About Us

Mission

The UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW)|Barbra Streisand Center works towards a world in which education and scholarship are tools for social justice feminism, improving the lives of people of all genders.

We are an internationally recognized center for research on gender, sexuality, and women’s issues and the first organized research unit of its kind in the University of California system. CSW* is funded by the Division of Social Sciences, though it serves the entire university.

CSW* is part of the Division’s commitment to gender equity and research parity at UCLA. Its mission is to develop and foster research, to facilitate productive scholarly relationships, and to aid recruitment and retention efforts.

Established in 1984, it draws on the expertise of more than two hundred members from thirty-four departments and ten UCLA professional schools. The center administers research grants for faculty and students; organizes research projects, conferences, seminars, and public lectures; and publishes policy briefs and blogs that feature research updates, conference reports, faculty profiles, bibliographies, field reports, book reviews, and announcements.

The Barbra Streisand Center was established in 2021 and made possible by the vision and generosity of artist and activist Barbra Streisand. The Streisand Center, housed at the UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW), will become the future Barbra Streisand Institute at UCLA, a forward-thinking institute dedicated to finding solutions to the most vital social issues. Streisand’s transformative gift helps to expand our combined centers’ reach beyond UCLA and Los Angeles, fund faculty and students, and support research and programming that seek to address critical issues facing people of all genders.

*CSW became CSW|Streisand Center in 2021.

Upcoming Events

"Event flyer for a Graduate Student Workshop titled 'Asking Different Questions: Feminist Approaches to Research, Knowledge & Academic Culture,' hosted by UCLA CSW (Center for the Study of Women)/Barbra Streisand Center and UC Davis Feminist Research Institute. Header text asks: 'Are you a feminist grad student doing research in STEM? Ever wondered how to apply feminist principles in your work?' An abstract illustration on the right shows a stylized eye, geometric shapes, and a microscope-like form in teal, navy, and gold tones. The workshop is led by Sarah McCullough of UC Davis Feminist Research Institute (FRI). Event details: December 3, 2026, 10:30 am–12:00 pm, free with lunch provided, at the Center for the Study of Women / Barbra Streisand Center, 1500 Public Affairs, UCLA. Below, workshop subtitle reads 'Redressing Systemic Biases in Research & Living Your Values in Academia.' Participants will gain: intellectual frameworks from feminist science studies; tools for recognizing systemic bias in research; strategies for aligning academic practice with personal values; approaches for taking action toward greater equity; and new ways to strengthen the accuracy, relevance, and impact of research. A QR code and link for registration appear in the bottom right: https://asking-different-questions-graduate.eventbrite.com."

Current projects include Black Feminism Initiative, Coastal Resilience, Gender and Water, Feminist Anti-Carceral Studies, Sexual Violence and Intersectionality, and Trans Futures in Health and Scientific Knowledge.