Dr. Huma Ahmed-Ghosh
Associate Professor
Department of Women's Studies
Professor Ghosh has 10 years experience in teaching graduate and undergraduate level Anthropology, Women
Studies, and Asian Studies courses pertaining to gender relations in Asia and international development. She
conducted research in India on the impact of agricultural development on rural women and the status of women
in the handicraft industry. Her current research is on cultural adaptation strategies of immigrant Muslim women
in Southern California and on Islam and feminism. More recently, she has been traveling to Afghanistan to do
research on the role of women-run NGOs in the reconstruction of the country.
Education
Institution
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
Date
Degree
Field of Study
1990
PhD
Anthropology
Jawaharal Nehru University
New Delhi, India
1981
MPhil
Sociology
Jawaharal Nehru University
New Delhi, India
1979
MA
Sociology
University of Delhi
Delhi, India
1977
BA (Hons.)
Economics
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Teaching Positions
Institution
San Diego State
University
Rank
Dates
Major Subject
Associate
Professor
2005Present
Women's Studies
San Diego State
University
Assistant
Professor
20022004
Women's Studies
San Diego State
University
Assistant
Professor
19992002
Women’s Studies, Asian Studies
San Diego State
University
East-West Center,
Hawaii.
Lecturer
19941999
Post-Doctoral
Fellowship
19901991
Women’s Studies,
Anthropology, Asian Studies
Other Employment
World Bank, Social Science Consultant.
1991-1992
Division of Agriculture and Development in Asia.
Prepared a policy paper based on evaluation of World Bank projects in South and Southeast Asia.
United Nations Commission for Social Policy and Welfare. 1999-2003. Member
technical task force on Ageing.
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Curriculum Development
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Women’s Studies 602 ---- Seminar: Methods of
Inquiry
Women's Studies 590 ----Feminist Thought
Women's Studies 580 ----Women in International
Development
Women's Studies 536 ----Women, Race and Class
Women's Studies 530 ---- Comparative Gender
Politics (Distance Learning Course)
Women's Studies 530 --- Women in International
Movements, (China and India Study Abroad)
Women's Studies 530 --- Women’s Movements and
Activism
Women's Studies 310 ----Women in Cross-Cultural
Perspective
Women's Studies 210 ----Women in the Social
Sciences
Anthropology 102 ----Introduction to Cultural
Anthropology
Anthropology 350 ----World Ethnographies
Asian Studies/Women's Studies 331 ----Women in
Asian Society
Textbooks and Other Teaching Aids
Participated in the creation of Workbook for WMNST 530,
“Comparative Gender Politics,” in collaboration with the
Women's Studies Department in Orebro, Sweden
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Graduate Student Committees
Ph.D. Committees
Rahman, Tabassum. 2002. Identity Formation of Second Generation Muslim Women in
the USA. California School of Professional Psychology.
Shah, Seema. 1998. Self-Esteem Issues: A Comparative Study of Asian American and
Caucasian American Teenagers in the U.S.A. California School of
Professional Psychology. San Diego.
M.A. Theses Chaired
Chandrasekhar, Preethi. (2005) Representation of Women’s Experiences of
Partition in Indian Films. Department of Women’s Studies. SDSU.
Tadwalkar, Rucha. (2005) Actualization of Equality among Indian-American
Married Couples. Department of Women’s Studies. SDSU.
Shi, Lihong. 2003. Girls Education in Rural China. Department of Women’s Studies.
SDSU.
Huo, Yujia. 2003. Women Bartenders in San Diego. Department of Women’s Studies.
SDSU.
Bakhru, Tanya. 2003. Impact of Reproductive Health Policies on Women in India.
Department of Women’s Studies. SDSU.
Abbassi, Anud. 2003. Women in the Garment Industry in Jordan. Department of
Women’s Studies. SDSU.
Rashid, Mona. 2002. A Case Study of NGOs in Pakistan. Department of Asian Studies.
SDSU.
Spillane, David. 2002. Pakistan and the Discourse of Development. Department of Asian
Studies. SDSU.
Woodden, Jeannette. (In progress) Women’s Movements in the Philippines.
Hou, Hujie. (In progress) The Status of Student Wives from China in San Diego.
Master’s Committee Member
Chrostowsky, Marybeth. (2005) Resettlement Issues of Sudanese Refugee Women.
Department of Anthropology. SDSU.
Henderson, Denise. 2003. Feminist Critique of Organized Religions: A Curriculum for
Revising a Women’s Studies Course. Project. Department of Women’s
Studies. SDSU.
Tawara, Reiko. 2002. Comparison of Rape Laws in the United States and Japan.
Department of Criminal Justice. SDSU.
Gulati, Susheel. 2000. Indian Women’s Participation in Sports. Department of
Exercise and Nutritional Studies. SDSU.
Simmons, Jessica. 2000. Diasporic and Sexual Identities: A Fragmented Sense of Self in
Jamaica Kincaid’s Lucy and Michelle Cliff’s No Telephone to Heaven.
Department of Women’s Studies, SDSU.
De Iberri, Linda. In progress. The Interface of Feminism and Gay Rights: A Crosscultural Comparison of US and African Movements. Department of
Anthropology. SDSU.
Maitino, Alisso. In progress. Gender Differences in Personality Across Cultures.
Department of Psychology. SDSU.
Dulthumanon, Purnima. In progress. Domestic Violence Among Asian-American Women.
Department of Sociology. SDSU.
Adducci, Matilde. In progress. Rural Policies and Rural Movements: The Case of Uttar
Pradesh. Department of Development Policies. School of Oriental and African
Studies. London, UK.
Vickery, Sheliah. In progress. Survival Strategies of Refugee Cambodian Women.
Department of Anthropology. SDSU.
LaGroteria, Angela. In progress. The Power of Place and Creativity: Women's Writing
from Appalachia.
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Publications
Articles in Refereed Journals
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 2004. “Portraits of Believers: Ahmadi Women Performing Faith
in the Diaspora.” Journal of International Women’s Studies. Nov.vol.6,no.1. Pgs.
73-92.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 2003. “A History of Women in Afghanistan: Lessons Learnt for
the Future: Women in Afghanistan.” Journal of International Women’s Studies.
vol.4.no.3. May. Pgs.1-14.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 2003. “Writing the Nation on the Beauty Queen’s Body:
Implications for a ‘Hindu’ Nation.” Meridians: feminism, race, transnationalism.
vol.4. no.1. October. Pgs. 205-227.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 2003. “Chattels of Society: Domestic Violence in India,”
Violence Against Women. vol.10. no.1. December. Pgs. 94-118.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 1987. “Changes in the Status of North Indian Women - A Case
Study of Palitpur Village.” Working Paper No. 141, Michigan State
University: Women in International Development. Pgs. 1-23.
Ahmed, Huma. 1980. “Protest Movements by Women.” Journal of Youth Affairs.
September. New Delhi: Vishwa Yuva Kendra. Pgs. 7-20.
Forthcoming
Ahmed-Ghosh, 2006. “Voices of Afghan Women: Human Rights and Economic
Development.” International Feminist Journal of Politics. vol. 8,no.1. March.
Ahmed-Ghosh, 2006. “Ahmadi Women: Reconciling Faith with Vulnerable Reality
Through Education.” Journal of International Women’s Studies. May.
Chapters in Refereed Books
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 2005. “Deconstructing the Human Rights Discourse: Relevance
for Afghan Women” (peer reviewed) in Sustainable Development: Bridging the
Research/Policy Gaps in Southern Contexts, edited by Saba Khattak. Oxford
University Press. December.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 1994. “Preserving Identity: A Case of Palitpur,” in Forging
Identities: Gender, Community and the State, edited by Zoya Hasan. New
Delhi: Kali for Women/Westview Press. Pgs. 169-187.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 1993. “Agricultural Development and Work Pattern of Women
in a North Indian Village,” in Women and Work in South Asia: Regional
Patterns and Perspectives, edited by Saraswati Raju and Deipica Bagchi.
London: Routledge. Pgs. 180-195.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 1991. “From Ivory Towers to Mud Huts: Trials and Acceptance
of a Fieldworker,” in From the Female Eye: Accounts of Women Field
Workers Studying Their Own Communities, edited by M.N. Panini. New
Delhi: Hindustan Publishing Corporation. Pgs. 11-19.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 2006. “Afghan Women: Stranded at the Intersection of Local and
Global Patriarchies,” in Gendered Violence in South Asia, edited by Angana
Chatterji and Lubna Choudhury. New Delhi: Zubaan Press. (February).
Other Publications
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 2004. “Afghan Women’s Rights: Trials and Tribulations.”
TJSL Law Review (Thomas Jefferson School of Law). vol.27, no.1. Pg.27-31.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 2003. “The USA Patriot Act and Anthropology.” Anthropology
News. vol.44. no.1. Pg.10. April.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 2001. “Feminist Perspective: September 11th and Afghan
Women.” Lemar-Aftaab. Afghanmagazine.com. December 2001. Pg. 1-2.
Translated into French.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 2000. “Impact of Globalization on the Images of Older Women
in India.” Report of International Symposium on the Impact of
Globalization on the Images of Older Women. United Nations Programme
on Ageing. Pgs.21-28.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 1999. "Gendering Anthropology." Anthropology Newsletter.
San Diego State University. Pgs. 1,6.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 1998. "Women Trapped in a Web of Hierarchy: Life Cycle of
Women in India." INSTRAW. (a United Nations Publication). Pgs.10-17.
Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. 1995. “Muslim Women Reflecting Changes in State-Society
Relations in India.” Farhang: The Persian Cultural Review. Winter.
Issue, Volume 5. Pgs. 8-12.
Blumberg, Rae Lesser, with Huma Ahmed-Ghosh. 1989. “Income Under Female Versus
Male Control: Differential Spending Patterns and Consequences When
Women Lose Control of Returns to Labor.” Population and Development
Series, The World Bank. Pgs. 60-72.
Book Reviews
2003. Women for Afghan Women: Shattering Myths and Claiming the Future.
Edited by Sunita Mehta. www.sawnet/books.
2001. Muslim Women: Crafting a North American Identity, by Shahnaz Khan. In Journal
of American Ethnic History. vol.20. no.4. Pgs. 95-96.
2001. Guru’s Gift: An Ethnography Exploring Gender Equality with North American
Sikh, by Cynthia Mehmood and Stacy Brady. In Journal of American
Ethnic History. vol.20. no.4. Pgs. 115-116.
1999. A Patchwork Shawl: Chronicles of South Asian Women in America, by Shamita
Das Das-Gupta. Violence Against Women: An International and Interdisciplinary
Journal. vol.6. no.2. Pgs. 223-228.
1999. Surviving on Gold Mountain: A History of Chinese American Women and Their
Lives, by Huping Ling. Journal of San Diego History. vol.8. no.2. Pg. 6.
Grants and Fellowships since 1999
Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace 2004. Received a $32,000 grant for
conducting a regional cooperation workshop in India with Afghanistan and Pakistan on,
“Training for Women’s Economic Skills Promotion in South Asia: Afghanistan, India
and Pakistan.”
SDSU Office of International Programs. 2004. With Prof. Doreen Mattingly to create
an exchange program with the Center for Women’s Studies and Development Center,
Delhi University, India.
Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace. 2003. Two grants facilitated my trip to
Afghanistan to study women-run non-government organizations (NGOs). It has resulted
in a manuscript entitled, “Deconstructing the Human Rights Discourse: A Case-study of
Afghanistan.” Submitted to International Feminist Journal of Politics. It has also resulted
in my coordinating the Hansen Foundation’s interest in hosting a major workshop on
issues of NGO management training for women in Afghanistan in partnership with
women-run NGOs in India, and Pakistan. $4,800 and $4,000.
Grants-in-Aid, SDSU Foundation. 2003. This grant facilitated the hiring of a research
assistant to help conduct interviews and transcribing with second-generation Muslim
women in San Diego. This has resulted in a work in progress, “Post September 11:
Second-Generation Muslim Women in America.” $6,500.
SDSU Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity (RSCA) Award. 2003. This grant
was a leave of absence for a semester. During the grant period I conducted research
among second-generation Muslim women and the construction of their identities post
9/11. I conducted interviews, and researched secondary sources on the topic. I also
completed and submitted two articles to peer reviewed journals on Ahmadi women.
California Council for the Humanities. 2003. Participated in a successful grant
application with the San Diego Public Library and Malcolm X Library to the for a project
titled, Stories of Faith: Religion and Diversity in San Diego. $80,000.
Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace. 2002. Minigrant for “Women’s Peace
Activism in India.” Provided funding for students in the Study Abroad Program to India.
$5,000
Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace. 2002. Minigrant for attending and
participating in a workshop, “Role of Women in Regional Cooperation towards South
Asian Peace,” in Kathmandu, Nepal, in June 2002. $5,000
Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace. 2002. Minigrant for “Women’s Peace
Activism in India.” Provided funding for students in the Study Abroad Program to India.
$5,000
Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace. 2001. Minigrant for “Women Connecting:
Gender, Peace, and Politics in China and the United States.” Provided funding for
students in the Study Abroad Program to China. $5,000
SDSU Office of International Programs. 2001. With Prof. Doreen Mattingly to
conduct the Study Abroad Program in China. $4,000
SDSU Office of International Program Award. 2000. China. International
Opportunity Grants for exchange programs with Chinese Universities (Profs. Susan
Cayleff, Oliva Espin, and Doreen Mattingly). $6,000
SDSU Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity (RSCA) Award. 1999. This grant
was awarded to study Ahmadi women and their coping strategies in a foreign society.
The research resulted in a conference presentation, “Claiming their Space: Ahmadi
Women in North America,” at University of California, Irvine, on Muslim Identities in
North America. May 2000. $3,531.
SDSU Office of International Programs. 1999. This grant along with the
following grant enabled to cover travel expenses to India and Pakistan. $1,000.
Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace 1999. This grant enabled me, in
collaboration with Deepak Gupta, to establish links in India and Pakistan through a
people-to-people dialogue forum for South Asian peace. This project resulted in a
conference presentation, “The University as a Peacemaking Agent: SDSU Experience.”
With Deepak Gupta. Center for the Studies of Geopolitics, Punjab University,
Chandigarh. India.
USA State Department. 2004. (Pending) Grant Proposal (RFGP) No.
ECA/PE/C/NEAAF-05-02 - South Asia Professional Exchanges and Training Program
for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Submitted a grant proposal
with the Hansen Institute to the South Asia Bureau of the U.S. State Department for a
project titled, “Training for Women’s Economic Skills Promotion in South Asia:
Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.” $200.000.
Presentation of Papers: (1999-present)
Conferences and Workshops:
Oct.2004
“Role of Women NGOs in Post-Conflict Afghanistan.” World Association
of Non-Government Organizations. Budapest, Hungary. Oct. 21-24.
July 2004
Feminism Contesting Globalization. University College, Dublin, Ireland.
July 8-10.
May 2004
“Gender, Empire, Violence: A Case of Afghanistan.” Carnegie-Mellon
Workshop. UC-Riverside. May 21.
May 2004
Feminism and Fundamentalism: Implications for Secularism, Rights and
Patriotism. Feminists Rethink South Asia Workshop. UCSD. San Diego.
May 1-2.
Feb.2004
“Afghan Women’s Rights: Trials and Tribulations.” Fourth Annual
Women and Law Conference. Thomas Jefferson School of Law. San
Diego. Feb.20.
Oct.2002
“History of Women in Afghanistan: Lessons Learnt for the Future.”
comitato di difesa sostegno promozione dei diritti donne afgane. Turin,
Italy. Oct.11-12.
Oct. 2000
“Barbie Goes to India: Impact of Globalization on the Imaging of Women
Sept.2000
May 2000
Feb.2000
Oct.1999
in India.” Annual Meetings on South Asia. University of Wisconsin,
Madison. Oct. 12-15.
“Negotiating Identity and Gender Among Immigrant Muslims.” Annual
Druze Studies Conference. San Diego. Sept. 8.
“Claiming Their Space: Ahmadi Women in North America.” Muslim
Identities in North America Conference, University of California, Irvine.
May 3-4.
“University as an Agent of Peacemaker: SDSU Experience.” With Deepak
Gupta. Center for the Studies of Geopolitics, Punjab University,
Chandigarh, India. Feb.20-24
“Impact of Globalization on the Images of Older Women in India.”
International Symposium. United Nations Department of Economic and
Social Affairs. Oct.13-15.
Invited Talks at Local Universities and Community:
Oct.2003
“Stories of Afghan Women: Making Changes in their Lives.” Feminist
Research Colloquia. Department of Women’s Studies, SDSU. Oct.22.
April2002
“Women and Islam.” Point Loma Nazarene University. April 3.
March2002 “Gender, War, and Afghanistan.” Hoover High School, Young Women’s
Club, San Diego. March 15.
Jan.2002
“Overview of the History of Women in Afghanistan.” United Nations
Association, San Diego Chapter. Jan. 26.
Nov.2001
“Women and War: Feminist Dilemmas, Afghanistan as a Case.” Teach-in.
San Diego State University. Nov. 12.
Nov.2001
“Not All Arabs are Muslims, Not All Muslims are Arabs.” Malcolm X
Library. San Diego. Nov. 8.
Nov.2001
“Afghanistan: Women, Politics and Refugees.” University of California,
San Diego. Nov. 29.
Sept.2001
“Women in Afghanistan Before and After the Taliban.” University of San
Diego. Law School and Amnesty International. Sept. 29.
March 2001 “Stress, Success and PMS: What Superwoman is Teaching our
Daughters.” Roundtable discussion. DURGA: The San Diego
Women’s Performance Festival. March 16.
April 2001
“Diversity in the Workplace: Gender, Race and Class.” City of San Diego:
Park and Recreation Department. April 4.
June 2001
“Status of Asian American Women through US History.” Beijing
University, Beijing: China. June 3.
June 2001
“Impact of Westernization on Body and Body Images of Women in
China.” Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu: China. June 6.
April 2000
“Issues and Identities of Asian-American Women.” Chinese University,
Hong Kong. April 5.
Oct.1999
Nov.1999
“Muslim Immigrant Women in North America.” Quaid-i-Azam
University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Oct. 20.
“Strategies to Encounter Domestic Violence among South Asian
Immigrants.” Sanctuary---Joining Hands Against Violence. San Diego.
(cannot remember date)
Memberships:
Member Phi Beta Delta. San Diego. 1997-present.
American Association for Asian Studies. (USA) 1995-present.
Association of Women in Development (AWID). (USA) 1985-present.
Indian Sociological Association. (India) 1981-present.
Center for Women’s Development Studies, New Delhi. (India) 1990-present.
Member, Indian Association of Women’s Studies. (India) 1994-present.
Other Professional Growth Activities
Professional Service
Editorial Board Asia-Pacific Horizons, Department of Asian Studies Newsletter.
SDSU. 1995-present.
Editorial Board Collegiate Press for their books on Women’s Studies. 1997-present.
Referee
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Working Papers: Women in International Development. Michigan State
University
International Feminist Journal of Politics
The Professional Geographer
Violence Against Women
Pacific South West Women’s Studies Association. 2001& 2002. Evaluated essays for
National Women Studies Association’s Women of Color Caucus.
Manuscript Review. 1999. Cultural Anthropology. Serena Nanda and Richard Warms.
External Academic Reviewer. 1998. Program of Interdisciplinary Disciplines, College
of Liberal Arts, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Technical Expert. June 2000. Participated in a workshop on rewriting the United Nations
Policy Paper on Ageing. Frankfurt, Germany.
Service for the University and the Community
College of Arts and Letters Service
Center for Islamic and Arabic Studies. Advisory Committee Member, Center for Islamic
and Arabic Studies (CIAS). SDSU. (2003-present)
Department of Asian Studies. Committee member: Proposal to establish the Department
of Asian Studies. (1998-2000)
Gerontology Department. Committee member: Academic Review Committee for the
Gerontology Program. San Diego State University. (2001)
Department Of Women’s Studies
International Exchange Programs:
Established an exchange program with Kanodia College, India. Took a group of 15
students and faculty to India in December 2002.
Currently in the process of creating an exchange program with the Center for Women’s
Studies and Development, Delhi University, India, and University of Hyderabad.
Established an Exchange Program with the Women’s Studies Center, Beijing University,
Beijing. In June 2001, traveled to China with 21 students and gave two lectures in Beijing
and Chengdu. I was also integral to the grant writing process for the China project.
Member of Women’s Studies Faculty Search Committees. (2000, 2001, 2003)
Member of Graduate Admissions Committee. (1999-present)
Member of the Department of Women’s Studies Feminist Research Colloquia
Committee. (2002-present)
Community Service
Founding member, past president and Advisory Committee member, South Asian
Women’s Initiative (SAWI), a support group for women of South Asian origin. (1997present).
Founded a Book Club to encourage more South Asian women to participate in the SAWI
program, and organized fund-raisers to fund the newly created hotline for distressed
women.
Member, San Diego Chapter-United Nations. (2002-present)
Media
BBC, London. 2002. Interviewed by Innes Bowen on Queen Soraya and the Afghan
Women’s Movement.
KPBS Radio. 2001 to present. Guest on These Days with Tom Fudge. Issues of Afghan
women and war, education, and Muslim women in the USA.
KPBS Radio. 2003-2004. In The Lounge with Dirk Soutro. Human Rights and
Immigrants. Iraqi women writers in exile.
KPBS Radio. 2000. Interviewed by Beth Accomando on the Indian Film Festival in San
Diego.
KPBS Television. 2003. Panelist on Democracy in Iraq, and Muslim Immigrants in San
Diego. Panels hosted by Gloria Penner.
Channel 8. 2003. Interviewed by Phil Blauer on situation of Afghanistan.