WRT 200 (Schoettler)

Gender Issues topics are often interdisciplinary, requiring keywords that describe the gender aspect of the topic as well as keywords related to other disciplines (for example, history, politics, literature, etc.). Search databases and the library catalog with the following general words and phrases related to gender issues, and add keywords from other disciplines as relevant. 

Search Tip: Use quotation marks to search two or more words as a phrase, and use an asterisk to search for all words with a common root (for example, femini* will find articles containing the words feminist, feminine and femininity).

Please note that while some of these terms may be outdated, many are still used in online databases and in library catalog subject headings.

• gender relations, male-female relationships, gender roles, sex roles
• women, femininity, older women, married women
• men, masculinity, older men, husbands
• lesbians, bisexual women, gay men, sexual minorities
• gender identity, gender differences, sex differences, genderqueer, cisgender, trans*, non-binary, gender-fluid

Other search strategies to use:

• Combine keywords from multiple disciplines: "gender roles" and "histor*" (history, historical)

• Use specific personal, corporate or geographical names, events, movements or official texts as part of your search: Andrea Dworkin, United States, "Third Wave feminism," Title IX, etc.

Research Ideas

Youth & Families

Employment & Workplace

Safe & Consensual Sex

Femininities & Feminism 

Masculinities