Our department’s mission is rooted in activism as well as research and education. Gender Studies at IU emphasizes activism in areas of civil rights for marginalized groups including women, those who identify as LGBTQ+, people of color, and lower economic classes.
Our activism and engagement traverses the line between town and gown. Our students are encouraged to work with campus and community organizations like the LGBTQ+ Culture Center, Bloomington PRIDE, and Middle Way House.
It's different here. Bloomington is a small Midwestern city with a downtown square and tree-lined streets. But it’s unique to other towns in Indiana and the Midwest. It’s home to Indiana University, where students and faculty from around the world flock, in large part because of our progressive attitudes.
We accept people for who they are, and more importantly, we help them become who they want to be. We give, support, share, and open our minds and hearts to anyone who joins our community, whether it’s for a day, for several years, or for a lifetime. You’ll find all the typical mid-sized town things to see and do, but you'll also find some distinctly atypical things. You’ll find that it's different here, and we predict that you'll like it, too.
The verdict: Whether you're gay, straight, or somewhere in between, Bloomington offers something rarely found in this country: a small town with a bold history of openness and acceptance.
Out Traveler Magazine
Read on for more info about what makes Bloomington so LGBTQ-friendly, or check out our LGBTQ+ Visitors Guide. You can read it online or request a free copy mailed right to you.
The undergraduate culture of Gender Studies became a place of refuge for me—it was such a wonderful opportunity to find a group of like-minded, activist-driven scholars. Over the past three years, I have traveled all over the world and I have never encountered a place like Bloomington. I love that there is always something going on, there are musical and film festivals, guest speakers and amazing performers always visiting campus. Given the amount of cultural diversity in such a small area, it is easy to forget that we are a small town in Indiana.
Keely Green, 2012 graduate; B.A., History; Minor, Gender Studies
IU and the College of Arts and Sciences offer many opportunities for students interested in studying in another country. You can choose short-term or long-term experiences that allow you to practice another language and explore different cultures.
The College of Arts