Lilly
What kind of careers will be available to me with a degree in Gender & Sexuality studies?
I'm passionate about my intended major and would love to devote my life to activism and fighting for what's right. What kind of careers will my degree be good for? #majors #careers
2 answers
Meghan Thrasher
Meghan’s Answer
This would be useful as a teacher or daycare worker. You see first hand how children at all ages accept and adapt to the social standards of gender and sexuality. You also get a chance to use the powerful knowledge and skills from your studies in gender and sexuality to make an impact on a day to day basis.
You could use this in a non-profit outreach field where you work with teens, LGBTQ community and more. You can really exercise your studies in real practice by counseling with people who need the perspective of someone that has studied gender and sexuality. You have the chance to help them embrace their gender and sexuality in a way that is comfortable for them.
You could also use this study in marriage counseling. Your knowledge in this field could prove to be very useful in a marriage counseling setting. Helping couples to express their gender and sexuality while also embracing what is expressed by one another could have a huge impact on their marriage. You would need this knowledge and these skills to be able to help guide them through this process.
You could even use this as a sex therapist. I had a psychology professor in college who was finishing her graduate thesis to become a sex therapist. The knowledge she had and passed on to us was never confined just to sex, it was intertwined with sex, gender, identity, expression, sexuality, and more. This would be a useful undergraduate degree if you decide to pursue sex therapy as a career.
Gender and Sexuality studies does not have to lead into a different career. Your career could be as a professor who teaches the subject and continues to study gender and sexuality. You could travel and study it in differing societies and write up papers or even books on your findings. This information and course of study helps others to better understand themselves and the way in which society shapes gender and sexuality.
As you can see, there are many options when it comes to the field of gender and sexuality. You just have to decide what is most interesting to you. When deciding on the career path for the career consider which career path would give you the most fulfillment and which path will allow you to best use the passion and knowledge you have in the field.
Hope that helps!
Sheryl Gunn
Sheryl’s Answer
Hi Lilly,
There will be SO many options available to you. Social Sciences (Psychology, Social Work, Counseling) are the first area that come to mind. There are also possibilities in the Medical field. My suggestion would be to start thinking about the type of organization you would like to work for, such as Corporate, Non-Profit, Government, Education, or... perhaps thinking about self-employment. You could end up with your own practice, or be a hired consultant for organizations. Perhaps even consider becoming a professional speaker.
Sheryl recommends the following next steps: