The Susan McGee Bailey Women's Perspectives Fund

“Acknowledging and drawing upon women’s strengths is a global imperative. Lasting social progress can be made only by placing the diverse perspectives of women at the center of inquiry and debate.”

Susan McGee Bailey, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Wellesley Centers for Women
Professor of Women's and Gender Studies and Education
Wellesley College, Class 1963

Program Background

Throughout its thirty-five years, the Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) has been unique amongsocial science research institutions with its distinctive approach to probing, scholarly research on questions growing out of women's lives. By placing women's perspectives at the center of its work, and by linking research and theory to policy initiatives and direct action, WCW has undertaken interdisciplinary efforts that ask the thoughtful, relevant questions essential to generating positive social change.

Susan McGee Bailey has been a moving force in shaping WCW's unique mission and programming throughout her twenty-five years as Executive Director. Her visionary leadership has guided theorganization's growth into a multi-dimensional institution with an unparalleled reputation as a leader in cutting-edge work on issues ranging from work/family balance, educational equity, and emotional well-being to gender violence, child care, and human rights.

The mission of WCW is grounded in a vision of a world in which women and men, girls and boyshave true equality of opportunity and choice. There is a clear and urgent need to continue and strengthen research that focuses on the lives of women and girls with a full understanding of the complexities of race, culture, socio-economic status, and sexual orientation.

Thanks to Susan Bailey's leadership, the work of WCW has helped to create a feminist vision that makes sense in today's world. As a means of honoring Dr. Bailey's work in this 35th Anniversary year, the Wellesley Centers for Women is establishing The Susan McGee Bailey Women's Perspectives Fund to provide ongoing support for groundbreaking research and programming designed with women's perspectives at the center. The income generated by the endowed fund will be used to establish the position of a Susan McGee Bailey Research Scholar in perpetuity at WCW.

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