From the Winter 2024 Oregon Quarterly—Coinciding with the fiftieth anniversary of the UO Center for the Study of Women in Society, the Winter issue of Oregon Quarterly celebrates women who have overcome gender stereotypes and paved roads of equity for others to travel: the Mighty Women of Mighty Oregon.

At the issue’s heart is a history of the Center for the Study of Women in Society, built on the tenacious work of faculty members who believed that the scholarly exploration of feminism could lead to groundbreaking research and societal change. Their determination was rewarded with fortuitous funding from an unexpected source—the estate of Jane Grant, a journalist and cofounder, with her first husband, Harold Ross, of the New Yorker magazine.

In conjunction with this feature, five recipients of CSWS research grants offer their thoughts on the “mighty women” who inspired them.

The New Yorker connection comes full circle in a Q&A with Tina Brown, the magazine’s legendary editor in chief, once referred to as “Stalin in high heels,” who comes to Eugene for a panel discussion for the CSWS fiftieth anniversary. Brown speaks plainly about the path to equality.

“You just have to win,” she says.

Stories from the issue:

Looking Back on Fifty Years, and Ahead to a Feminist Future. With courage, determination, and a bit of good fortune, a group of University of Oregon scholars created a center to spotlight and confront gender inequality.

Sexism, the New Yorker, and Making It as a Woman Journalist. Author and editor Tina Brown visits in February for the Center for the Study of Women in Society’s fiftieth anniversary. (Register for the Feb. 27 Tina Brown event.)

Five Faculty Members on the Women Who Move Them. The Center for the Study of Women in Society supports inspiring faculty members. But who inspires them? (Featuring CSWS faculty affiliates.)

Lessons from Sundance: Filmmaker Masami Kawai Finds Her Footing. The cinema studies professor brings the inspiration of Robert Redford’s movie institute to the classroom. (Masami is a CSWS affiliate and faculty research grant fellow.)

Read the full Oregon Quarterly Winter issue on "The Mighty Women of Mighty Oregon."