Rachel Shteir

Rachel Shteir is an Associate Professor and Head of Dramaturgy at The Theatre School, DePaul University, where she has been teaching since 2000. She holds a DFA, MA in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism from Yale University and a BA in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago.

Her educational background includes:

• BA in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago
• MFA and DFA in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism, Yale School of Drama

Shteir's research spans cultural history, feminist theory, and performance studies with particular focus on gender representation in popular culture. Her scholarly work examines the intersections of entertainment, consumer behavior, and social movements, with publications ranging from the history of burlesque to feminist biography. She approaches cultural phenomena through both historical and contemporary lenses, connecting entertainment forms to broader social structures.

Her publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory examining marginalized cultural forms and their relationship to power structures. From her early work on striptease and burlesque to her more recent biography of Betty Friedan, Shteir explores how entertainment and social movements intersect with gender politics, often highlighting overlooked narratives in American cultural history.

Her notable achievements include:

• George Freedley Memorial Award for Striptease
• San Francisco Chronicle Lit Pick for Gypsy
• Finalist for the 2024 National Book Critics Circle Awards
• New Yorker Best of the Week pick
• 2025 Guggenheim Fellow
• Multiple residencies at Yaddo, MacDowell, Ragdale Colony, and VCCA

Shteir has lectured widely on popular culture and theatre, and is frequently quoted in national media. Before joining DePaul, she taught at Yale, Carnegie Mellon University, NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Columbia University School of the Arts, and the National Theatre Institute. Her writing has appeared in major publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, Slate, The Washington Post, American Theatre, and The Nation.

Her professional activities span academic teaching, cultural criticism, and public scholarship, creating connections between academic research and broader cultural discourse through her frequent media appearances and contributions to public-facing publications.