The field of women's studies provides interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives on gender roles and examines the social, political, economic, intellectual and cultural contributions of women past and present. Women’s studies courses develop skills in written and oral communication, analysis, and research that are necessary in many professions and for graduate study. More specifically, a focus on women and gender is relevant in many academic fields, while knowledge of how gender shapes home, work, and public life is relevant to many professions (education, the health professions, law, social services, and media and communications, to name a few) and for understanding one’s own experience. Women's studies also seeks to foster the respect for people of diverse physical abilities, races and ethnicities, religions, national origins, sexual orientations, and gender identifications that is necessary to live and work in a multicultural environment.