Stefania RENDA

Stefania RENDA is a Lecturer in the Department of Asian and North African Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice. She holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology from Yunnan Minzu University and conducts ethnographic research on the Mosuo ethnic group of Southwest China. Her work intersects anthropology, gender studies, and cultural identity, with a strong focus on tourism, matrilineal systems, and digital narratives.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming (2022)
• Master’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology, Ethnology, Ethnolinguistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice (2015)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Languages, Cultures and Societies of East Asia (China Curriculum), Ca' Foscari University of Venice (2012)

Her research explores the complex interplay between tradition and modernity among the Mosuo people, particularly how tourism and external influences reshape cultural identity, household organization, and gender roles. She analyzes both physical and digital spaces—such as WeChat—as arenas for identity negotiation and collective self-representation. Her fieldwork, spanning 13 months in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, underpins a robust publication and conference presentation record.

The recent publications show a consistent thematic focus on cultural representation, gender, and identity within matrilineal societies. Her work appears in edited volumes and journals in multiple languages, reflecting a transnational academic engagement. She has contributed to major conferences including the American Anthropological Association and the European Association for Chinese Studies.

Scientific Awards:

• Doctoral Research Scholarship funded by the China Scholarship Council (CSC)

Stefania RENDA is actively involved in teaching undergraduate courses such as Global Asian Studies 2: Anthropology and the History of Chinese Philosophy and Religions. She also participates in the DEA (Demo-Ethno-Anthropological) Laboratory at Ca' Foscari. She advises students by appointment and maintains an active presence in both Italian and international academic communities. Her memberships include the American Anthropological Association (AAA), the Italian Society of Applied Anthropology (SIAA), and the European Association for Chinese Studies (EACS).

She has no listed advisees or grants beyond her CSC scholarship, but her ongoing research suggests continued scholarly productivity in the anthropology of ethnic minorities in China.