Centre for Women's Studies
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.
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.
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Watch CWS's Inaugural Annual Lecture with Avtar Brah
Events
News
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Violent Concepts: Feminists Grappling with Violence, Knowledge and Practice – an interdisciplinary round table discussion.
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.
UK gender studies community reaffirms trans inclusion in response to Supreme Court judgment
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.
The Cultivate student-led Journal in CWS celebrates International Women's Day
Posted on Monday 10 March 2025
As part of York's International Women's Week programme, a group of the Cultivate team hosted a creative writing workshop in the city.
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.