Institute for Women and Girls

The Fordham Institute for Women and Girls, established in 2001, works to promote gender equality by addressing all forms of discrimination against women and girls locally and globally.

Institute members engage in interdisciplinary education, research and practice activities that work to foster gender equality and:

Expand our understanding of the problems facing girls and women, such as poverty, ageism, sexism and racism.
Contribute to critical analyses of the position of girls and women worldwide.
Improve programs and the delivery of services for girls, women and their children.
Help prevent inequity and injustice towards women and girls by influencing public and university policy.
Promote the integration of content on women and girls into social work curricula.

Spring 2025 Conference

Breaking the Silence: Addressing Gender-Based Violence Across the Lifespan

Date: March 14, 2025

Time: 4pm - 6pm EST via Zoom

Gender-based violence transcends age, culture and geography, affecting individuals at every stage of life. This conference aims to not only deepen our understanding of GBV, but also how it manifests, evolves and impacts individuals across the lifespan. With a focus on key life stages, including childhood and adolescence, young adulthood, middle adulthood, and later years, we will explore the unique challenges and needs at each stage. The phrase “Breaking the Silence” highlights the need for open discussion, advocacy and action. Through expert panels and interactive discussions, participants will explore prevention, intervention, and support strategies for each stage of life. This is a call to challenge stigma, advocate for survivor-centered policies, and create practices that empower individuals and communities. Join us as we break the silence, raise awareness, and inspire change. Together, we can create a future free from violence, where action replaces silence.

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Past Conferences

Conference Programs and Recordings

Newsletters

March 2024

This newsletter edition features an interview with Fordham University President Tania Telow. President Tania Tetlow reflects on her decade of work representing domestic violence survivors, revealing the immense courage of these women and the severe systemic challenges they face—challenges she’s committed to addressing as part of Fordham’s mission to support social justice and empower vulnerable communities. Read more about her interview, reflections on our Fall 2023 conference Closing the Digital Divide Conference, and more.

March 2023

This newsletter edition highlights the Institute’s legacy of championing gender equity and social justice. It revisits the Institute's history and mission, shares insights from the Fall 2022 program on advocating for the rights of all women, and provides an overview of Social Work Day at the United Nations, where global voices came together to discuss women's rights. The newsletter also features a critical analysis of Asian American and Pacific Islander stereotypes, underscoring the Institute’s dedication to fostering understanding and dismantling harmful biases.

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