Robert Frederick

Critical Gender Studies Major

Born and raised in San Diego, Robert went to a small private school, Ocean View Christian Academy, where he graduated with only 18 students in his class. After high school, he attended community college for two years and studied Sociology. Robert loves to cook, bake and watch movies in his spare time. At UC San Diego, Robert is part of the CGS Honors Program and is a Student Health Advocate for sexual health, promoting discussions on campus surrounding contraceptives, STIs, sexuality and other related topics.

Why UC San Diego
As Robert was in the process of transferring from community college his sophomore year and hearing back from multiple different schools, what really drew him to UC San Diego was the different majors the campus offers. Many of the school’s offerings, he said, are unique to UC San Diego, one of these being his major, Critical Gender Studies. As a transfer student who would only have two years at the university, Robert wanted to immerse himself in campus life and take full advantage of available opporutnities. He encourages other students to do the same, applying for and trying out anything that interests them.
 
Why Critical Gender Studies
Robert wanted to have a more focused major that he could explore in greater detail than what his Sociology courses at community college provided. He was drawn to the intersectionality of Critical Gender Studies. He said it goes beyond the name and discusses how race, sexuality, disability, and other identifying aspects influence and intertwine with gender. Robert says a major perk of the size of the program has been his small class sizes, often ranging from 15 to 20 students. This has allowed for meaningful conversation and collaboration between his peers and professors. The major has led to his involvement in the Critical Gender Studies Honors Program and in becoming a Student Health Advocate for sexual health on campus.
 
Plans after graduation
Robert plans to apply to attend graduate school after graduation. Following grad school, he said he would like to pursue a career in Public Health to explore what defines “the public” and to ensure underrepresented communities receive public benefits. A related project: He is currently working with Solve for X, a mutual aid fund founded in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide resources to Queer and Trans BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and other marginalized communities.