By Nachalie Rodriguez and Briana Sweeney

New Jersey City University is now offering a new major. The Women’s and Gender Studies Major has been in progress for a number of years and it finally became available this Fall of 2011. Sarah Shrader, 32, education and history major from Union City said, “More people should learn about women’s studies because it is a good major.”

Before the program was made into a major it was a minor and had been an interdisciplinary program for 37 years. Both women and men had been requesting this minor to become a major, program officials said.

Students’ voicing their opinions always helps, but we must also thank Dr. Liza Fiol-Matta and Dr. Catherine Raissiguier with the help of V.P. Jo Bruno and Dean Barbara Feldman for making this possible. “I don’t mind it. I think it will allow people to see different point of view on human sexuality,” said Darryl Brown, 19, criminal justice from Jersey City.

This new major is a great way to explore the roles women have taken then and now, and also learn how race, religion and sexuality can be viewed differently throughout time periods.

Some students remain skeptical about the new major. Julio Gomez, 20, math major from Newark said, “I believe that women and gender studies is a very good major, however, it may be too broad of a major,” he continued to explain, “it makes me question what kind of job someone can get with that.”

This is a great opportunity to explore the importance of woman’s qualities and character throughout the world. You won’t know if this major is for you unless you register for a class. This may be your newly found passion.