Martino Mangano is double-majoring in Gender & Women’s Studies and Linguistics. He is also getting a certificate in LGBTQ+ Studies. Martino will graduate in spring 2024.
1. Why did you choose GWS & LGBTQ+ Studies?
When I was initially trying to figure out what I wanted to study, I knew I wanted to do something in the social sciences. I’ve always loved courses like history, psychology, and sociology, courses that talk about who people are and why they matter. One reason I chose GWS/LGBTQ+ Studies specifically was that as a queer and trans person myself, who was and is still trying to understand the complexity of those words and identities, I wanted to find answers to what being queer and trans is, what it has meant, and what it might mean in the future. Another reason was because of the values that I inherited from my family, having parents that work in the service industry and who have strong beliefs in social justice and equality. They taught me the importance of using my abilities to create a better world and to make a positive impact on the lives of others. I believe that GWS/LGBTQ+ Studies’ mission is to get people to care about and see the value in others and to be inspired to change the world for the better; because I’m passionate about those things, I chose GWS/LGBTQ+ Studies.
2. Has GWS & LGBTQ+ Studies changed your approach to your involvement (on or off campus) during college? If so, how?
I think that GWS/LGBTQ+ has shaped my values in how I approach what opportunities I dedicate my time to pursuing. I love being involved in groups/organizations whose goals are to advocate for the most marginalized and use GWS/LGBTQ+ Studies in their daily work, such as the Office of the Gender and Women’s Studies Librarian, the Trans CARE Collaborative, and the Associated Students of Madison (ASM) Equity and Inclusion Open Committee. I love being in places where I’m not working under strict, hierarchical, and capitalist structures; this can’t be helped 100% of the time, and where I have had to work under those conditions, I’ve tried my best to make a positive impact daily on the communities I’ve served.
3. How has GWS & LGBTQ+ Studies shaped your future plans?
Right now, I’m in the process of applying to grad school in programs in Linguistics, GWS/LGBTQ+ Studies, Anthropology, and English. Even if I don’t end up pursuing GWS/LGBTQ+ Studies as my primary area of research, I’m hoping to involve it as a secondary specialty. My current research goals are to study the intersections of the fields of linguistics and trans studies, a.k.a. trans linguistics, which is a newer field with many unasked and unanswered questions. Lots of great programs across the country are doing amazing work that works towards the broader goal of advocating for people who are living in a very precarious moment, and I’m hoping to use what I’ve learned in GWS/LGBTQ+ Studies to contribute to a better and brighter future for all of us.