معرفی
Dr Sharon A. Bong is Professor of Gender Studies at the School of Arts and Social Sciences (SASS), Monash University Malaysia, where she has served since 2003. She currently holds key leadership roles as School Graduate Research Director and Gender Studies major coordinator. Her academic journey reflects a multidisciplinary trajectory from literary studies to Women’s Studies and Religious Studies, driven by a commitment to social justice and gender equity.
Her educational background includes a PhD in Religious Studies from Lancaster University, an MA in Women and Religion (with Distinction) from Lancaster University, an MA in English Literature from Universiti Malaya, and a BA (Hons) in English Literature from the same institution.
Dr Bong’s research focuses on the intersection of gender, sexuality, and religion in Southeast Asia, with particular emphasis on feminist and queer theologies, climate justice from a faith perspective, and the negotiation of human rights within religious and cultural contexts. She is known for developing the concept of 'critical relativism' as an Asian feminist praxis.
Her recent publications span themes in queer theology, Catholic ethics, gender and migration, and environmental justice. These works reflect a consistent engagement with global theological and feminist discourses while remaining grounded in the lived realities of Asian communities.
She has received significant recognition for her contributions, including:
- Center for Southeast Asian Studies Fellowship (2023)
- Supervisor of the Year Award (2020)
- Vice-Chancellor's Diversity and Inclusion Award (2018)
- Pro Vice-Chancellor’s Community Service Award (2007)
- Vice Chancellor Special Team Commendation Award (2021)
Dr Bong actively mentors students and has supervised numerous research projects. She has led curriculum development, notably establishing the Gender Studies major at Monash Malaysia, and has contributed to policy through collaborations with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and UNHCR. She is a founding member of the Ecclesia of Women in Asia and a regular contributor to Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church.
Her work is supported by multiple research projects, including studies on irregular migration and interreligious dialogue, and she maintains strong academic networks across Asia and Europe.
