The Undergraduate Study Program “Gender Studies”, the first undergraduate program in the field of gender studies in Greece, has as its immediate objective the provision of a solid foundation of knowledge in this academic field, drawing on the teaching staff’s many years of experience in teaching and research on gender issues. Gender Studies seeks to respond to the new social, cultural, and economic conditions that have emerged in the contemporary world and that require analysis, intervention, and knowledge regarding gender relations, gender inequalities, and representations, both in the present and in the past, as well as in different geographical contexts. The increasing intensity of human mobility makes it essential to understand the cultural characteristics of different social groups. The study and transmission, through the educational process, of knowledge concerning gender differences and the economic, social, and cultural factors that shape them—and that affect social relations—are important for a democratic and equal society. In addition, it is necessary to develop a trained and qualified workforce that is sensitive to gender issues and able to propose policies and implement practices aimed at addressing economic and social inequalities, to ensure equal access to well-being for all members of society.

The program seeks to provide its graduates with the necessary knowledge to secure new professional opportunities in fields related to rights, health, combating violence, and equal access to technology.

Graduates of the “Gender Studies” undergraduate program can work:

• in the public sector as social scientists specializing in gender relations and gender inequality,
• in the private sector in the fields of human resources and relationship management,
• in corporate consulting organizations on issues of gender relations and gender inequality,
• in international organizations dealing with social justice and respect for the principles of equality and non-discrimination,
• in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) specializing in gender and equality issues,
• in programs concerning the family, domestic violence, and gender inequality,
• in cultural industries and institutions such as cultural centers, museums, and archives,
• in cutting-edge technology companies (e.g. in artificial intelligence) to help prevent bias and the reproduction of gender stereotypes,
• in the health sector, contributing to the documentation and prevention of gender-based health inequalities.

Profile of the Undergraduate Program “Gender Studies”

Subject: The study of human action through the scientific tools of gender, gender relations, and gender representations.

Approach: An interdisciplinary and cross-thematic approach that combines theoretical, methodological, and applied perspectives in order to provide broad, specialized, practical, and theoretical knowledge in the field of Gender Studies, as well as the necessary expertise and skills development to address social and cultural inequalities in institutions, public and social services, the labor market, the family, health, and technology.

Purpose: To provide a solid foundation of knowledge so that students can:

• recognize the ways in which gender inequality is formed,
• apply practical tools and techniques for the elimination of discrimination,
• develop a systematic way of thinking and addressing complex problems, as well as skills that will enable them to connect theoretical knowledge with professional practice.