasting, print journalism, and labor movement activism. He is currently a reporter, columnist, and editor with the Newfoundland-based newspaper, The Independent.