Violet Pandya is majoring in Gender & Women’s Studies and Sociology and is Honors in the Liberal Arts.
- Why did you choose GWS?
I chose GWS because I have always been passionate about feminism and intersectionality and I want to explore and implement those frameworks for the rest of my life! Our department is so incredible because it’s applicable to just about any subject, and it’s super liberating to be studying a topic that has so many real-world implications. - Has GWS changed your approach to your involvement (on or off campus) during college? If so, how?
GWS has definitely changed my approach to my involvement during college. UW-Madison has such a wide range of ways to build community, and being in GWS has encouraged me to seek out relationships that reinforce and deepen the ideas I explore in class. Participating in clubs that are actively engaged in activism pertaining to feminist issues like Sex Out Loud, Planned Parenthood Generation Action, and ReWearIt has made my campus experience even better! - How has GWS shaped your future plans?
I credit most of my future plans to all of the wonderful GWS courses I’ve taken! GWS 660 in particular led me to intern at the Office of the Gender & Women’s Studies Librarian inside of Memorial Library. From there I was able to build connections and now I am also an editorial intern at Ms. Magazine. Being able to learn from GWS professors and professionals helped me gain the skills to get these positions, and I can’t wait to see what my future holds in GWS!