Gender and Sexuality Studies

Reference sources are a great starting point for starting research on a new topic because they provide general information on a topic. They often include the following types of information to help you get started:

• Get an overview of a new or complex topic
• Find out the names of key players in a given area
• Locate terms that you can use in your research
• Help narrow (or expand) your topic
• Locate a bibliography of sources to help you start your research

Reference sources include encyclopedias, handbooks, dictionaries, and other sources like them. Some reference sources for gender and sexuality-related topics are listed below.

Language changes! The ways people describe themselves over time changes, and organizing information and knowledge is challenging and labor-intensive. Sometimes, we might think a descriptive term is ubiquitous over time, but historically, a different term was used to self-describe or to organize information.