Department of Social Science

Tanya Bakhru

Assistant Professor of Social Science & Women's Studies

CV  |  Education  |  Courses Taught  |  Publications  |  Service  |  Presentations  |  Honors

       Professor Bakhru

Phone: 408.924.5744
Office: DMH 238A
Email: tanya.bakhru@sjsu.edu

"I believe strongly that the classroom is a site which has the potential to house each student’s own human revolution and will in turn transform the community around her," says Women's Studies prof Dr. Tanya Bakhru. "Every time I enter the classroom, I feel there is an opportunity to engage students in an integrating process by which they gain an awareness of the interdependence of themselves, others, and their environment."

Professor Bakhru received her doctoral degree in Women's Studies from University College Dublin in Ireland under the supervision of Ailbhe Smyth. Before coming to SJSU she taught as a lecturer in Women's Studies at San Diego State University.

Program director Shahin Gerami notes that Professor Bakhru's background in Reproductive Health and Globalization strengthens the department's breadth, "Tanya makes important contributions as we continue to build an exciting and student-focused program." Dr. Bakhru research interests include feminist contestations of globalization and global reproductive justice movements.

Globalization and diversity are key issues for Prof. Bakhru. "I urge my students on to see themselves as global citizens, transcending self-seeking egoism and to see their lives as linked with all of humanity," she says. "I really want my students to cultivate the courage not to fear or passively deny difference but rather to actively respect and learn from differences between people and gain something positive from that experience."

Bakhru sees Women's Studies playing an important role in transforming the curriculum, and student lives. "Women's Studies is for everyone, not just female identified individuals. Taking Women's Studies classes can provide a revolutionary way of looking at the world and a sense of empowerment to contribute to society in a way that creates value, equality, and justice."

So far, she has found SJSU students compelling and inspiring. "Each one of my students seems to have a compelling story to share and I am really inspired by the determination of many of my students to pursue an education while juggling many other aspects of their lives, sometimes enduring difficult circumstances."

Professor Bakhru teaches introductory courses (WOMS10 and WOMS 101) and the department's newest course, Global Women (WOMS 102).

Also see Professor Bakhru's university homepage

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Education

Ph.D., Women's Education, Research & Resource Center, University College, Dublin, Ireland, 2007

Master of Arts, Women's Studies San Diego St Univ, California, United States, 2003

B.A., Violin Performance, University of Redlands, Redlands, California, 2001

Courses Taught: 

WOMS 10. Perspectives in Sex & Gender

WOMS 101. The Study of Women

WOMS 102. Global Women

Most Recent Publications:

Bakhru, T. “Making Space: Articulating an Inclusive Framework of Reproductive and Sexual Health Politics at the Crucial Moment” in Mendible, M., (Ed.), Race 2008: Critical Reflections on an Historic Campaign. Boca Raton: Brown Walker Press, 2010.

Bakhru, T. “Negotiating and Navigating the Rough Terrain of Transnational Feminist Research.” Journal of International Women’s Studies 10:2 (2008)

Bakhru, T. “Migration, Development, and Reproductive Health: Selected Experiences of an NGO in Ireland.”Gender and Development: Reproductive Rights, 16:2 (2008)

Professional & Community Service

Keynote Speaker for San Jose State University, API Student Reception - September 2009

Guest Speaker, "How Far Women's Studies Have Come," San Diego State University, Department of Women’s Studies 40th Anniversary Celebration Inaugural Symposium - September 2009

Guest Lecture, "Gender as a Social Construction," SJSU Rainbow Connections Peer Mentoring Program - February 2009

"Reproductive Health Movements and the LGBT Community: Building Bridges," Women’s Lecture Series, San Diego LGBT Community Center - April 2007

"Introduction to Feminism Workshop," Intro to Sociology and Social Problems, Soka University of America -October/November 2006

Interview on Anna Livia Radio Station: The Women’s Hour, 103.2 FM, Dublin, Ireland, Globalization, Women’s Reproductive Health and Anti-choice Organizing - November 2005

Recent Talks & Presentations

"Choice as a Right and Commodity: Understanding Reproductive Health Within a Context of Globalization," National Women’s Studies Association Conference, November 2009

"Reproductive Health: Constitutive Practices of Border Crossing," Feminist and Women’s Studies Association of the UK and Ireland, June 2009

"(Re)Constructing Reproduction: Immigration, The Nation, and The Body as Sites of Control," National Women’s Studies Association Conference, June 2007

Moderator, "Transgressing and Bridging Feminist Identities Panel," Pacific Southwest Women’s Studies Association, April 2007

"Negotiating and Navigating the Rough Terrain of Transnational Feminist Research," National Women’s Studies Association Conference, June 2006

"Traversing Agendas: Identity Politics and Coalition Building in the Reproductive Health Rights Movement," Lesbian Lives Conference XIII, WERRC, February 2006

"Globalization and Women’s Lives: Struggles and Resistance," WERRC Research Seminar Series, University College Dublin /Globalization and Reproductive Health: A Cross-Cultural Study, November 2005

"Anti-Choice Movements Gone Global: Globalization and Its Impact on Reproductive Health Rights in Ireland," Gendering Citizenship and Globalization, Universidad de Huelva, Spain, May 2005

"Immigration, Globalization, and Reproductive Health: Selected Experiences of an NGO in Ireland," New Research in Irish Feminism, Center for Gender and Women’s Studies at Trinity College, Dublin, April 2005

"Queer Understandings of Reproductive Health Politics: My Experience of Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties," Lesbian Lives Conference XII, WERRC, February 2005

Honors & Awards

Certificate of Appreciation, Department of Social Science, San Jose State University, 2009 and 2010

University Planning Council Grant, San Jose State University, for AY 2009-10

McNair Scholars Program Faculty Mentor, San Jose State University, 2009

Junior Faculty Career Development Grant, San Jose State University, 2009

Salzburg Global Seminar, International Study Program Fellow, 2009

Travel Grant Department of Social Science, San Jose State University 2008

Special Travel Grant, College of Social Science, San Jose State University, 2008

Jackie Wertz/Deb Carsten’s Women’s Studies Professional Development Fund, San Diego State University, 2007