Any career can be a good one for a feminist, but being one isn't really enough to make you a good prospect for any of them, IMO! Why don't you tell us about what sills, talents, and aptitudes you have? What have you been doing since dropping out the first time? I think that feminists can and should do well in all sorts of jobs.

I agree with Loulouloulou, do what you like best.
Don't worry about what job you'll get after college, just aim for your dream job :)

You can do things where you're in a position to affect policy. This could be anywhere from HR to politics to law (being a newer attorney myself, however, I have to say it's easier to be idealistic about this than actually finding a job to do so!).

You could choose a field that's lacking in women, such as the sciences.

You could teach, since you'll be in a position to influence young budding feminists and their male allies.

But I offer all of those suggestions without knowing your interests!

i'm a WS major in med school. i thought it would be a perfect combination, but sometimes it's miserable being surrounded by non-feminists/non-analytical and often ignorant people. but my eyes are on the long term goal feminist practice and policy work.

so you can do anything you want to. but many environments can be difficult to endure.

I'm glad that you asked this question because I am going to be graduating soon with a BA in Art History and a minor in Women's Studies.
What is a good field to get into where I can help women and be involved?

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
- Dr. Howard Thurman, civil rights leader.

I know, it's not very fair to just quote stuff at you, like an inspirational poster or magnet or something. I considered being a WGST major, but I was talked out if it by a Psychology professor who convinced me that I would be more effective as a feminist in the sciences.

I don't think that's necessarily true. You'll be most effective in the field that is right for you. I have a love-hate relationship with my major, and I may go to grad school in Psychology, but I may also go to grad school for something else.

Dr. Thurman is a smart guy (and a civil rights leader). Listen to him. You have to be happy. You have to find something that makes you excited to wake up every morning. That's where you'll be most effective. You can bring feminism into any field.

P.S. Ha! In looking up the quote, I googled "Don't worry about what the word needs," and the second hit was about the disembodied torso speaker. Weird.

I have to say, if you're interested at all in any science/tech field, it's the way to go.

Cool jobs, decent pay, and since comparably few women go into science/math/engineering/etc (for all sorts of reasons), there's a lot of scholarships out there, jobs can be easier to get, and support networks, while small, are strong.

Thanks so much for your wonderful advice! I was afraid no one would respond.

I should have been more clear in what my skills were in. But mostly I was wondering what a good career would be for a feminist to make change in. I'm a feminist now and I like my job okay, but I don't want to do it forever (accounts payable BORING).

Maybe it sounds negative, but I know for sure that I can't go the science and math path, I just don't have the mind for it. I agree that we definitely need more women in those fields, but I'm not cut out for it.

But more specifically, if I majored in Women's Studies, what kind of jobs would be suitable?

Thanks again!

not to be totally biased, but I have a degree in sociology and am in grad school for the same thing. i have taken an feminist approach to theory.

I say that you should go and take a variety of courses in the humanities, arts, or social sciences, see what you like best, and then apply a women's studies framework to it. you can be a feminist english major, feminist historian, etc, etc.

I did not miss out by not having women's studies because it was in a lot of my readings and work. you'll see that higher level courses often have gender analyses in them.

after that, I've heard that internships are the way to go. I would start volunteering for organizations that have feminist/social justice orientations now. try to volunteer at your university in some capacity, or outside of your university if you have some ideas.

Most universities have career centers that have loads of industry-specific information. like most things, larger cities have more opportunities for volunteering and interning.

good luck!

As a woman who's been unemployed for months and has lowered my standards to house cleaning, canvassing in the rain and jobs less than my dream, seeing more and more job posts on Craigslist in Washington State just like this Maine one, it makes me furious! Is it just the summer up north that make bikini and pastie coffee shops and car washes (which require full body pics to apply)so appealing? No one wants to be sprayed with boiling coffee or oogled at by trogladytes... but in this economy women will debase bedroom furniture themselves for good tips. It is not empowering to have managers judge prospective employers on age, weight and cup size.