Farha Ghannam

Farha Ghannam is the Eugene M. Lang Research Professor of Anthropology at Swarthmore College, with affiliations in Global Studies, Islamic Studies, and Gender & Sexuality Studies. She is currently on sabbatical leave for the 2025–26 academic year.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Social Anthropology, The University of Texas at Austin (1997)
  • M.A., Social Anthropology, Yarmouk University, Jordan (1988)
  • B.A., Journalism and Mass Communication, Yarmouk University, Jordan (1984)

Her research explores themes in urban anthropology, gender dynamics, spatial practices, and identity politics in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly Egypt and Jordan. She examines the intersections of gender, religion, and globalization, focusing on how cultural practices and urban environments shape identities and social norms.

The trends in her recent publications emphasize the role of urban space, masculinity, and political activism in Egypt. Her work often analyzes the impact of globalization on local identities, the anthropology of the body, and the cultural interpretations of violence during the Egyptian Revolution.

Farha Ghannam teaches courses such as Cultures of the Middle East, Food and Culture, and Urban Ethnographies. She has contributed extensively to understanding gender inequalities, contemporary Islamic practices, and the politics of identity through ethnographic research.