Marjorie Harness Goodwin

Marjorie Harness Goodwin is a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her research focuses on linguistic anthropology, particularly the embodied practices of human interaction in social, familial, and workplace contexts. She explores how language, touch, and environment shape social dynamics, morality, and cultural integration.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania (1978)
• Ph.D. Honoris Causa, Uppsala University (2014)

Research Interests:

• Ethnography of communication
• Embodied interaction and touch
• Conversation analysis
• Language and gender
• Family and workplace ethnography
• Children's social organization

Publications: Dr. Goodwin’s work includes monographs like *The Hidden Life of Girls* (2006) and *Embodied Family Choreography* (2018), alongside influential articles on haptic sociality and interactional analysis. Recent research emphasizes touch as a modality of care and social coordination, with interdisciplinary impact in anthropology, sociology, and healthcare.

Awards:

• Ph.D. Honoris Causa, Uppsala University (2014)

Advising & Grants: She has mentored numerous graduate students across Anthropology, Applied Linguistics, and Education. Her research has been presented globally, including the New York Academy of Sciences Distinguished Lecture Series (2022) and the Vectors Conference (2023).

Labs & Teams: Her work is supported by UCLA’s Social Sciences Division and collaborations with interdisciplinary groups like the Colab Anthropology Lab (linked via her personal and lab websites).