Achieve gender equality and empower all women
and girls.
Gender Equality Globally
The goal of gender equality extends far past human rights. Ensuring gender
equality worldwide can also decrease poverty rates and expand environmental protection.
Unfortunately, discriminatory laws, lack of representation, and pervasive sexual violence
prevents gender equality worldwide from reaching its full potential. The targets and
indicators for Sustainable Development Goal 5 focus primarily on ensuing equality for
women and girls.
Gender Equality Locally
In Dallas, 60% of minimum wage jobs are held by women.
Because of their disproportionate share of minimum wage jobs, women were also hit harder
by the COVID-19 pandemic in Dallas. Another issue faced by women across the world and in
Dallas specifically is access to childcare. Often times, women perform vital home and
childcare tasks to support their family. The Texas Women’s Foundation has helped 247 families get access to quality childcare in the past three
years. At the University of Texas at Dallas, we recognize it is important to advocate
for not just women, but all marginalized genders in working to achieve Gender Equality.
The following highlights provide an overview of the work we have done to support women
and the LGBTQ+ community on campus.
Highlights
Galerstein Gender Center
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
The Galerstein Gender Center is an on-campus staff office that focuses on advancing
gender and LGBTQ+ equity at UT Dallas. Founded in 1996, the center has been
a leader in expanding services for these marginalized communities. After performing
needs assessments and hosting town halls and community dialogues, the
GGC [Galerstein Gender Center]
expanded beyond advocating for women and has also become the guiding force in advocating
for the LGBTQ+ community. These goals of promoting an inclusive campus environment
are accomplished through SAFE ZONE Ally Trainings, scholarships, policy review, advocacy,
and community education. Since its founding, the Galerstein Gender Center has become a
vital branch under the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement.
Deeds Not Words
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Deeds Not Words is an on-campus student organization and chapter of a Texas-wide
nonprofit focused on bettering the lives of self-identifying women. This past year,
UTD Deeds Not Words was recognized with the Golden Comet Award, the highest award bestowed
upon a student organization at UT Dallas for their work in student advocacy.
In 2020-2021, Deeds led a vital Title IX student campaign to ensure the Sexual Violence
Policy was safe for all survivors. Deeds has also hosted match fundraisers for racial
equity and Trans Lifeline, as well as hosted events to increase education and support
for marginalized communities. In the upcoming year, Deeds plans to increase menstrual
equity and LGBTQ+ advocacy on campus.
SAFEZONE Ally Training
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
SAFE ZONE is a national concept in which safe spaces are identified and marked
with a symbol unique to each campus. By displaying the SAFE ZONE logo on a department
door, office, or desk, Allies show that they value a diverse campus community, are
willing to foster a safe place for others, and are committed to offer support, resources,
and guidance. You can become a SAFE ZONE Ally by attending Ally Training. Ally Training
provides a venue for LGBT+ people, Allies, and participants to express concerns,
ask questions, and learn about issues affecting the LGBT+ campus and surrounding
community. After completion of the training, participants will receive a certificate,
SAFE ZONE logo, resources, and will be equipped with the tools necessary to:
respond appropriately, know resources and/or where to find them, show support and
safeguard the rights of LGBT+ people, examine your own attitudes, behaviors, and
values, and to challenge others to do the same, and appreciate and value the
contributions of LGBT+ people.
Menstrual Equity Working Group
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Created in 2020, the Menstrual Equity Working Group
(MEAG [Menstrual Equity Working Group] )
is a collaboration of staff departments and student leaders on campus. Involvement of
staff offices include the Comet Cupboard, Student Wellness Center, Galerstein Gender Center,
and the Office of Sustainability.
MEAG [Menstrual Equity Working Group]
has coordinated with several student groups, including the Period Project, Deeds Not Words,
and Student Government’s Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Ad-Hoc Committee.
Recently, the Comet Cupboard began distributing menstrual products to students for a
whole cycle. The group has also put together a map of menstrual product distribution
locations on campus, distributed a survey to gain feedback from menstruators on campus,
and advocated for putting trash cans into all men’s bathrooms on campus. Currently,
one can obtain free menstrual products from the Gender Center, the Wellness Center, or
the Comet Cupboard. In the future,
MEAG [Menstrual Equity Working Group]
hopes to have a dedicated budge for free menstrual products on campus.
UT Dallas Women Employee Resource Group
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The UT Dallas Women Employee Resource Group works to facilitate an environment
of advocacy and belonging where women employees can flourish while advancing the mission
of UTD. Membership in the UT Dallas Women
ERG [Employee Resource Group]
is available to all UT Dallas employees. The mission of the UT Dallas Women
ERG [Employee Resource Group]
is to:
- Develop awareness of contributions of women to UTD
- Provide and support programs that contribute to the recruitment, retention,
and advancement of women at UTD
- Serve as a safe networking and communications channel for women employees of UTD
- Serve as a voice and to advocate for women issues on campus and in the community
Faculty Support for Gender Equality
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Gender Studies classes are offered to UT Dallas students under the School
of Interdisciplinary Studies. Over 30 Gender Studies Faculty teach courses for
this program.
Dr. Anne Gray Fischer, Assistant Professor of History
Dr. Anne Gray Fischer, an Assistant Professor of History, teaches courses such
as Gender, Sex, and the State and conducts research at the intersection of gender,
race, and law enforcement.
Read more from Dr. Fischer’s UT Dallas Profile.
Dr. Denise Paquette Boots, Professor of Public Policy and
Political Economy
Dr. Denise Paquette Boots, a Professor of Public Policy and Political Economy,
focuses her research on interpersonal violence.
Read more from Dr. Boots’ UT Dallas Profile.
Goals / Future Work
- Continue partnerships for menstrual equity on campus
- Expand programming and support for LGBTQ+ students
- Affirm pronoun usage for all community members
Other Work We Do
The programs highlighted here are just one piece of the work we do on campus
to achieve gender equality.
View the full dataset (PDF [Portable Document Format File] ),
guided by the Association of Advancement in Higher Education
(AASHEAssociation of Advancement in Higher Education)’s
Sustainable Development Goal translation guide.
Learn More
- Take the online courses regarding Gender Equality from SDG Academy
- Learn more about the targets and indicators at the UN Global Goals website
Menu
Search
Contact Us
