Exterior at night

The Center at night

Side Entrance

The entrance of the CSGS

Heather Love audience

The audience listens as Lauren Berlant introduces Heather Love in 2014

Class discussion

Students participate in a classroom discussion at the Center

Héctor Carrillo

Héctor Carrillo talks with students after his book talk in 2018

Joan Scott

Joan Scott speaking at the Center in 2017

panel

Students listen to panelists present in 2017

Community room

The Community Room at 5733 S University

center door

Center entrance

5733 exterior

The exterior of 5733 S University

Bhanu Kapil

Poet Bhanu Kapil at the Center in 2016

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, 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, 2010-2016; Lucy Pick, Divinity, 2016-2017; and Kristen Schilt, Sociology, 2017-2023.

In 2016, the Center celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a series of special events, lectures, and a symposium.