WGS Alumni

How did you decide to major in Women’s and Gender Studies?

When I came to Canada at 17, I wasn't sure what I was looking for. I randomly chose a class in Women’s and Gender Studies and enjoyed it immensely. During this class, I realized that my world could be bigger as a woman. I was also glad to learn about the many women who fought for the rights we enjoy today, which made me cherish my current life even more. This inspired me to learn more about women's and LGBTQ rights so that the next generation can enjoy the life we create today.

What is something you loved being part of during your time in the WGS department? 

I loved the people in the WGS department. As an international student, I was often the only Asian face in my class, but I never felt isolated. My classmates were inclusive and kind, and the professors were always helpful.

What are you up to now? How did a major in WGS prepare you for life after graduation? 

I am now a business owner and have founded a company named Unique Bunny. I noticed a gap in North America's beauty market for authentic Asian products that celebrate the continent's rich culture, so I start this business offer Asian beauty and lifestyle products. 
 
At Unique Bunny, we hire women and people from LGBTQ groups to provide more opportunities for them.  

My WGS major equipped me with a unique perspective and critical thinking skills that aid in decision-making and handling life and business events. 

My background in WGS has influenced how I promote and market my business, focusing on each person's uniqueness and choosing to support LGBTQ influencers. The feedback from society has been overwhelmingly positive, and many people support my business because of these values.

What advice do you have for students thinking of majoring in Women’s and Gender Studies? 

You will not regret majoring in Women’s and Gender Studies. It will change how you view life. My favorite quote to this day is Judith Butler's "gender is performative." As an individual, you will feel free mentally. You will become so strong and powerful! All the anxiety you had because you are a woman or from the LGBTQ group will be gone. You will realize that after you break free from the social norms and judgments that society imposes, you are invincible. You are uniquely you.

What’s next for you? 

I am planning to open another store in Edmonton in July. This expansion is a significant step for Unique Bunny to expand outside of Manitoba.  

Looking ahead, over the next five years, I plan to open more stores across Canada. This growth is not just about expanding our business footprint, but also about providing more opportunities for women and LGBTQ members within our communities. By creating an inclusive work environment and promoting diversity, we aim to empower these groups and contribute positively to society. 
 
We women can do anything we wanted to do.

How did you decide to major in Women’s and Gender Studies? 

I was studying in a different program at another university and was jealous of the people I knew that studied WGS at U of W. They shared articles from their classes with me to read and have discussions and I thought “wow, I wish this is what I was studying.” I previously had a science and design background and the thing that stood out to me most about WGS was its significant relevance to current-day social issues and their underlying systems and histories. I later realized I could indeed switch programs, and so I did. 

What is something you loved being part of during your time in the WGS department? 

I loved being a research assistant for Dr. Pauline Greenhill and publishing a journal article from my work in this role – this experience was significant for building skills that helped me later on in my academic journey. 

What are you up to now? How did a major in WGS prepare you for life after graduation? 

I completed a law degree (Juris Doctor) after my BA, and majoring in WGS helped me have a holistic understanding of many complex systems that affect our society, how they are interconnected, and how the law can improve upon or exacerbate such issues. WGS is hugely interdisciplinary so there are countless ways that what I learned during my degree has helped me succeed after graduation. As someone who hopes to be an advocate in their career, having WGS as my foundation of post-secondary education has proven helpful when addressing concerns relating to systemic oppression and intersectionality. 

What advice do you have for students thinking of majoring in Women’s and Gender Studies? 

There are a lot of things you can do after graduation with a WGS degree. My advice while you are still in school is to get out of the classroom – join a student group, a feminist organization, try to do research for one of your favourite professors, be a teaching assistant…etc. This will give you a more well-rounded experience and potentially provide some inspiration for what you would like to do with your degree after graduation. 

What’s next for you? 

I’m completing my requirements to get called to the Bar this year, and then we will see from there! 

How did you decide to major/minor in Women’s and Gender Studies? 

I took the Intro class in my first year of undergrad with Dr. Krista Johnston and really fell in love with the kind of thinking I got to do. I was so fascinated by learning about the systems operating around me and seeing the world through this expanded lens.

I remember feeling very lucky to be learning from my professors, and excited by being exposed to feminist, queer, and critical race theory. I really looked forward to my classes and so majoring in WGS, and eventually choosing the honours program was an obvious choice for me. 

What is something you loved being part of during your time in the WGS department? 

I felt like throughout my time in the department I was lucky to be in so many generative and positive learning environments. I'm particularly thinking about the colloquium, which was such a supportive environment to try out presenting your work. I really enjoyed hearing about what other classmates had been working on throughout the year. 

What are you up to now? How did a major/minor in WGS prepare you for life after graduation? 

I am about to be called to the bar, so soon I will officially be a practicing lawyer. I feel that WGS prepared me extremely well for law school in helping me develop high level critical thinking and written communication skills. It also shaped the way I think about art and other cultural texts, see the picture of me on my way to the Renaissance tour, engaging in praxis, for example :) 

Amanda Gelfant BA, LL.B., MES graduated from the University of Winnipeg in 2007. She is a lawyer, entrepreneur and writer. After graduating from UW, she went to law school (University of Manitoba, University of Leicester), and then completed a master’s degree in environmental studies at York University.

Currently, Amanda is as an Independent Cleantech Consultant. She works with start-ups and venture capitalists to promote the cleantech transition. Feel free to reach out on LinkedIn!  

How did you decide to major/minor in Women’s and Gender Studies?

I minored in WGS by happenstance. Initially, I was working on a degree in political science. As I began to deconstruct political systems, institutions, and geopolitics, I realized I needed an additional lens to fully understand the systems around me. The WGS program offered an opportunity to examine complex theories/institutions and realities related to institutional oppression, privilege, justice, environmentalism, and our role in civil society.

What is something you loved being part of during your time in the WGS department?    

Two unexpected but wonderful things happened while I was studying WGS. The first was mentorship from professors. I always felt I had the space to challenge and pursue thoughtfulness with professors in a space without judgment. I was introduced to concepts, books, and academic styles that changed my worldview and how I pursued my studies and, eventually, my career. The second was community. I made friendships with people that lasted a lifetime.

What are you up to now? How did a major/minor in WGS prepare you for life after graduation? 

One of the most important lessons I learned from my WGS program is how to sit with complexity. The courses and curriculum were intellectually challenging, but the course content was never binary, nor were the conclusions. We were taught to deconstruct, examine, and challenge boundaries. We were taught to understand more than one thing can be true and to hold multiple truths and narratives simultaneously. This approach was constructive in shaping how I have worked throughout my career beyond academia. I have used the practice of complexity throughout my legal career, as well as my environmental consulting and entrepreneur pursuits and my personal life.

What advice do you have for students thinking of majoring in Women’s and Gender Studies? 

I would advise potential WGS students to join the program with an open mind. When I entered the program, I had some preconceived perceptions about what WGS was and could offer. After connecting and learning from professors and the community, I was able to open my mind to concepts and realities I didn’t initially fathom.

What’s next for you?

I have been working in the cleantech space for a long time. I work with environmental technology start-ups and venture capitalists dedicated to fostering the energy transition. My academic and professional pursuits have spanned work with utilities, non-profits, and public and private institutions.

Lately, I have been working on promoting environmental innovation in Canada and writing about how Canada fosters cleantech advancements. I have also been focusing on the benefits of novel technology to Canadians and the ways to promote under-funded innovation. For example, Canadian cleantech funding has trended toward software over hardware in the past decade. Hardware innovation in technologies like microgrids and battery storage has a more prominent place to play in the Canadian energy transition. 

Recently, I have been writing a lot. I've started taking creative writing courses in Toronto and started a new Substack blog. The blog focuses on the intersection of environmentalism, technology, and politics. I'm having fun exploring new themes to write about and I am excited to see where it takes me.  

How did you decide to major/minor in Women’s and Gender Studies?

I had decided to major in Women’s and Gender Studies while in grade 12 when I first began to identify as a feminist. This is when I first became aware of the gender wage gap, and then the Montreal massacre occurred, brutally killing women at Ecole Polytechnique. 

I was shook to my core and angry at the injustice, recognizing that this was indicative of a much larger patriarchal, anti-woman sentiment. I knew I needed to work for equality and human rights, and that Women’s and Gender Studies would be an important tool in that fight for justice. 

What is something you loved being part of during your time in the WGS department?

I loved finding my voice, and knowing that by raising it I could make a difference. I really connected to the Margaret Mead quote: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed it is the only thing that ever has. 

What are you up to now? How did a major/minor in WGS prepare you for life after graduation?

I am a lawyer and currently working as a Human Rights Representative with the Canadian Union of Public Employees. This degree gave me critical thinking skills that have helped me to continue learning and operating from an intersectional perspective. 

What advice do you have for students thinking of majoring in Women’s and Gender Studies? 

Do it! It is a great experience that will not only educate you but also challenge you and equip you for change in the future. 

What’s next for you?

Retirement!  LOL – I am tired and looking forward to exploring the world, experiencing the stories of women and gender diverse folks from around the world. And I’m sure that I will continue to volunteer my time and be involved with human rights and social justice projects thoughout my life.