Centre for Women's Studies

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The Centre for Women's Studies at York (CWS) is among the most well-established bases for feminist and gender-oriented teaching and research, both in the UK and internationally. Drawing on social science and arts-based methods, we explore and critique gendered ways of knowing. We adopt an inclusive, intersectional, transnational and interdisciplinary approach to the changing nature of women's experiences, gender relations and identities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E56yT-zSNZI

CWS is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Founded in 1984, it has become a leading centre for interdisciplinary, transnational and intersectional women's and gender studies. Look out for events across the year to mark this milestone.

Study with us‌

Postgraduate taught

MA in Women's Studies

MA in Women's Studies (Humanities)

MA in Women's and Gender Studies (GEMMA) (year two transfer-in only)

MA in Women, Violence and Conflict

Postgraduate Diploma and Certificate courses

Research

MPhil and PhD Women's Studies

MA in Women's Studies (by Research)

Our research students

Find out more about Women's Studies Now!

Find out more about CWS Student Wellbeing and Support

Sisterhood in Action

Watch CWS's Inaugural Annual Lecture with Avtar Brah

Events

Wed

May

Academic Publishing

Editor of the Journal of Gender Studies and CWS Director Dr Rachel Alsop will deliver a workshop on how to get started with submitting your work to academic journals for potential publication.

Mon

Jun

Imagining the future of feminism in the academy

The Centre for Women’s Studies (CWS) at the University of York is one of the oldest centres for women’s and gender studies and feminist research in the UK. The Symposium is an opportunity to reflect on women’s and gender studies’ radical past and imagine the future of feminism at UoY and in the academy. The symposium also marks the launch of the Gender Hub, an initiative to bring together the wealth of expertise within the University on gender research, teaching, policy and practice.

Wed

Jun

Researching gender-based violence: experiences, challenges and ethics

Professor Alison Phipps and myself will be running a workshop on the ethics of researching gender-based violence.

News

CWS PhD student writes in The Conversation on Playboy and Halloween

Posted on Thursday 26 October 2023

Congratulations to PhD student Daisy McManaman who has an article published in The Conversation looking at how the Playboy costume has become a popular Halloween costume.

Remembering Dr Jo Woodiwiss, CWS Graduate

Posted on Wednesday 4 October 2023

The Centre for Women's Studies is very sad to hear of the recent death of Dr Jo Woodiwiss, a graduate and friend of CWS.

New issue of Centre for Women's Studies Journal, Cultivate

Posted on Monday 25 September 2023

We are delighted to share the latest issue of Cultivate: The Feminist Journal of the Centre for Women's Studies (CWS). 'Issue 5: The Creative Issue' puts our usual peer-reviewed article process aside and instead spotlights creative work.

More news

What our students say

"Make the most of your time at this great centre - the more you put in the more you'll get out of it (and the sky's the limit for that)!" - Lotika (former PhD student)

Read more students' experiences at the CWS.