Dr. Jocelyn Viterna

Biography

Jocelyn Viterna is a Professor at Harvard University in the Department of Sociology. Her research investigates how social mobilization impacts gender norms and practices within politics and government institutions, particularly in contexts of warfare and communities. Viterna's current work focuses on anti-abortion activism in El Salvador and its profound effects on the judicial system and gender litigation processes. She explores how Salvadoran obstetricians and gynecologists navigate the nation’s absolute abortion ban and how these negotiations affect the health of pregnant women and their fetuses. Additionally, Jocelyn is developing a book manuscript that places the Salvadoran case within a broader regional and transnational framework, investigating the implications of abortion laws on health, freedom, and democracy globally. Her work has been featured in prestigious journals, including the American Journal of Sociology and the American Sociological Review. Viterna is also the author of the award-winning book, "Women in War: Micro-processes of Mobilization in El Salvador" (2013, Oxford University Press), which is currently being translated into Spanish.

Research Interests

Experience