The Intersection of Dominican Values and Women’s and Gender Studies Pedagogy

Abstract

The missions of Women’s and Gender Studies programs coincide directly with Dominican values in their commitments to fostering compassion and justice. Just as Dominican clergy during the civil rights movement challenged false notions of biological, cultural, and social difference that contributed to racist practices, Dominican educators today challenge stereotypes of gender that contribute to inequities, violence, and oppression in some of the same ways that Women’s and Gender Studies programs do. Though many points of intersection exist among the values of Dominican and Women’s and Gender Studies educational programs, four principles are most distinct among their shared goals: a respect for multiple truths, a concern for the Other, an emphasis on building inclusive learning communities, and a commitment to providing a socially useful curriculum.