This summer, students in the WGSS degree program at the Ohio Reformatory for Women took Psychology of Gender with Dr. Elizabeth Weiss. The course covers challenging and complex topics like the nature of gender, the roles of biology and culture in shaping gender, and how gender impacts our life experiences. This was an upper-level course, and the students really rose to the challenge! They analyzed scientific articles, read text chapters, and heard about the lived experiences of gender diverse people. They tackled big issues like the intersection between gender and health, how gender is determined in Olympic sports, and the role of gender in the experience of addiction and recovery.
One of the highlights of the course was the mock podcast project, in which student pairs responded to a fictional “listener question” as though they were hosts of their own podcast. They did a fabulous job of gathering and synthesizing information and presenting research-based information in a way that was accessible to people with limited background in the scientific study of gender. The mock podcasts also gave students an opportunity to showcase their creativity, with groups creating logos, jingles, fictional sponsors, and even merchandise! The students really enjoyed the course and reported that it was among their favorite classes that they’ve taken so far.
