Jennifer Aengst

I am a medical anthropologist with an extensive research background on reproductive health and gender disparities, specifically in India, Nepal, and Guatemala. In India and Nepal, I worked with three NGOs in 1995-1996 on the issues of girl trafficking, gender-based violence, and refugee assistance. In 2001, I interviewed Nepali human rights advocates about efforts to change legislation and build advocacy to assist girls who had been trafficked. In Guatemala, I researched how reproductive health disparities were impacting indigenous women in the highlands region. I conducted in-depth fieldwork in the north Indian region of Ladakh, where much of my research was focused on ethnic/religious tension among Buddhists and Muslims in the region. My research analyzed the persistence of health disparities, ethnic/religious conflict, and gender discrimination.