Oral History Interview, Sara Chadwick (2523)

Abstract

In her July 2025 interview with Edwin Elizabeth Thomas, Sara Chadwick, assistant professor in Gender & Women’s Studies (GWS) and Psychology at UW-Madison, discusses her initial interest in the two fields and her thoughts on the GWS Department’s evolution. She describes first becoming interested in the field when she signed up for a GWS class with a friend as a graduate student at the University of Michigan while the Me Too movement was happening. Chadwick discusses the intersections between GWS and psychology and the need for universities to have feminist psychologists, such as UW-Madison's Janet Hyde. She touches on the enduring importance of GWS no matter the political or social climate because students value the critical thinking skills taught in the department. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the GWS @ 50 Oral History Project of the UW-Madison Archives & Records Management oral history collection.