Women's studies classes and their influence on student development

It has been asserted that women's studies classes profoundly influence the students who take them (e.g., Musil, 1992a). This paper reviews the literature on the changes that take place in students as a result of these classes, including changes in self-expression, sense of commitment and responsibility, critical thinking, empowerment, and acknowledgment of diversity. Students have been found to become more liberal in their attitudes toward women, and their feminist identity, job motivation, job certainty, and self-esteem to increase, after taking a women's studies class. The psychological literature reveals a lack of exploration of students' identity development in relation to women's studies. Finally, methodological concerns are discussed, and directions for future research are presented.