Christie is a student from the MSc Applied Gender Studies programme

Tell us a little bit about your background...

I think in some ways I’ve always wanted to study Gender Studies. Even at those times in my life when I didn’t know that such studies existed, it was what I wanted and needed. I grew up in Scotland in the 1990’s, my girlhood being in the period of what has been described as postfeminism, and so for the longest time I had no explicit relationship with feminism. I have been in higher education as a mature student these past few years and during my Public Sociology BSc the modules on queer feminist sociology and gender-based violence I was able to study inspired and energised me.

What drew you towards undertaking this degree?

When looking at potential next steps I was drawn to the Applied Gender Studies (AGS) MSc at Strathclyde because of the mix of gender studies theory and knowledge alongside practical research applications. This blend felt like an academic challenge that would provide me with future career, or study, options and directions but that would also be personally rewarding. The course has been hard work but choosing to apply and having belief in myself was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Tell us about the format of the programme...

I was on the Research Methods route which means my typical week differed from the standard course as I attended modules out with the programme such as Qualitative Research Methods. One of the core AGS modules I took was Understanding Gender, which provided me with knowledge of a range of topics including theories on sex/gender and gender performativity, on reproductive justice, and particularly inspiring for me, an introduction to feminist insights on gender and disability.

Tell us a little bit about your experience on placement...

Something that seems quite unique about the AGS MSc at Strathclyde is the optional Research Placement module which provides the opportunity for hands-on practical experience of research methods from a feminist perspective. I selected this module and joined the Access Equality and Inclusion team at Strathclyde for a project on LGBTQ+ student experiences of higher education. This was a really fantastic experience where I got to put some of my learning into practice and gave me a demonstration of my skills to add to my CV.

What is the academic support at Strathclyde like?

Being on the MSc has greatly improved my academic skills and I have enjoyed fantastic levels of feedback and support from the AGS teaching team. Being at Strathclyde I found the learning environment extended beyond the classroom. I attended events organised by the Strathclyde Feminist Research Network, including a brilliant guest lecture from Angela McRobbie, and I took part in a group session crowdsourcing LGBTQ+ history in the library’s archives of the Strathclyde Students’ Association newspaper.

What advice would you give to someone considering applying for this course?

For any potential future students, if you’re interested in the course but have any uncertainties my advice would be to get in touch. Before I applied, I was unsure whether I would select the Research Methods route and I found the AGS team to be great at responding to my questions and helping outline my options. Also, having had some contact with teaching staff before I started really helped me feel a bit more comfortable and confident. I’d also really recommend trying to attend an open day. I came to an offer holder’s day and I ended up meeting someone else attending the programme and made a great friendship that saw me through the year. I’m a big believer in peer support and I have loved the relationships I have got to build on the MSc. Those days that I spent learning with my classmates, sharing our experiences and perspectives and getting energised and fired up by one another, are some of my fondest memories. Thinking to the future I hope to put my feminist research skills to use in projects concerned with equality rights. My personal research interests this year have focused on disability and gender, on critical disability, crip and neuroqueer, and so I would love to build upon this. I feel the MSc has positioned me well for moving forward, developing both my employability skills and my sense of personal understanding for being in the world.