Gender Studies Programs
Program Overview
Gender Studies is a multi-disciplinary field that bridges many academic disciplines, including history, sociology, ethnic studies, political science, literature, and global studies. It challenges the traditional understanding of gender as a fixed and binary category and instead recognizes it as a fluid and dynamic concept that is shaped by various social, cultural, and historical forces. Through an intersectional lens, Gender Studies critically examines how gender operates in various contexts and how it intersects with other forms of power and privilege to shape individuals' experiences and social structures. It also seeks to promote social justice and equality by dismantling systems of oppression and promoting diverse and inclusive perspectives on gender and identity.
Gender Studies majors have a diverse range of career opportunities available to them, including positions in government, academia, consulting, journalism, business, and more. Previous Alumni of the Gender Studies Program have secured positions and acceptances to the following firms/programs:
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Excalibur Investment Banking: Analyst
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Stanford Humanities Institute Summer Program
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Columbia Science Dual Honors Program
These examples highlight the wide range of options that Eureka students have upon completion, allowing them to explore various industries and pursue careers in fields they are passionate about.
Eureka Alumni from this program have received admission offers to Princeton University, Yale University, Columbia University, Brown University, University of Chicago, and other top US universities.
Alumni from this program have gone off to pursue majors in Financial Economics, Computer Science, Political Science, and Applied Mathematics.
Many students from this program are also very engaged in their communities, sharing in volunteering activities and starting non-profit organizations to help the community. During COVID-19, several students have started organizations to help obtain and distribute health supplies. Many alumni from this program have received top awards like Scholastic Art & Writing National Awards, S.T. Yau High School Science Awards, U.S. Presidential Scholars Awards, and many others.
The below sections will provide more insight into the students that have attended this program and share their experiences and successes.
College Admission Results
Research Samples
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Source: china.org.cn
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Source: NPR
Through an analysis of public opinion, litigation, and court judgments related to surrogacy in China, students have raised the following questions: To what extent do China's attitudes toward surrogacy match its litigation and court rulings? Students hope to provide insights into the surrogacy market in China and the responses of different participants in the surrogacy process. The student collected a wealth of information through two avenues: 1) in-depth analysis of surrogacy topics discussed on social media, parenting social platforms, and mainstream media using keywords; and 2) understanding the industry's insider information and government policies through specific legal disputes and court judgments. This alumnus also serves as the Vice President of the school's student council, founder of the school's Mock Trial Society, and the Shanghai Open Group Champion of the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA). The CTB Innovation Project third prize winner was about finding forgotten outstanding women, which also revolves around women's research topics. It can be said that her attention to women's rights is a bright and unique landscape in her background and storyline.
Surrogacy in China
Do you remember the internet event in 2021 that caused a stir, the "Zheng Shuang surrogacy dispute"? Surrogacy and the policy of freezing eggs have been continuously discussed in China due to their social and cultural implications. Commercial surrogacy has been viewed as unethical and criticized in Chinese culture. Therefore, many people would rather see it banned in China. At the same time, having multiple children and passing on the family bloodline is also highly valued in Chinese society and culture. These two cultural traditions, combined with the implementation and gradual abolition of China's one-child policy in the 21st century, have led to a dilemma for modern Chinese parents. More and more couples feel a moral obligation to have more children after the one-child policy was lifted, but they are too old to conceive naturally. As China's regulations on commercial surrogacy remain unclear, more and more couples have turned to surrogacy over the past decade, and surrogacy is currently in a gray market. In an unregulated market, moral and legal issues have arisen.
Adoption Policy in America
Cornell University alumnus wrote "Another Broken System: Adoption System". Do you remember the petite girl with a "Chinese face" and black-framed glasses who stood on the podium at the US gymnastics championships? Agile, flexible, and nimble, her routine was as smooth as flowing clouds, impressive to all who watched. While she was a pleasing sight on the field, off the field, she was also the focus of media attention due to her unique background. People were curious: "How did an abandoned baby from China become a champion member of the US women's gymnastics team?" She was abandoned by her parents shortly after birth and became an orphan in the orphanage. Fortunately, when she was two years old, she was adopted by a family in Delaware, USA. Her mother, Sheryl, loved her Chinese daughter very much, which led to a very happy and dreamy childhood. However, perhaps due to being abandoned at a young age, Morgan was left with psychological trauma, making her introverted and withdrawn at times.
Source: The CantonRep
Source: Newsweek
As it turns out, like many other American institutions, the adoption system has deep-seated gender and race issues that can have negative effects on children's lives. In which areas is it advantageous to one race over another? What challenges will parents and children face in cross-racial adoption? What is the public's reaction when parents and children are of different races, and will it be different depending on the gender of the adopted child? The students decided to choose the "Adoption System", a topic that is quite topical in the West. It can be traced back to the aftermath of World War I, when the large number of orphans created a wave of adoption in American society, and related systems began to be established and have been continuously optimized since then. However, there are still some unreasonable aspects that lead to conflicts between adopted children and families. It can be said that this is a research topic that combines academic value and social influence.