An integral part of small talk among or with college students is our majors. When we meet fellow students and get to know each other, it becomes unavoidable. Not that I would think anyone hates their major or is ashamed of it—but for women's studies or gender studies majors, we face a different onslaught of follow-up questions.

1. What is that?

Glad you asked! It's an interdisciplinary field where we study intersections of gender, race, class, etc. We observe social constructs and their effects on society, such as the construct of gender, and hundreds of other ways gender has been involved in history or in modern cultures and what role it plays in those histories. Not only is it the rightfully inclusive history of women, but also a study of feminist history, theories and philosophies and inclusion of other overlooked or swept-under-the-rug narratives.

2. So are you like, a feminist?

Take a wild guess.

3. What do you even do?

We apply our learned histories, theories and knowledge to real life and history. I'll analyze the gendered language of war any day. We work to include equity in the world. We don't just write papers on female presence in movies, we work to understand the lack thereof and how it can change.

4. Oh, cool! ... Why?

Because I'm sick of "meninism" and sexism and misogyny and rape culture and discrimination and...want me to go on?

5. That's a major?

Surprise! Just like beekeeping is a job. You don't think it's necessary—but it is. There are books on why studying gender as a social construct is integral in understanding the inner workings of society, hierarchies and the difference between gender and sex. Who knows, maybe you'll read mine one day.