Bridget Bailey is graduating this spring with a BA in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and a minor in Sociology. While at GSU, Bridget served as co-president of the WGSS undergraduate student organization, Faces of Feminism. In the fall, she'll begin the MA program in Gender Studies at the University College Dublin, Ireland. Read more about Bridget at her experience at GSU in this interview.
Please introduce yourself- name, educational background, year/degree from GSU, area of study/interest in WGSS.
My name is Bridget Bailey. I graduated in the Spring of 2022 with my BA in WGSS with a minor in Sociology. My interests/area of study focused on intersectionality, but specifically class issues.
What has been your most memorable experience in the WGSS dept at GSU?
My most memorable experience in the WGSS department was the camaraderie in general. I felt welcomed to the department immediately. Also, being first contact for Faces of Feminism was exciting (even through covid times.) I enjoyed helping with department projects like the professor search, the community agency panel, and more. The WGSS Department is lovely.
What is something useful you’ll take away from your time in the BA program in WGSS?
Something useful I’ll take away from my time in the BA program in WGSS was probably my mentorship with Dr. Evans through the Humanities Inclusivity Program funded by the Andrew Mellon Foundation. The guidance from Dr. Evans and independent research prepared me for my next steps in academia.
What are your future plans?
This upcoming Fall, I will be heading to Ireland to start my MA program in Gender Studies at the University College Dublin. I hope to continue to my Ph.D. But who knows where life will take me, I didn’t think Ireland was in the plans. So, I’m open to anything.
Any advice for prospective students considering a degree in WGSS?
My advice for prospective students considering a degree in WGSS - DO IT. If you are interested in WGSS, then you probably care about the world around you and care about the people in it. The world needs you. I was told a million times in a million different ways that it was a useless degree. But we need the skills obtained in WGSS for many reasons. All the skills we learn are transferable and interdisciplinary, and there are so many routes you can take after you complete undergrad. Regardless of the things people tell you, you should listen to your gut. I am so happy that I listened to mine.
Tell us more about yourself- interests, hobbies, etc.
A little bit about myself, I’m coming up on my 6th anniversary of being sober from heroin on June 13th. I’m excited to celebrate that. I have been busy finishing undergrad, but I look forward to getting back to reading, writing, embroidery, painting, and other creative ventures.
