Exploring the Emerging Trend of Gender Inclusivity in Women's Centers: A Community Based Research Project and Evaluation of UVM's Women's Center
Conference Year
January 2019
Abstract
Currently, an emerging trend exists in university women’s centers to reconsider their missions and move toward greater gender inclusivity. The University of Vermont (UVM) Women’s Center identified the need to have a third party assist in evaluating their services and programming as they consider refining their identity, mission, and vision, which serves as the rationale for this project. The aim of this project is to gather data on public knowledge, perceived accessibility, and effectiveness of (a) the Women’s Center, in general, and (b) victim advocacy, in particular. This study was conducted with 164 participants affiliated with the University of Vermont (i.e., students, faculty, staff, and recent alumni). Both strengths and areas of improvement were identified in several areas, including general knowledge and perceptions, location and physical space, programming and resources, barriers to utilizing, perceived accessibility and inclusivity, gender equity on campus, and the name of the Women’s Center. Research and practice implications are provided as a result from this study.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Nicole Conroy
Faculty/Staff Collaborators
UVM Women's Center
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Education and Social Services
Program/Major
Human Development and Family Studies
Primary Research Category
Social Sciences
Exploring the Emerging Trend of Gender Inclusivity in Women's Centers: A Community Based Research Project and Evaluation of UVM's Women's Center
Currently, an emerging trend exists in university women’s centers to reconsider their missions and move toward greater gender inclusivity. The University of Vermont (UVM) Women’s Center identified the need to have a third party assist in evaluating their services and programming as they consider refining their identity, mission, and vision, which serves as the rationale for this project. The aim of this project is to gather data on public knowledge, perceived accessibility, and effectiveness of (a) the Women’s Center, in general, and (b) victim advocacy, in particular. This study was conducted with 164 participants affiliated with the University of Vermont (i.e., students, faculty, staff, and recent alumni). Both strengths and areas of improvement were identified in several areas, including general knowledge and perceptions, location and physical space, programming and resources, barriers to utilizing, perceived accessibility and inclusivity, gender equity on campus, and the name of the Women’s Center. Research and practice implications are provided as a result from this study.