About the Authors and Editors
Whitney Archer-Jones
Whitney Archer-Jones (they/she) is a feminist scholar-practitioner committed to fostering student development and institutional change. Whitney holds a Masters of Arts in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies as well as a Masters of Education in College Student Services Administration with a specialization in identity exploration and development. They are currently a full-time higher education administrator and PhD candidate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Whitney’s current research areas include white supremacy in higher education, feminist pedagogy, and institutional change; and their doctoral research is focused on anti-racist feminist praxis in campus-based women and gender equity centers. Whitney is a proud parent, and parenthood has deepened their understanding of systems of oppression and cycles of socialization. Their children remind them that a better world is not only possible but is worth fighting to build.
Patti Duncan
Patti Duncan is a professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University. She is the author of Tell This Silence: Asian American Women Writers and the Politics of Speech, and co-editor of Mothering in East Asian Communities: Politics and Practices; Women’s Lives Around the World: a Global Encyclopedia; and Women Worldwide: Transnational Feminist Perspectives (2nd ed.). Since 2016 she has served as editor of Feminist Formations.
Maria Franco
Maria Franco is Professor in the Department of Geosciences at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), Brazil. Coordinator of the Paraibana Section of the Centre for the Study of Labour Geography (CEGeT) and founding member of the Gender, Labour and Territory Studies Centre (CEGeTT). Her research interests are territorial and environmental conflicts, rural social movements and women.
Shannon Garvin
Shannon Garvin received her doctoral degree from George Fox University. She has worked as an ordained minister, community organizer, graduate educator, mother, caregiver, and co-founded a sustainable farming initiative in Africa. She is passionate about people’s ability to learn and grow while focused on attending to the Common Good for all members of society. She enjoys research and deep learning in new fields of study as well as coffee and writing projects with old friends. She has contributed to a number of books recently, including: Women in Religion (2021), Women Worldwide (2021), and Gendered Voices Feminist Visions (2022). Her children are young adults now and she lives in her native Oregon where she still enjoys the rain, mud puddles, long walks on the beach, growing berries, and showy gardens of spring and summer flowers.
Razan Ghazzawi
Razan Ghazzawi (they/them/هي\هن) is an award-winning human rights activist, former political prisoner, and recovering blogger. They are an assistant professor in the Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University’s School of Languages, Culture, and Society. A MESA Global Academy fellow for 2024-2025, Ghazzawi’s writing has appeared in ARTE, Al Jazeera English, the Middle East Journal for Culture and Communication, and Kohl: A Journal for Body and Gender Research. Currently, they are working on their first monograph, an ethnographic study of sexuality politics in Syria and Lebanon, examining its intersections with revolutions, the “war on terror,” and the “refugee crisis” from south-south perspectives.
Meena Gopal
Meena Gopal teaches at the Centre for Women’s Studies at Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India. Prior to this she was Professor at the Advanced Centre for Women’s Studies, TISS, Mumbai, till 2023. Gender and labour, bodily cultures; sports studies, political economy of health, welfare and development; sexuality studies and social movements. Her training is in interdisciplinary social sciences in health, labour and development. She has written and published on themes of women in the worlds of labour, sports studies in India, gender migration and labour; home based industry in south Tamil Nadu; queer and feminist politics; intersectionality; social reproduction. Even prior to being part of women’s studies in the academy, she has been active in feminist collectives for gender and queer rights in India.
Finn Johnson
Finn Johnson is a queer and transgender PhD Candidate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University. His research is centered on the intersections of white Christian nationalist and white extremist movements with anti-transgender legislation in the United States. His other areas of research include critical race theory, critical legal studies, transgender and queer studies, feminist media analysis, and LGBTQIA+ STEM research.
Virginija Jurėnienė
Virginija Jurėnienė is a professor at Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty in Lithuania. She is a member of the Vilnius University Senate. She has served as an expert in gender issues for the European Institute for Gender Equality and the Lithuania Culture Council. She has published about 60 articles and five monographs on the issues of cultural organizations management and women’s movements history in international peer reviewed journals.
Kamalaveni
Kamalaveni is Associate Professor at the Centre for Women’s Studies, Pondicherry University, Tamil Nadu, India specializing in reproductive health and gender issues. She holds a doctorate in Women’s Studies and she served as the principal investigator for research projects funded by organizations such as the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and the National Commission for Women. Her extensive academic contributions included over 50 published papers, guidance for six Ph.D. and 55 PG scholars. She has participated in 35 seminars, workshops, conferences, orientation programs, refresher courses, and training programs to enhance her academic expertise. Additionally, she has served as a resource person for 250 events, addressing over 30,000 college students, 2,500 school students, 1,000 rural women, and 750 college teachers. She has also demonstrated remarkable leadership by organising 42 seminars and conferences. Dr. Kamalaveni received several awards, including the “Young Educator and Scholar”, “Best Young Faculty Award”, and “Young Scientist” accolades. She served as the Indian lead for an international ERASMUS project on violence against women in 2022-23, collaborating with University of Santiago De Compostella, Spain.
Elizabeth Kennedy
Elizabeth Kennedy (she/her) is a gender-based violence prevention educator and strategist as well as a PhD student in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University. Her research focuses on cultivating a love ethic as a foundational framework to transform university practices and policies related to gender-based violence prevention efforts. Elizabeth believes prevention is possible when it is rooted in community engagement, situated in the larger context of liberatory praxis, and centers the lived experiences of marginalized survivors.
Rebecca J. Lambert
Rebecca J. Lambert has always been fascinated by the way people connect, communicate, and create change—whether in the streets, the classroom, or a lively discussion. With a Ph.D. and Master’s in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, her academic research explored feminist activism and affect theory, uncovering how emotions shape movements and inspire collective action.
But her expertise isn’t just theoretical—she’s worked across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, bringing her passion for equity, advocacy, and community-building to diverse spaces. Whether developing programs, leading workshops, or coordinating initiatives, she’s always been drawn to work that strengthens human connection.
Now, as the Social Director at a senior living community, she’s traded lecture halls for lively community rooms, curating events, fostering friendships, and ensuring every day is filled with joy and engagement. In this role, she curates experiences that keep minds sharp, spirits high, and friendships thriving. From intergenerational storytelling projects to themed social hours she believes that joy and engagement are just as vital as scholarship and activism.
Janet Lockhart
Janet Lockhart is a retired educator. Over the years, she has worked on many projects with Susan Shaw, including Women’s Lives around the World: A Global Encyclopedia, winner of the 2018 American Book Fest Award in Women’s Issues; Women and Religion: Global Lives in Focus; and Women Worldwide: Transnational Feminist Perspectives. These days, she writes and edits on a freelance basis, enjoys checking items off her bucket list, and aspires to finish every book on her “to be read” pile.
Laura Pallarés Ameneiro
Laura Pallarés Ameneiro holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Santiago de Compostela (2019). She is a specialist in Gender Geography, researcher and professor at the Public University of Cape Verde (Uni-CV) since 2022. She completed her first postdoc at Uni-CV focused on the field of gender, violence and prostitution (2022). She is currently finishing her second postdoctorate, focusing on the analysis of Cape Verdean masculinity within prostitution and its link with the violence within it. At the same time, she collaborates in the research group TEAM since 2021, belonging to the University of Santiago de Compostela, participating in projects with rural issues, violence and gender.
Jayamala Mayilsamy
Jayamala Mayilsamy began teaching in 2005 and is presently an Associate Professor at the Centre for Women’s Studies, PSGR Krishnammal College for Women in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Jayamala earned her PhD in Sociology, focusing on the ecological study of crime in the Coimbatore region. She also focused on feminist research and teaching. Jayamala has received research funds from the University Grants Commission, the National Commission for Women, and, most recently, the Department of Science and Industrial Research to support women’s skill development. She is the coordinator in her college for the PMKVY 4.0 skill hub initiatives scheme, by the National Skill Development Corporation. She has supervised numerous outreach projects, and as regional coordinator, she has led UGC-funded capacity building workshops for women managers in higher education throughout Tamil Nadu. She has also organised national and international conferences on women’s studies. She has organised and co-led student study abroad programs in the United States and India. She has produced book chapters, published research articles in journals, and presented at national and international conferences.
Pavitra
Pavitra is a passionate individual with a deep-rooted interest in Psychology. She holds a Degree in Psychology as well as a Master’s Degree in Psychosocial Rehabilitation and has dedicated her career to the field of Human Resources, working in various esteemed companies in Bangalore, Karnataka. Her journey led her to NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore), where she served as a Project Manager, contributing to impactful projects in the areas of Mental Health and Rehabilitation during Disasters. Currently, Pavitra is pursuing her PhD in the Department of Women’s studies at Bharathiar University in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, furthering her knowledge and expertise. With a strong academic background and hands-on experience in the field, Pavitra is committed to making a difference in the lives of others through her work and research.
She is tenacious and passionate about her research involving Sex Workers, and she enjoys teaching students at the university. She enjoys reading extensively, holding in-depth discussions about various issues and writing.
Jaya Phookan
Jaya Phookan has been on the faculty of the Department of Women’s Studies, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India, for nearly 20 years. She previously worked as a senior research fellow in the Indian Institute for Forest Management in Bhopal. She has extensive field-based experience in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. She has served as a resource person for many gender sensitization training workshops and conferences. She has developed modules for IGNOU on gender-related courses. She was recently selected for training by the National Institute of Metal Health and Neurosciences. Bengaluru as a lead trainer for “Counselors of One-Stop Centers” to address gender-based violence and mental health. She has published five books and many research papers on women-related issues.
Zenetta Rosaline
Zenetta Rosaline holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and a master’s and PhD in management. She worked in industry for six years and then moved to university teaching in 2006. She is Professor and Director, Department of Women’s Studies, at Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. She has guided five MPhil scholars and six PhD Scholars, published 24 international articles and 15 national articles, edited 12 books and two book chapters, and written one book – Her Smile.
Xosé M. Santos
Xosé M. Santos is full professor of Human Geography at the University of Santiago de Compostela-Spain. His main lines of research are focused towards tourism and rural studies. He has numerous publications on rural development and the problems associated with depopulation and marginalization in rural areas. He also researches on gender-based violence and LGBTQIA+ people, with special concern for the invisibility of such violence. He has organized courses and international conferences on these topics and has participated in doctoral thesis committees. He has a wide network of international relations in countries such as Brazil, Japan, Mexico, India, Canada and the United States, as well as many other countries in Europe. He has promoted teaching and research projects related to violence against rural women.
Susan M. Shaw
Susan M. Shaw is professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University. She is the author of numerous books, including Surviving God: A New Vision of God through the Eyes of Sexual Abuse Survivors with Grace Ji-Sun Kim. She is also the editor of a number of books, including a four-volume encyclopedia on women’s lives worldwide and a reference book on women and religion around the world. She is co-author of the introductory WGSS textbook, Gendered Lives, Feminist Visions. She has been PI on two National Science Foundation ADVANCE grants totaling over $5 million. She loves to lead study abroad, especially in the UK where she focuses on British crime fiction and crime dramas. She has also taken students to Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Spain. Her current project is a book for academics on how to retire, to be published by Princeton University Press in 2026.
Mehra Shirazi
Mehra Shirazi is an associate professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University. Shirazi is a bicultural, bilingual, community-engaged scholar. Her work is grounded in decolonial feminist scholarship that focuses on health in the global context of race, gender, immigration, and the environment. Shirazi’s scholarship also addresses transnational praxis and pedagogy through critical studies of culture, lived experience, and narratives of decolonization. Shirazi’s work has been published in the Journal of International Women’s Health, Journal of Psycho-Oncology, the Journal of Religion and Health, Progress in Community Health Partnerships, and Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics, Films for the Feminist Classroom, and Atlantis: Critical Studies in Gender, Culture, and Social Justice.
Asha Shukla
Asha Shukla is a distinguished academician with over 31 years of research and 34 years of teaching experience, specializing in Teacher Education, Women’s Studies, and Hindi Literature. She served as the Vice Chancellor of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University of Social Sciences, Mhow, M.P. from 2018 to 2022, and held additional charge as Vice Chancellor of Maharshi Panini University, Ujjain. Prof. Shukla is the Chief Editor of the “Asha Paras International Journal of Gender Studies” and the “Asha Paras International Multidisciplinary Research Journal,” and has also edited the “Journal Of Gender Equality and Sensitivity.” Her expertise encompasses academic administration, women’s empowerment, gender sensitization, tribal women’s issues, and literature. With a prolific record of 28 books and 60 research papers, she has guided 21 PhD scholars, 20 M.Phil candidates, and 30 M.Ed dissertations. Prof. Shukla has participated in international conferences in the USA, Japan, Taiwan, Surinam, and Thailand. She has been a member of several academic and governmental bodies, including UGC, NAAC, NCTE, and ICSSR, and has chaired NAAC peer teams. She is also a former Brand Ambassador for Swachata Abhiyan and has received notable awards such as the Vishisht Shiksha Sevi Samman and Nayika Award.
Giovanna Vingelli
Giovanna Vingelli holds a PhD from the University of Calabria (2004). She is a feminist sociologist and Senior Researcher and Assistant Professor of Gender Studies, Rector’s Delegate for Equal Opportunities and Director of the Centre for Women’s Studies at the University of Calabria, Spain. Her research interests lie in the areas of analysis, development and design of gender equality policies (gender mainstreaming, gender budgeting and education), gender-based violence and social movements (feminist and anti-feminist movements). Her most recent research focuses on anti-feminist movements in Italy, their discourse and strategies, and their connection with the Italian and international far right.
