Jill Locke

Jill Locke is a Professor of Political Science and the James McPherson Endowed Chair in American History in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College. Joining the faculty in 2000, she teaches courses on political thought, democratic theory, and feminist theory, including POL-160, GWS-285, and the 2023/FA colloquium The Politics and Culture of 'Girl Power'.

• Education: B.A. from Whitman College, M.A. and Ph.D. from Rutgers University

Her research focuses on democratic theory, feminist theory, and the history of political thought, with a particular emphasis on the role of shame in democratic processes and the transnational politics of girl activism. Her book Democracy and the Death of Shame (2016) explores how shame influences political equality, while her forthcoming work Girl Heroes: Why Girls Shouldn't Have to Save Us critiques the symbolic burden placed on young female activists.

Recent publications, including Chronicle of The Girls' Bureau of Freedom and Uplift (2023) and Beyond Heroes and Hostility (2021), examine youth-led social movements, intersectional activism, and media representations of girl power. These works align with her ongoing collaboration in a multi-year project at the University of Oslo.

• Scientific Awards: 2017 Gustavus Faculty Scholarly Accomplishment Award
• Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation Fellowship (1999-2000)
• Tulane University Center for Ethics and Public Affairs Fellowship (2006-07)
• Institute for Advanced Study Fellowship (2014-15)

Locke mentors students in senior theses and political theory and integrates her research into participatory democracy and gender politics into her courses. She has presented her work at institutions including the University of Amsterdam, London School of Economics, and Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México.