Active feminist medical anthropologists?

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnthropology/comments/1ibqacc/active_feminist_medical_anthropologists/

created by bridgitte-bardot on 28/01/2025 at 01:39 UTC

5 upvotes, 4 top-level comments (showing 4)

Hello, I'm an MA student currently looking to apply for PhD programs in Anthropology, concentrating in medical anthropology. I'm looking for potential mentors across US PhD programs but coming up mostly empty because I feel like my particular brand of medical anthropology isn't well represented among the field right now.

My research interests involve a lot of feminist, Black feminist, and women's and gender studies-esque critical analysis of biomedicine, reproductive justice, health policy, institutional/structural violence, and clinically applied anthropology. I'd consider myself part of critical medical anthropology but not really on the political economy side of things. My regions of interest are the US, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Does anyone come to mind that is doing this kind of work in an academic position in the US? I've looked far and wide, but only come up with a few names, most in NYC (Miriam Ticktin, Sean Brotherton, etc.) This would be so helpful in figuring out where I would best fit as a PhD student!! Thank you :)

Comments

Comment by Obi2 at 28/01/2025 at 01:53 UTC

4 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Funny enough I actually looked at a school and decided against them just because I felt they presented themselves a bit too biased towards that ideology. Nothing against them or it just isn’t what I was looking for. But it might suit you to reach out and see if they have any mentors. https://www.ciis.edu/academics/department-anthropology-and-social-change

Comment by the_gubna at 28/01/2025 at 19:31 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I assume you're already doing this, but who are you citing in your research papers/ MA Thesis? That's usually the best way to find a PhD Advisor.

Also, keep in mind that while your advisor is important, you also have (at least) two other committee members. I'm not a medical anthropologist, but I'd imagine that "critical medical anthropology" is the most central thing to your research.

It's totally possible to have your advisor be a medical anthropologist and the black feminist bibliography recommendations come from another member of your committee. Same thing with region. For example: I just saw a presentation by someone (currently a postdoc, unfortunately, or I'd recommend them as an advisor) working on really similar things in South Asia. You can always work with someone who does medical anthropology in a different part of the world, but get advice specific to Latin America/ the Caribbean from another member of your committee.

Comment by ReplyHuman9833 at 28/01/2025 at 05:30 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/directory/melissa-cheyney

Dr. Cheyney is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, a very well respected medical anthropologist, and a good advisor (rare). I have heard great things.

Comment by retiredcryptidess at 29/01/2025 at 03:53 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

https://people.clas.ufl.edu/adrienne-strong/

Your research interests overlap a lot with Dr. Strong (University of Florida). I’ve heard many good things about her