Students at a computer

UChicago students

UChicago campus

The University of Chicago campus in spring

Students in class

UChicago classroom discussion

Students study in the Quads.

Students study in the Quads.

College students present to a local community group.

College students present to a local community group.

The Joe and Rika Mansueto Library provides a study space on campus.

The Joe and Rika Mansueto Library provides a study space on campus.

Professor Martha Nussbaum holds a seminar in her home.

Professor Martha Nussbaum holds a seminar in her home.

Students gather at an Office of Multicultural Student Affairs event.

Students gather at an Office of Multicultural Student Affairs event.

History

In 1996 a group of faculty and students founded a center to consolidate teaching and research on women, gender, and sexuality at the University of Chicago. The Center for Gender Studies, as it was originally named, has from that time concentrated on applying critical thought to the conceptual categories of women, gender, and sexuality. Because these categories cross so many existing academic disciplines, the founders creatively adapted their wide array of disciplinary methods to analyze the world, to examine a priori assumptions, and to discover new knowledge. This interdisciplinary approach led to innovative teaching and research and quickly established the Center, recently renamed the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality (CSGS), as an important resource for faculty, undergraduates, and graduate students.

Center directors have come from a variety of disciplines: Leora Auslander, History, 1996-1999; Lauren Berlant, English, 1999-2002; Rebecca West, Romance Languages, 2002-2005; George Chauncey, History, 2005-2006; Deborah Nelson, English, 2006-2009; Jane Dailey, History, 2009-2010; Linda Zerilli, Political Science, 2010-present.