South SFV Today

The Clayman Institute for Gender Research, a prominent hub at Stanford University, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The institute, committed to exploring significant questions related to gender equality, has evolved into a space where experts, scholars, and students collaborate on various projects. These include investigating the impact of COVID-19 on intimate partner violence in homes and creating an archive of letters detailing experiences of sexual harassment sent during the #MeToo movement.

The institute's journey began in 1972 when its founder, Myra Strober, joined Stanford as an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Business (GSB). She found herself in a predominantly male environment with limited resources dedicated to gender studies. Over time, Strober helped establish what would become one of the most esteemed centers for gender and feminist research.

Strober's journey was marked by challenges and triumphs. Despite facing opposition from her colleagues for her research on women and work, she persisted in her endeavors. With support from scholars and students across campus, she created a space where researchers studying women and gender in society could discuss their findings.

In 1974, the Stanford Center for Research on Women (CROW) was formally established to promote interdisciplinary research on women. It later became the Institute for Research on Women and Gender (IRWG), before being renamed as the Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research in 2010.

Today, the institute is structured around an intergenerational mentorship model that values both experienced insights and fresh perspectives. "Students are central to so much of what we do," said Alison Dahl Crossley, the institute’s executive director.

Over five decades, each new faculty director has brought new perspectives to the academic inquiry of gender's role in society. The institute's current director Adrian Daub emphasizes strengthening the scholarly structures put in place by his predecessors while acknowledging that challenges persist despite progress made since 1974.

The Clayman Institute continues to expand its offerings, building on its model of intergenerational mentorship. In 2020, Daub launched a podcast titled The Feminist Present to engage new audiences with ideas and solutions to advance gender equality.

Reflecting on the institute's journey, Strober recalled an early conversation with a dean who was concerned that the center would become a permanent institution. "He asked me, did I agree that when – quote unquote – ‘this problem is solved’ we would sunset the center," Strober said. "I thought to myself, 'This really is a softball question.' I said, 'Yes, I agree with you – as soon as this is over, we will sunset the center.'"