Mandy Van Deven

Mandy Van Deven
Born March 23, 1980
Athens, Georgia, United States
Occupation Author and Activist
Nationality American
Education BA Women's Studies, BA Sociology, Master of Social Work
Period late 20th/early 21st century
Genre books, magazine articles
Website
mandyvandeven.com

Mandy Van Deven (born 1980) is a writer, editor, global advocate, and communications strategist. She is the co-author of “Hey, Shorty! A Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment and Violence in School and on the Streets” (2011) and has written for numerous publications, including Salon, The Guardian, AlterNet, GlobalPost, Marie Claire (India), The Huffington Post, ColorLines, Curve, Ms., and Bitch.

Background

Van Deven and her two sisters were raised by a single mother in Athens, Georgia. She was able to attend Georgia State University with the financial assistance of the HOPE Scholarship while also working full-time at an indie record store in Little Five Points and the university’s Women’s Studies Institute. Van Deven got involved in social justice activism while in college and moved to New York City shortly after graduation. Her first job as a community organizer was with Girls for Gender Equity (GGE), where she eventually became the associate director.

Van Deven has worked with organizations in the United States and internationally, including International Planned Parenthood Federation, Sustainable Health Enterprises, Blank Noise, Red Hook Initiative, Haiti Adolescent Girls Network, and High-Level Task Force for ICPD.

She holds a Bachelor of Sociology and Bachelor of Women's Studies from Georgia State University, and a Master of Social Work from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.

Writing

Van Deven began her career as a writer after moving to Kolkata, India in 2008. While living in Kolkata for two years, she built her reputation by focusing on contemporary feminisms, global health, gender-based violence, queer sexuality, and human rights.

Van Deven has written about child marriage,[1] street harassment,[2] women's safety in public spaces,[3] violence against women in Latin America,[4] men and feminism,[5] and global health.[6]

Van Deven was the guest editor of the Summer 2010 issue of Barnard Center for Research on Women's online journal, “The Scholar & Feminist Online.” The issue was entitled Polyphonic Feminisms: Acting in Concert.

Van Deven also co-wrote “Hey, Shorty! A Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment and Violence in School and on the Streets” with Girls for Gender Equity's founder and executive director, Joanne N. Smith, and former director of community organizing, Meghan Huppuch. The book details the first eight years of the organization's work to make New York City public schools safer for girls and LGBTQ youth.

Van Deven has spoken to audiences throughout the United States at New York University, Barnard College, American University, Hunter College, University of Maryland, Sarah Lawrence College, Pratt Institute, West Chester University, and The New School, as well as in bookstores and at community organizations. She has been featured in Mic,[7] Salon,[8] In These Times,[9] Progressive Radio,[10] Alternet,[11] and WBAI.

Selected Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Van Deven, Mandy. (July 2014) "Meet The Child Brides Of Pakistan." Refinery29
  2. ↑ Van Deven, Mandy. (April – June 2011) Takin’ it to the Streets (series). Bitch
  3. ↑ Van Deven, Mandy. (October 9, 2012) How to stop sexual harassment on public transportation.' The Guardian
  4. ↑ Van Deven, Mandy. (March 1, 2013) Is gender violence getting worse in Latin America? GlobalPost
  5. ↑ Van Deven, Mandy. (Fall 2009) Is Feminism Men’s Work, Too? Herizons
  6. ↑ Van Deven, Mandy. (May 24, 2013) The Hidden Reality of Cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean RH Reality Check
  7. ↑ Bianco, Marcie. (October 22, 2014) 31 Tweets Prove the Future of Feminism Is Here — And It's on Twitter.
  8. ↑ Traister, Rebecca. (July 5, 2005) The F Word. Salon
  9. ↑ Doyle, Sady. (October 3, 2011) SlutWalk NYC: Real Empowerment, Corsets and All. In These Times
  10. ↑ Rothschild, Matthew. (June 2011) An Interview with Mandy Van Deven. Progressive Radio
  11. ↑ Bader, Eleanor J. (May 13, 2013) Men Step Up to Support Women's Rights and Fight Violence.

External links