Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
My life before BGU:
I was born in the north, in the Jezreel Valley, and grew up in Kibbutz Merhavia. I went to the Amakim high school in Kibbutz Mizra. I knew I wanted to be an anthropologist from the age of 17 and did all three degrees in departments of sociology and anthropology – my BA at the Academic College of Emek Yezreel, my MA at the Hebrew University and my PhD at BGU. Over the years I have studied a variety of topics, such as Jewish spiritualism and Jewish repentance, gender, sport and ethno-nationalism, sexuality, and prostitution and the sex trade.
"I love to run. Running is therapeutic and every time I feel stuck, a good run untangles the knots in my mind or soul. Over the years I have learned that I have the personality of a mountain climber; I have an enduring passion to reach the summit"
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My Research?
As an anthropologist focusing on the intersections between sexual and gender politics, technological changes, and social deviation, I have been studying a range of aspects of the Israeli sex trade, including prostitution among youth and teenagers; the implications of technological advances on sex work and consumption; repertoires of masculinity among prostitutes' clients; the history of regulations and policy towards prostitution and sex work in Israel; the affects of digital media on activism in the sex trade, and perceptions of legislative models by sex workers.
Over the past three years, while I was a postdoc at the University of Rhode Island (2017) and an ISF-funded postdoc at the University of Leicester in the UK (2018-2020), I researched sex tourism in the Middle East and the effect of human trafficking policies in the global north on the development of regulations on prostitution in the Middle East. Additionally, last year I began a joint project with colleagues at Tel Aviv University looking at the effects of the coronavirus crisis on the work of organizations assisting people in the sex trade.
Why BGU?
I chose to do my PhD at BGU, because of my adviser, Prof. Niza Yanay. I was looking for an adviser who wasn’t just an excellent scholar, but also a human being, and heard about her. Once I got here, I found a fantastic department, supportive and professional, in terms of the faculty members, the administrative staff, and the students and colleagues. My doctoral studies were a wonderful time, and a remedy to less pleasant experiences in other institutions. In my experience, as a doctoral student and then as teaching fellow, BGU is a unique institution in academia, and it is with great joy and pride that I return to a university that was always home to me.
An insight from my research:
As an anthropologist, feminist, and activist, I believe that a researcher should adopt a humble approach and begin each study with the understanding that she doesn't understand anything. I believe that knowledge should be accessible to everyone, and especially, that the people I encounter in my research are the true experts. They have the knowledge and experience, and an ethical study is one which gives them their due respect; not just by making their voices heard, but also by making room for them to be partners in the research's various stages and enjoy its fruits.
Something that doesn't appear on my CV:
I love to run. Running is therapeutic and every time I feel stuck, a good run untangles the knots in my mind or soul. Over the years I have learned that I have the personality of a mountain climber; I have an enduring passion to reach the summit. There are advantages and disadvantages to this, because just like a mountain climber, the moment you conquer one summit, you begin thinking about the next one, and forget that the journey there is what’s important. On the one hand, this is a positive element of my personality, because it is a strong engine of growth, but on the other hand, I would like to learn to enjoy the satisfaction of having reached a goal and understanding the path getting there.
A source of inspiration:
There's no single one. Rather than ranging far and wide, I would like to mention just a few of the wonderful women who have been my friends and colleagues: Dr. Tamar Arev, Dr. Tamar Tauber-Pauzner, Dr. Inbal Wilamovski and (soon to be Dr.) Inbal Faran-Perach. Their actions, their ability to support, cheer, love and be critical are my inspiration. Each one of us needs a tribe of wise and kind women surrounding her and I am lucky that they are my tribe. They are joined by my family dynasty of women, including my two smart and brave daughters who teach me fascinating life lessons.
When I grow up:
As a child I deliberated between wanting to be a librarian spending my days among books (and I was fascinated by Rahel the librarian's long black braid[D1] ) and being a nun (I was fascinated by nuns' outfits). From the age of 17, I've wanted to be an anthropologist and today I am an anthropologist and still want to be one… When I grow up I want to feel as though I have made a significant contribution to the world..
If I wasn't a researcher, I would...
Research curiosity is a key component of my personality, so it's hard to see myself doing something else. I suppose that if I had the economic wherewithal, I would travel the world learning about other peoples and cultures.
In brief:
» Facebook or Twitter? Facebook for depth and Twitter for focused professional exposure
» Fortis or Sakharov? Rona Kenan
» Ocean or pool? Ocean, ocean and more ocean. There's nothing like the peace you get watching the ocean.
» Night or Morning? I'm a morning person. There's nothing like the really early morning hours, when it feels like the whole world is asleep and I have my peace and quiet
» Winter or summer? For years I loved the winter, mainly because I was born in February. From the moment I became a mother, my internal thermostat changed, and now I prefer the summer
» Cat or dog? Why not both?
