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Internships and Special Opportunities | See
Internship Experiences
Making a Difference in the World: Download WGST-491 Syllabus The internship/co-op requirement for the WGS major or minor is the highlight of four years of interdisciplinary study in gender issues and feminist theory. WGST125, Gender in Society, is a prerequisite for registration for an internship or co-op. Discuss your plans with the Program Director well before the beginning of the semester in which you plan to intern. The internship carries two academic requirements: (1) Students will keep a journal about the experience, and (2) they will prepare a paper on a topic arising from the internship that makes connections to theory and research in WGS. A three-credit internship requires a minimum of 15 hours of work per week for 12 weeks—see WGST-491 syllabus for details. Co-ops are an option for those who desire a more structured work experience. The Co-op Office in the Career Center maintains its own lists of jobs. Students have the opportunity to work on gender issues in many government and nonprofit organizations located in the nation's capital. A few of these internship sites are listed below. Stop by the WGS Office to pick up a copy of the internship booklet and Career Center flyers. Be sure, too, to check the bulletin board outside the office for newly posted internship opportunities. DDB Bass & Howes DDB Bass & Howes specializes in bringing complex social, environmental, family and health issues to the mainstream. Interns at DDB Bass & Howes in New York and Washington, DC will assist in program development and implementation for a diverse group of clients, including non-profit advocacy groups, foundations, professional associations, and private sector companies encompassing a broad range of public policy issues and interests. In addition to the duties described above, interns in the DC office will work with our lobbyists and public policy strategists to move our clients' issues forward on Capitol Hill and in relevant advocacy communities. The intern will perform substantive public policy and legislative research, attend briefings and hearings, and provide administrative and logistical support where necessary. The Fund for the Feminist Majority The Fund for the Feminist Majority internship involves a variety of different responsibilities: public policy monitoring, researching, writing, policy analysis, organizing, and outreach. A primary project is assigned to each intern. Each is tailored to the interests of the individual. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute At the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, interns are given the opportunity to utilize and develop skills in public policy, advocacy, field organizing, media relations, and financial fundraising management. Issues that are addressed by interns include: legislative projects, media/public information and grass roots mobilization. National Organization for Women The National Organization for Women provides interns with opportunities to assist the organization in maintaining and recruiting members, monitoring public policy as it pertains to women’s rights, and mobilizing the membership to participate in grass roots movements for legislative issues. Search for Common Ground This organization specializes in the prevention of conflict and conflict
resolution. Although most of its projects are overseas, the primary domestic
project is bringing together pro-life and pro-choice advocates for dialogue
and to seek common ground. The internship position will involve planning
and implementing workshops, developing and maintaining a national network,
researching funding sources, and providing coordinating support for the
Steering Committee. The Dance Place The Dance Place is a nonprofit arts organization that has grown over the past fourteen years to become a nationally and internationally known theater for dance. As a dance studio, Dance Place serves as a fortifying resource for the area’s dance community. Internships are available in the arts administration, women’s dance company assistance, and in non-profit fund raising and technical assistance. National Museum of Women in the Arts The internship program at the National Museum of Women in the Arts is designed to acquaint the intern with museum operations and to explore the arts as a career option. Interns assist the staff in preparing exhibits, special programs, and general museum operations. In addition, the opportunity to meet professional artists is sometimes available. Different departments include: accounting, administration, development, curatorial, education, exhibition design, library and research center, membership, national programs, publications, public relations, registrar, and retail operations. Off Our Backs Off Our Backs is a feminist news journal that has provided critical, cutting edge, irreverent feminist insight into politics and culture for the past 25 years. Interns are encouraged to contribute to all aspects of the paper’s production including research, writing, layout, and distribution. The Washington Blade The Washington Blade is a metropolitan area weekly newspaper serving the gay and lesbian community. It focuses exclusively on hard news of interest to its constituency. Interns work in the editorial division doing research, locating court documents, and participating fully in the writing and development of weekly editions. Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press is a support network for media-concerned women who believe that the world’s communications must be restructured on the fundamental principle that people must speak for themselves. Interns will work on a project of interest to them agreed upon mutually with their supervisor. Women and Language Women and Language is an interdisciplinary research periodical affiliated with the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender and currently published by the Communications department at George Mason University. Its mission is to provide a feminist forum for those interested in communications, language, and gender, seeking to stimulate dialogue and inquiry centering on the questions of how gender is constructed and how the processes of difference, dichotomy, and hierarchy are involved in such gender constructions. The internship will involve writing for the publication or marketing, promotion, and sales. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO The Department for Professional Employees is a constitutional department of the AFL-CIO. It has 23 international union affiliates with a combined membership of over three and a half million employees. It is the largest interdisciplinary organization of such people in the country. The Committee on Salaried and Professional Women was established to explore the problems facing white collar women. Interns help research and write material for a program designed to inform working women of their rights. National Women’s Economic Alliance The National Women’s Economic Alliance is a non-profit organization working to increase career and economic opportunities for women within the free enterprise system. The organization has recently created an international mentor program and an alliance with an organization to help increase women’s representation in corporate management. Intern projects vary by semester. Possibilities include coordinating events, researching and marketing directories, and coordinating and marketing a diversity issues program. Wider Opportunities for Women Wider Opportunities for Women works with women and policy makers to help achieve economic self-sufficiency for women through employment. Intern duties may include: researching the impact of policy on women’s economic life, writing op-eds for the group’s policy agenda, representing the organization at policy briefings and other meetings, assisting in the writing of educational materials to be used in the Nontraditional Employment Technical Assistance Project, National Literary Program and others. The Women in Poverty Project, a component of WOW, also seeks interns for similar duties. Women’s Information Network The Women’s Information Network (WIN) is a professional, political and social network dedicated to empowering women with a tradition of pro-choice, Democratic support. It seeks to promote dialogue among several generations of women leaders, to provide opportunities for young women, and to meet and learn from women of achievement in a variety of fields. WIN provides volunteers for women’s campaigns and sponsors community service projects and educational seminars. Amnesty International Amnesty International is a worldwide human rights organization which works impartially for the release of prisoners of conscience, fair trials for political prisoners, and ending torture and executions. Interns help in developing volunteer structures, publicity efforts, public speaking, outreach to communities and other organizations, and public education. Center of Concern The Center of Concern is an organization engaged in social analysis, theological reflection, policy advocacy, and public education on issues of justice and peace. The organization is involved with the creation of workshops and educational materials focused towards a global women’s movement. Women interested in development and international issues are sought, as well as persons interested in the Horn of Africa, Latin America, and Catholic social thought. InterAction InterAction is a coalition of 160 U.S. NGO’s working in international development, including disaster relief, refugee assistance, environment, population, public policy and global education. InterAction encourages and assists members to refine their programs and policies toward more gender-sensitive solutions to problems in development. Internships are available in research for the Civil Society Initiative and the Women in Development Program. Women For Women International Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife, and other conflicts with tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty into a civil society that promotes and protects peace, stability, and self-sufficiency. National Women’s Law Center The National Women’s Law Center is involved in litigation and advocacy for women’s rights under the law. In addition, the center researches the laws and supports public education campaigns in an effort to distribute information and inform people about the need for women’s rights and justice. National Partnership for Women and Families The National Partnership for Women and Families, formerly the Women’s Legal Defense Fund, works to ensure reproductive freedom, fight against job discrimination, help Americans balance between work and family responsibilities, give women access to quality health care, improve women’s economic status, and reform the nation’s child support system. Interns work in such areas as communications, development, or employment advocacy. Interns may also serve as law clerks in family economic security, reproductive health or employment advocacy. American Jewish Congress AJCongress is a non-profit membership organization involved in the struggle for social and economic justice, religious freedom, women’s equity and human rights. Interns assist the staff in addressing issues of women’s health and reproductive rights, the elimination of sex-based discrimination and promotion of pay equity, the role of women in Jewish communal life, ending violence against women, and in working for gay and lesbian rights. Center for Women’s Policy Studies Interns at the Center for Women’s Policy Studies assist staff members in achieving their organizational goals. This involves advocacy, research, policy development, and public education in issues of educational equity, economic opportunities for low income women, work and family policies, women and AIDS, reproductive rights and health, and violence against women. Institute for Women’s Policy Research The Institute for Women’s Policy Research is a non-profit, scientific research group that works primarily on issues related to equal opportunity and economic and social justice for women. The group analyzes policy issues affecting women’s lives and presents findings from a woman’s perspective. Interns choose primary research projects of interest to themselves and the organization. Interns are also expected to help monitor public policy and attend educational workshops. National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) NARAL’s goal is to help find workable answers that will ultimately reduce the need for abortions, including access to contraception, reproductive health care, and sex education. Internships are available in all segments of NARAL and can be found on the website. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is a nonprofit, nonpartisan initiative striving to improve the well-being of children, youth, and families by reducing teen pregnancy. High rates of teen pregnancy burden not only teenagers but also their children, families, and communities, while imposing large costs on taxpayers as well. To reduce teenage pregnancy, the Campaign provides a national presence and leadership to raise awareness of the issue and to attract new voices and resources to the cause. It provides concrete assistance to those already working in the field. The Campaign also tries to ease the many disagreements that have plagued both national and local efforts to address this problem. Internships are available in media and research. National Women's Health Network The National Women’s Health Network is the only nationally and membership-based organization dedicated to advocating for women’s health rights through policy and legislation. Interns will assist the staff in monitoring public policy, writing educational materials, and providing information to women in need of health advice. Feminists for Life Feminists for Life is a pro-woman, pro-life membership organization that is active in the fight against gender-based violence. Dedicated to a consistent life ethic, Feminists for Life is committed to bold, aggressive social change that recognizes the rights of women, the unborn and other traditionally oppressed members of the human family. American Association of University Women (AAUW) The AAUW Educational Foundation sponsors research concerning the status of girls in public schools and works to shape policies that affect the equitable education of women and girls. Each year, the organization provides $2.2 million to support women for scholarly research, advanced graduate study, community action projects and public school teacher fellowships. Family Research Council The Family Research Council is a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to ensuring that the interests of the family are considered and respected in the formation of public policy. The group focuses its efforts in all branches of government. Activities include government relations, research/policy development, media relations, coalition building, and resource development. Women’s Research and Education Institute The Women’s Research and Education Institute provides information on issues of concern to women policy makers. Projects supported by the organization include: the production of The American Woman, compiling directories of policy pertaining to women’s issues, and answering inquiries about policy and legislation. Interns will provide research and editorial assistance for production of publications; have responsibility for organizing policy briefings, and assist with fundraisers. ASHA (Asian Women’s Self-Help Association) ASHA, which means “Hope” in several South Asian languages, is a non-profit women’s organization committed to ending all forms of violence against women and enhancing the status of South Asian women living in the metropolitan Washington, DC area. (South Asia includes Bangladesh, Indian, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.) ASHA, founded in 1989, is the only organization in the Washington, DC area dedicated to providing culturally specific, multi-lingual support and referral services to women of South Asian descent. Internships are available in the legal team, as well as in a variety of other areas in the organization. Knowledge of South Asian culture and/or knowledge of one or more South Asian languages strongly preferred. Ayuda, Inc. Ayuda, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose national and advocacy work strives to forge changes in the legal system that improve the ability of battered immigrant and refugee women to flee violent homes. Ayuda has become the spokesperson for the rights of women with advocacy groups working to protect the rights of immigrants and refugees. Interns gain first-hand knowledge of the counseling process and work with their own clients. The ability to speak Spanish is preferred but not required. Best Friends Foundation Best Friends is an educational program for adolescent girls that fosters self-respect and promotes decision making skills. Its unique curriculum has been adopted all over the country. D.C. Rape Crisis Center Intern duties at the DC Rape Crisis Center can include giving presentations to a variety of community groups and school classes on issues of sexual assault and risk-reduction, planning Anti-Rape Week and other programs, and assisting in the production of a newsletter. Internships are available in counseling and advocacy, speakers’ bureau, and administrative areas, and interns are provided with training. My Sister’s Place My Sister’s Place is a safe house that provides crisis counseling for battered women and their families, a place for women and their families to live as they cope with battering, provides education and advocacy organizing to battered women and their children, and provides a hotline. Interns work primarily with one aspect of the program and training is provided. The Women’s Center Volunteers at the Women’s Center assist in providing information, counseling, and educational programs to women with personal, professional, legal, and financial concerns. Volunteers support the staff in program development, community relations, public outreach, literary outreach, counseling and other areas. League of Women Voters The League of Women Voters is dedicated to keeping American government accessible to all citizens. They participate in grassroots mobilization for issues such as health care, voter registration and campaign integrity, right to privacy, Civil Rights Acts, clean air and water, and others. Intern duties include working in the education department in research and writing, monitoring public policy, and assisting staff in lobbying state and federal legislators and voters for their support of issues important to women’s lives. National Woman’s Party The internships at the National Woman’s Party are designed to provide maximum opportunities for interns to become involved with women’s historical research and writing, museum and curatorial projects related to women’s history, and advocacy and lobbying for women’s legislation. Women’s Campaign Fund The Women’s Campaign Fun is a bipartisan political action committee supporting progressive women candidates for elected positions at the local, state, and federal levels. They provide assistance through fundraising, grass roots mobilization and campaign technical assistance. Interns will be exposed to all aspects of the work done by this organization. Duties may include: attending meetings with the political community and maintaining and updating candidate files.
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