Emma Louise Backe
Emma is a PhD candidate in George Washington University’s Anthropology Department, based in Washington, DC. Her research deals with the politics of care for survivors of gender-based violence in South Africa and the United States. Emma also holds an MA in Medical Anthropology and a Certificate in Global Gender Policy from George Washington University. She’s also served as a rape crisis advocate and community educator with the DC Rape Crisis Center, a policy advocate with Collective Action for Safe Spaces, and a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji. In addition to her academic studies, Emma is a consultant in international development, with experience in gender, education, violence, and sexual and reproductive health from Peace Corps, The Global Women’s Institute, the International Center for Research on Women, the Gender, Health and Justice Research Unit, and the USAID Youth in Development Policy. She dedicates her ethnographic research training to addressing health inequity, improving systems of care, particularly for survivors of violence, and promoting culturally sensitive approaches to development and capacity building.