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Portrait of Lila Abu-Lughod

Lila Abu-Lughod

Influential Anthropologist, Feminist, Middle East Expert

Born
21 October 1952
Born in
Champaign, Illinois, USA
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Why Lila is here

Lila Abu-Lughod is a renowned Palestinian-American anthropologist, known for her significant contributions to the studies of gender, Islam, and global feminist politics. Her work, which is mostly ethnographic and based in Egypt, has had a profound impact on understanding the dynamics of gender and human rights within the Muslim world.

Their story

Lila Abu-Lughod is the Joseph L. Buttenwieser Professor of Social Science at Columbia University, where she teaches anthropology and gender studies. She has held directorial positions at the Institute for Research on Women and Gender, the Center for the Study of Social Difference, and the Middle East Institute at Columbia. Her scholarship focuses on cultural forms and power, the politics of knowledge and representation, and gender and human rights issues in the Middle East and globally.

In pictures

Milestones

The moments that shaped Lila’s path.

  1. Education

    Abu-Lughod obtained her PhD from Harvard University in 1984, establishing her academic foundation.

  2. Teaching at Columbia University

    She has made significant contributions as a professor in anthropology and gender studies.

  3. Leadership Roles

    Abu-Lughod has served as a director at several institutes at Columbia University, shaping research and discourse in her fields of expertise.

  4. Publication of "Veiled Sentiments"

    Her book "Veiled Sentiments: Honor and Poetry in a Bedouin Society" has been widely recognized and awarded.

  5. Founding Member of the Center for Palestine Studies

    She co-founded this center at Columbia University, furthering research and understanding of Palestinian issues.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Gender Studies in the Muslim World

    Abu-Lughod's teachings and publications have significantly contributed to the understanding of gender politics in the Muslim world.

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  2. Anthropological Research

    Her ethnographic research, particularly in Egypt, has been influential in the field of anthropology.

  3. Publications on Women's and Human Rights

    Her books such as "Do Muslim Women Need Saving?" challenge and enrich global discourses on feminism and human rights.

  4. Contributions to Understanding Islam and Global Power

    Her work provides insightful analyses of Islam within the context of global power dynamics.

  5. Influence on Cultural and Ethnographic Studies

    Abu-Lughod's scholarship has been vital in the study of cultural forms, power, and representation in the Arab and Muslim worlds.

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  • 01Gender Studies in the Muslim World↗

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