Jovonne Bickerstaff
Graduate Student in Sociology
Biographical Note
Jovonne Bickerstaff, is a doctoral candidate in sociology at Harvard University, and an alumna of MIT (2002 - BS in Urban Studies & Planning; BS in Writing & Humanistic Studies) and the University of Cambridge, St. Johns College (2005 - MPhil in Social & Developmental Psychology). Her doctoral dissertation examines how African American couples in enduring relationships – married and cohabiting, across classes - approach, conduct and understand their intimate relationships. It attempts to shed light on the practices, support systems and interpersonal dynamics that facilitate enduring unions. Jovonne has also conducted extensive research in France on everyday anti-racism and ethnoracial & national identity among 1st generation French of Sub-Saharan African origin (2nd generation immigrants), with a focus on how the increasing racialization of representations of both Frenchness and foreignness impact their perceptions of life chances, equality and opportunity in French society. Jovonne is a Ford Foundation Fellow and has been a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, Cambridge Gates Scholar, and US Fulbright Grantee to France.
09/01/2011
- Research Interests
- African American couples, relationship maintenance, intersections of culture and gender, 1st generation black French, negotiations of national identity & boundaires of belonging for 1st generation nationals, everyday anti-racism, qualitative methods
- Previous Degrees
-
MPhil Social Psychology, University of Cambridge, 2005
A.M. Sociology, Harvard, 2009
S.B. Urban Studies & Planning, MIT, 2002
S.B. Writing & Humanistic Studies, MIT, 2002
| Teaching Experience | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sociology BC3318 | Sociology of Sexuality (Barnard College) | Teaching Asst |
| African & African American Studies 97 | Race & Humanism - Sophomore Tutorial | Teaching Fellow |
| Foreign Cultures 46 | Caribbean Societies | Teaching Fellow |
| Sociology 3302y | Sociology of Gender (Barnard College) | Teaching Asst |
| Sociology 2208x | Culture in America (Barnard College) | Teaching Asst |
| Sociology W3010 | Social Research Methods (Barnard College) | Teaching Asst |
| SOC 2_HUM 101 | Sociology of Intimate Relationships (Bard College Prison Initiative) | Instructor |
- Qualifying Paper Title
- Noir et Français: Everyday Anti-racism and Challenges to the Racialization of French Identity
Miscellaneous Additional Information
- Oral Exam Topic
- African American Gender Relations & Relationships (Distinction)
- Grants Received
- NSF Fellowship 2007; Ford Foundation Predoctoral 2007; Harvard Center for European Studies, Graduate Summer Research Grant 2008
Contact
617-496-5794 (FAX)