Lindsey Allemang Goldberg

Lindsey Allemang Goldberg, Ph.D. student, Political Science

Researches women at war


“Lindsey studies an important topic on gender dynamics in rebel groups, helping us to understand the role that women play in civil wars… She is an incredibly hard working and intelligent PhD student who is going to be a leader in the next generation of political scientists.” – Brian Lai, Associate Professor, Political Science

Hometown: Tempe, Arizona
Faculty mentor/advisor: Dr. Brian Lai
What is your degree program and expected graduate date? Ph.D. in Political Science (expected graduation Summer 2022)
Please describe your research: My research focuses on women who fight in armed rebel movements around the world. I study how women’s participation in these movements shapes understandings of conflict dynamics and gender, and I study how these understandings shape women’s lived experiences in the context of civil wars. My current research specifically examines what leads to the perpetration of reproductive violence against women within armed rebel movements.
In simple terms, why does this research matter? My research not only makes women’s participation in armed conflict more visible – challenging common assumptions of war being a male enterprise – but also highlights the myriad ways women experience civil wars. My work emphasizes that these experiences are not monolithic, and that as dynamic actors, women can both be perpetrators and victims of political violence. This work contributes to broader efforts within international relations to think more critically about the gender dynamics of armed conflict, so that the acute post-conflict needs of women in civil war-torn countries can be better addressed.
How soon after starting at the University of Iowa were you able to participate in research? I began working on research in my first semester as a Ph.D. student at the University of Iowa.
How has being involved in research made you more successful at the University of Iowa? Working on research has enhanced my critical thinking skills and made me better equipped to have meaningful conversations with colleagues, students, and people outside of my field about issues of importance to international relations scholars. As such, my experiences conducting research at Iowa have made me a stronger teacher and collaborator within this academic community.
What are your career goals and/or plans after graduation? I will start as an Assistant Professor of International Relations, specializing in Feminist IR, at the University of Florida in Fall 2022.



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