Careers by Major - Women & Gender Studies
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- Careers for graduates
- Who employs women & gender studies graduates?
- Skills developed by women & gender studies students
- Sample job postings
- How to get experience
- Alumni profiles
- Resources
Careers for graduates
Women’s Studies graduates have many career path opportunities to choose from. The following list is only a sample of possible career opportunities.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list as there are many other careers available. Many positions require additional education or experience.
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Note: Career profiles for many of the above jobs are available in the Career Centre. Some can be viewed via Career Cruising, a Cdn. electronic career guide available in the Centre.
Who employs women and gender studies graduates?
- Government and Community Organizations
- Universities and Colleges
- Non-profit agencies
- Religious Organizations
- Mental Health Facilities
- Community Centres
- Behavioral Health Clinics
- Residential Care Facilities
- Corporate Human Resources Offices
You can also gain experience by volunteering to participate in a faculty member’s research project. To do so, approach the professor with whom you would like to work or apply for UTM’s Research Opportunity Program (ROP).
Skills developed by women & gender studies majors
Communication skills
- Ability to formulate and defend positions
- Ability to write detailed research papers and summarize concepts and ideas
- Use vocabulary to suit a wide variety of audiences
- Read and understand both primary and secondary sources
- Explain concepts and strategies well enough in research papers to influence and persuade the reader
Research skills
- Evaluate ideas and research
- Gather information and data
- Literature reviews using libraries and internet
- Interpret research and data
Critical thinking/problem solving
- Critical thinking skills
- Ability to analyze and synthesize
- Ability to recognize assumptions and make inferences
- Ability to create research designs
Interpersonal skills
- Tolerance of different people and their views
- Ability to understand difference and discover the intersections between racism, homophobia, sexism, classicism, and other forms of oppression
- Knowledge about power relationships and injustice
- Ability to accept intellectual and personal challenges, take a stand and support it with evidence
- Ability to assess needs
Writing/editing skills:
- Reading and thinking critically; using unfamiliar materials and generating new ideas
- Reading and analyzing a text
- Perform a close reading of the text and provide an analysis of the passage
- Able to argue or defend a position
- Correct usage of grammar
- Able to write clearly
Sample job listings for graudating students/recent graduates
Below is a sample of the types of positions that have recently been posted with the Career Centre for graduating students or recent graduates. To access full-time opportunities (for up to two years after graduation), you must first attend an orientation. Drop by or call us at 905-828-5451 for more information.
- Therapist, Associated Youth Services of Peel
- Consultant, Health Promotion, City of Toronto
- Program Coordinator, Scarborough Arts Council
- National Donor and Alumni Relations, Canadian Crossroads International
- Social Worker, Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care
- Clinical Counsellor, WarrenSheppel
- International Youth Coordinator, Free the Children
- Union Organizer, Unite Here
- Research Assistant, Help the Aged (Canada)
- Human Resources, Dell Canada
- LINC Instructor, Riverdale Immigrant Women’s Centre
- English Editor and Community Manager, Taking It Global
- Women’s & Children’s Safety Program Coordinator, METRAC
- Community Programming Manager, Interval House
How to get experience
Start early. Find volunteer and work opportunities that build upon and incorporate your skills and future career interests. The following is a list of previous postings for various types of temporary work. To access these postings, register with Career Centre Online.
On-campus opportunities: Work-Study program
The Work-Study program provides eligible U of T students with an opportunity to work on campus during the academic year and gain academic/career related experience. Previous postings have included:
- Student Ambassador, UTM Registrar
- Participation Assistant, UTM Accessibility Resource Centre
- LGBTQ Outreach Coordinator, UTM Student Affairs
- Diversity and Leadership Coordinator, UTM Student Affairs
- Team Leader: Sexuality and Relationships, UTM Health and Counselling
Positions are posted online every September. See our website www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers for more info.
Off-campus opportunities: part-time/summer work
- Community Outreach Coordinator, Ontario Public Interest Research Group Toronto
- Compliance Research and Analyst, Ontario Ministry of Labour
- Social Work Assistant, Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton
- Summer Camp Facilitator, Habourfront Centre
- Marketing and Communications Assistant, Downsview Park
- Summer Employment Counsellor, Alternative Youth Centre for Employment
- Forum Assistant, AWID (Association for Women’s Rights in Development)
Research Opportunity Program (ROP) at UTM
Through a part-time placement, students combine theory and practice of what they have learned in Women and Gender Studies courses. Past placements include: Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture, Interval House women’s shelter, Canadian Centre for International Justice, Mood Disorder Clinic, theatre group, Women in Transition Centre, 1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize, among others.
Internships
Many organizations offer internship opportunities to recent graduates in Women and Gender Studies. Below is a short list of suggestions, but there are many more! Consult the Canada Student Employment Guide and other sources in our Career Resource Library.
- Jane Adams Internship, Women’s International League for Peace and Justice
- Young Friends Internship Program, Canadian Friends Service Committee
- Public Relations Representative, The Institute for Leadership Development
- Jeanette Rankin Internship Program, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
- Editorial, Marketing and Web internships, Flare Magazine
- Canadian Museums Association Youth Internships, Canadian Museums Association and a variety of international internships in Women’s issues (e.g. Assistant Programme Officer, Human Rights – Women for Change, Zambia, or Shelter Support Worker, YWCA, Zambia, both via the Victoria International Development Education Association (VIDEA) funded through CIDA’s International Youth Internship Program)
UTM Internship Course in Women and Gender Studies: Women and Gender Studies Practicum (WGS435Y5)
Volunteer Opportunities
Specific Positions advertised via the Career Centre online:
- Court Watch Volunteers, The Woman Abuse Council of Toronto
- Children’s Homework Club Volunteer, Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter
- Adult Day Services Aid, West Toronto Support Services
- Volunteer Team Leader, Autism Society Ontario
- Outreach and Research, Women’s Healthy Environments Network
- Teaching Assistant, Advantage Centres for English
- Go Girl Program, Mentor, City of Brampton Community Services
Organizations which have attended UTM’s Get Experience Fair:
- Associated Youth Services of Peel
- Distress Centre Peel
- Canada World Youth
- Covenant House
- Peel Children’s Aid
- Peel HIV/AIDS Network
- Victims Service of Peel
- Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre of Peel
- Canadian Crossroads International
- Community Living Mississauga
- UTM AccessAbility Resource Centre
Join a school club or organization
Activism, Diversity and Women’s Issues
- UTM Women’s Centre
- Women’s Studies Action Group
- OUT@UTM
- Sexual Education Centre (SEC)
- Breakdown
Policy Work and Politics
- On-Campus (UTMSU, UTSU, EPUS, UTMAC)
- Erindale Young Liberals
- New Democratic Party
- UTM Conservative Youth Association\
Also, make sure you join the U of T Mississauga Historical Society’s Student Club. Visit their website at: http://cssaame.com/hc
Don't forget about U of T Mississauga alumni!
Check out our Alumni Profiles page, to read profiles of UTM alumni who have studied in this area, find out about their career path and how their experiences have affected their career direction.
Learn more
Extern Job Shadowing Program
Extern is a career exploration program that offers you the opportunity to meet with people working in your preferred career area for placements of 1-5 days.
Samples of previous extern placements include: Manage/Family Therapy; Human Resources Manager; Publisher/Editor; Editor/Writer; Lawyer; Public Relations; Archivist; Head Manager of the Public Library; Newsroom Coordinator, Radio Journalism
Interested? Click here to find out more about Extern.
Networking Binder
Speak with professionals, including Women and Gender Studies graduates, willing to talk about their careers and eager to share their experiences and advice.
Professional associations for women & gender studies
Each industry has affiliated associations. There are many benefits of becoming a member of an association, such as stating your affiliation on your resume. In addition to your experiences and the completion of your university degree, a student membership in an association is one way to get an edge in the job market. It also furthers your knowledge of a particular field.
Associations
Women's and Gender Studies et Recherches Féminstes
Associated with York University, membership is available to undergraduate and graduate students as well as community members. All members are able to vote at annual conference, opportunity to present paper at conference, receive newsletter, access additional resources including a membership listing and job postings.
Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW)
CRIAW is a not-for-profit organization that promotes research, which reflects the diverse experiences of women in Canada. Members have access to the online resource centre, information on current and upcoming research projects, and CRIAW’s newsletter. Members also get discounts on publications and conference admissions.
List-servs
PAR-L (Policy, Action, Research List)
This is a bilingual listserv put out by the moderated by the University of New Brunswick to discuss women-centred policy issues in Canada.
WOMENSPACE
Womenspace is a bilingual, Canadian listserv that promotes women’s participation in information and communication technology.
National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA)
NWSA is a professional organization that is willing to provide information to all individuals who are interested in teaching, leading, or researching areas related to Women and Gender Studies.
Resources
Library Resources
Ask a Career Assistant at the Career Centre to direct you to any one of the following resources:
- Career Cruising
Career Information Binders
Government, Social Policy and Research, Law, Social Work, Counseling, Writing, Teaching, Journalism and much more…
Books
- What You Can Do With an Arts Degree by Dave Studd & Philip Schofield
- Great Jobs for Art Majors by Blythe Camenson
- Careers for High-Energy People & Go-Getters
Career Centre Panel Packages
Download these panel packages:
The Career Centre Resource Library is located in DV 3094. For more information please visit us, call 905-828-5451 or e-mail: careers.utm@utoronto.ca
What's your next step? Take a look at our Sample Career Plan to see suggested steps that you can take towards developing your career-work search plan. Check our Events Calendar regularly for upcoming career related events (we offer several networking events and panels throughout the year). Watch for our Get Experience Fair (held annually in September), the Graduate and Professional School Fair (held annually in late September or early October), and the Summer Job Fair (held annually in January).