Introduction
I am a Professor in Social Work at the University of Michigan in the U.S.A. I have been working on the elimination of gender-based violence, and the promotion of rights and well-being of marginalized communities, especially immigrants/refugee communities. My work also involves participatory action research efforts to develop more inclusive disaster response and policies.
Expert
Combining research and social action at local, state, national, and international levels over the last 30 years, Dr. Yoshihama focuses on the prevention of gender-based violence and promotion of the safety and wellbeing of marginalized populations and communities. Dr. Yoshihama’s research s diverse methodologically, spanning from participatory action research to surveys with complex sampling design, from epidemiologic investigation to intervention/prevention research. Incorporating various forms of arts, such as theater and photography, Dr. Yoshihama’s action and research efforts are aimed at developing community-generated approaches. She has directed participatory action research projects aimed at organizing and mobilizing local community members to promote collective action to prevent gender-based violence. One recent project involves developing, implementing, and evaluating a broad communications campaign in a local Indian community. Since the 2011 Great East Japan Disaster, she has been directing a participatory action research project aimed at developing more inclusive disaster response and policies. In addition to serving on the advisory committee of the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, Dr. Yoshihama serves on advisory committees of various organizations dedicated to ending domestic violence.
Fields of expertise: Culture, Gender equality, Health and wellbeing, Inclusive social development / inclusive societies / social inclusion, Monitoring and evaluation, Participation, Reduction of inequalities / equity / poverty eradication, Social change / social transformations, Strategic planning