YE'ELA LAHAV-RAZ

Senior Academic

Teaching

Dr. Lahav-Raz brings over a decade of teaching experience across universities and colleges in Israel, where she has established herself as a dedicated and inspiring educator. She views teaching as an integral aspect of her academic vocation, approaching it with unwavering passion, enthusiasm, and a deep commitment to the intellectual growth of both undergraduate and graduate students. Her dedication to pedagogy is reflected in consistently outstanding teaching evaluations, earning her recognition as an Outstanding Lecturer in 2022 and an Outstanding and Inspirational Lecturer in 2024. These accolades underscore her ability to create engaging, impactful learning environments that resonate with her students and colleagues alike.

Digital Anthropology

The course aims to expose the students to how the digital are affects culture, society, and the community around the world. Throughout the course, we will examine how classical and contemporary anthropology theories help us understand the role of digital technologies in society and how anthropological research tools can be applied in digital research. By discussing the evolving discipline of digital anthropology, we will examine the significance of technological tools such as mobile phones, smartphones, social networks, computer games in diverse social and cultural contexts. We will discuss the interfaces and fluidity of the spaces between online and offline and the creation of online communities, the intersections of globalization and digital spaces, online activism etc.

"Cowboy of Roses": Anthropological and sociological views of Men and Masculinities in Israel

This course examines how gendered social order affects how men experience themselves, other men, women, and social situations through the concept of masculinities. The students will be exposed to masculinities studies as a discipline and as a social, political and economic phenomenon. The course is designed to familiarise the students with the concept of masculinity and examine how the modern era, characterized by ambiguity and confusion regarding the idea of masculinity, affects men who suffer from an identity crisis when traditional masculine values can no longer adequately serve them. Through sociological and anthropological theories concerning men and masculinities, the students will conduct a critical and interdisciplinary examination of the social construction of men and masculinities in multiple cultural and historical contexts. Alongside focusing on Israeli masculinity's social and historic structure, the course will deal with various issues such as initiation ceremonies, militarism, masculinity and sexuality, fatherhood, masculinity and sports, masculinity and work, and the intersections of gender, nationality, ethnicity and class.

The Politics of Pornography

The course will deal with the history of pornography and the theoretical-political debates surrounding the issue. During the course, we will examine pornography as part of establishing the broad field of sexuality while focusing on the controversy between different feminist theories. Does pornography harm women, serves as an act of violence against them (as individuals and as a group), or can it produce alternative constructions of gender and sexuality? During the course, we will examine theoretical texts as well as cultural texts from diverse fields such as art, poetry, literature and cinema.

Anthropology of Robotics

The course will examine the multidisciplinary field of robotics using an anthropological lens. We will explore how robots, artificial intelligence, artificial life and cyborgs, reflect and reveal the social arrangements and cultural practices that created them. What are the cultural ideas that permeate the robot manufacturing process? How do various robots challenge social and cultural perceptions about human identity and the relationship between humans and the posthuman? What is a social robot? Do robots have agency? Are robots a danger to humanity? Through laboratory tours, meetings with researchers in the field and critical reading and analysis of texts, students will discuss these questions in a variety of areas related to popular culture (literature and cinema), imagination and fiction, the world of work, ageing, power, gender and the politics of the cyborg body, care, intimacy, sexuality, identity, etc.

Qualitative Research Methods

The course aims to introduce students to one of the dominant paradigms in today's social sciences - qualitative interpretive research - while learning key concepts of the paradigm and practical experience with the methods for empirical research it offers.

The Anthropology of sex and sexuality

Sex and sexuality are essential dimensions of the human experience, intricately connecting the body, mind, and society. While sexual expression may originate in biology, it is rofoundly shaped by cultural forces, making sex and sexuality central to how we define ourselves, relate to others, communicate, and understand what it means to be human. These categories influence our lives in deeply personal and socially constructed ways, shaping identities, relationships, and societal norms.
In this course, students will explore classical and contemporary anthropological theories on sex and sexuality, engaging with diverse perspectives that reveal the dynamic ways cultures across the world conceptualize and shape these categories. Through this lens, students will critically examine how cultural frameworks influence sexual practices, norms, and identities, offering profound insights into
the interplay between biology and culture in shaping human sexuality.

The sex currency: prostitution, sex work, and sex trafficking

The terms "prostitution" and "sex work" are not monolithic or universally consistent; they represent a range of historical, cultural, and social realities, encompassing diverse populations, forms of labor, and ideological perspectives. This course offers an interdisciplinary introduction to the complexities of the sex industry, both locally and globally, with the aim of fostering critical thinking and analytical skills to navigate this often divisive, emotive, and contentious subject matter. Students will engage with a broad spectrum of social theories, concepts, and ideologies to deepen their understanding of the social, economic, and cultural contexts in which the contemporary sex industry operates. Topics include the spatial evolution of the industry, from traditional physical venues (such as streets, strip clubs, and discreet apartments) to the emergence of online platforms, highlighting the industry's adaptation to new technologies and spaces. Furthermore, the course examines the diverse actors within the industry, including sex workers, clients, and intermediaries, as well as the policy changes, legislation, and societal forces shaping their experiences. Central themes include gender, deviance, violence, socio-cultural inequalities, economic structures, migration, and the histories of sexuality. Key questions will guide discussions: Is it possible to choose to engage in prostitution or sex work? What does "coercion" entail in this context—is it limited to physical force, or does it extend to economic, social, or emotional pressures? What are the connections and distinctions between the sex trade and sex work? By addressing these questions, students will critically explore the nuanced and often contentious debates surrounding agency, power, and exploitation in the sex industry.