Simone de Beauvoir Institute and Women’s Studies

Note

For the complete list of faculty members, please consult the Department website.

Objectives

The Institute strives to stimulate the investigation and understanding of the role of women in society and to encourage women to develop their creative potential. In research and teaching, special attention is given to gender, race, class, and sexual orientation. The Institute has several objectives: to investigate the history, current situation, and changing needs of women; to generate support for research topics relevant to women; to encourage full recognition of women’s contribution to human achievement; to ensure that women and gender issues are studied in a non-discriminatory manner; to strengthen women’s rights and the conditions for exercising them; to ensure the equality of all individuals without distinction of race, sex, age, language, or religion.

Women’s Studies encompass and modify all areas of knowledge. Through the introduction of new perspectives and new research, this field of study helps to correct and complete the traditional scholarly record. It is in essence interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary since the specificity of the condition of women embraces all existing disciplines. It thus questions the concept and structures of knowledge contained within the disciplinary boundaries and contributes to bringing about a reunification of the knowledge and scholarship that has become increasingly fragmented.

Simone de Beauvoir Institute

Founded in 1978 to promote the understanding of the historical and contemporary situation of women in society, the Simone de Beauvoir Institute of Concordia University helps women to discover and develop their potential, both by its academic base in Women’s Studies and by its co-curricular activities. We are honoured that Simone de Beauvoir authorized us to use her name, and expressed great interest in being informed of our activities.

All students registered in the Specialization in Women’s Studies, Major in Women’s Studies, Minor in Women’s Studies, or Certificate in Women’s Studies or the Major in Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality or Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality are members of the Institute. Other undergraduate students are welcome to become members if they undertake to complete nine credits of WSDB or SSDB courses.

The co-curricular life of the Institute is extremely important, and all members are expected to contribute to our activities. Exciting opportunities are available to organize workshops, colloquia, and debates on subjects that interest the members, as well as to collaborate with women’s organizations outside the University on research projects and other joint ventures.

Admission Requirements for the Simone de Beauvoir Institute

Students may apply simultaneously to Concordia University and the Simone de Beauvoir Institute by filling out and submitting the Concordia University Application for Admission with the box for “Colleges” checked and “Simone de Beauvoir Institute” written in the space provided. Further information about the Institute can be obtained by calling or visiting its offices or website at concordia.ca/artsci/sdbi.