Elizabeth Brownson

Dr. Elizabeth 'Beth' Brownson is Associate Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. She specializes in Middle East history with particular focus on Palestine/Israel, Muslim family law, Islamic feminism, and the intersection of gender and empire. She completed her graduate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she received a Fulbright-Hays fellowship to support her dissertation research.

Her research examines legal systems and gender dynamics in Middle Eastern contexts, exploring how religious law and colonial legacies shape contemporary social structures. Current projects investigate feminist interpretations of Islamic family law and comparative colonial gender policies.

Dr. Brownson teaches courses on Middle Eastern history, gender studies, and world history, connecting historical patterns to contemporary issues in the region. Her pedagogical approach emphasizes primary source analysis and comparative methodologies.