The feminist anthropology concentration offers graduate students at the University of Iowa a mechanism for achieving broad training in an area of specialization that has grown dramatically in recent years and that both enhances and draws from other theoretical approaches in anthropology.  Any of the courses offered in feminist anthropology may be taken by graduate students in anthropology (or from other departments) who wish to explore particular aspects of the field. Those who complete the full concentration may indicate this achievement of specialized knowledge on their curricula vitae.

Coursework in feminist anthropology emphasizes feminist perspectives, theories, methods, and analytic techniques within the discipline of anthropology. Such coursework improves students’ marketability in academia, both in anthropology and in other fields, especially Women’s and Gender Studies, and also helps to prepare students for careers in applied/public anthropology.     

Feminist anthropology was formerly offered to students within the rubric of a specialized “track” to be completed at the MA level. Courses completed in the old system will count for the concentration. All students have the option of including feminist courses within their training to whatever extent is appropriate for their particular interests.