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.
Founded in 1984, CWS is a leading centre for the study of women and gender. Our interdisciplinary courses are suitable for students with arts, humanities or social science backgrounds.
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Watch CWS's Inaugural Annual Lecture with Avtar Brah
Posted on Monday 7 July 2025
What’s migration got to do with feminism? And what have they got to do with you?
Posted on Friday 16 May 2025
CWS organised this round table discussion involving feminist scholars from CWS, the Department of Politics, the Department of English and Related Literature, and from Newcastle University.
Posted on Friday 2 May 2025
The Centre for Women's Studies joins other UK university centres, research groups and networks in gender/sexuality/feminist/women’s studies to issue a statement about the Supreme Court judgment on the meaning of ’sex’ in the Equality Act 2010.
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.