Douglass Residential College at Rutgers University to Target Worldwide Gender-Based Violence

Douglass Residential College at Rutgers University-New Brunswick is partnering with Rutgers’ Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) in an international campaign against gender-based violence. Founded in 1918 as the New Jersey College for Women, Douglass is the only women’s residential college in the nation situated within a world-class public research university.

The partnership allows Douglass students to intern with CWGL’s Global 16 Days Campaign to raise awareness of gender-based violence. The campaign is now focusing on “Domestic Violence and the World of Work.” Douglass students will help plan events, participate in a social media internship, and have research opportunities with CWGL staff.

The partnership also will develop a course for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and offer other research opportunities to students. The course, titled “Feminist Global Advocacy for Human Rights,” aims to bridge feminist theory and its practical application through readings, discussions, and concrete experiences at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and dialogue with feminist activists from around the world.

Douglass Residential College dean Jacquelyn Litt stated that “Douglass’ new partnership with the Center for Women’s Global Leadership brings advocacy, scholarly learning, and activism on inequality together into a one-of-a-kind in the nation learning experience for students. Douglass students are passionate about combating the challenges and identifying the resilience of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people, both here and throughout the world. Our new partnership positions students to receive the best education to meet their goals.”

Dr. Litt also serves as a professor of sociology and women’s and gender studies at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. She received a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania.