Laurel Westbrook

Dr. Laurel Westbrook is a Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, specializing in gender, sexuality, and transgender studies, with a focus on violence, social movements, and methodological innovation. They employ textual analysis, statistical analysis, and interviews in their research.

• Education: Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley

Research Interests: Their work interrogates the sex/gender/sexuality system's role in shaping societal understandings of violence, dynamics of social movements, and production of sociological knowledge. They integrate poststructuralist theory with empirical analysis to reveal power structures embedded in identity frameworks.

Publications: Their scholarship appears in Social Problems, Gender & Society, and Sexualities, including award-winning books on transgender activism and sexuality studies.

Awards & Recognition: Multiple honors from the American Sociological Association and Society for the Study of Social Problems for their groundbreaking work.

Affiliations: Co-founder and former co-chair of Sociologists for Trans Justice, advocating for inclusive academic practices.