Anita Raj

Examines gender differences in attitudes toward abortion access as a women’s health issue. Finds that most respondents agreed that abortion access is important for women’s health, with women more likely than men to hold this belief.

Analyzes medical provider testimonies on abortion and high-risk pregnancy during the 2023 Louisiana legislative session, examining providers' characteristics, the language and arguments they used, and legislators' questions and responses.

Examines Empowerment of Sex workers To Increase social and economic Mobility (ESTIMA), a gender-transformative microfinance program aimed at reducing HIV-related economic and social risks among female sex workers in Tijuana, Mexico. Findings show that the intervention was more successful when loans were given individually rather than through group liability, and when small, trusted groups of 3–5 women met regularly.

Examines gender representation in U.S. politics, highlighting that while women’s presence in elected offices is at a historic high, they remain under-represented compared to men. Findings show that the minority of U.S. adults believe that men are better political leaders than women, though this view is more common among conservatives and men. Underscores the need to address persistent gender biases and beliefs to achieve gender parity in political representation and ensure that women's issues are adequately addressed in policy-making.

Presents the EMERGE Framework, which aims to enhance the measurement of women's empowerment in the context of global health and development. This framework offers concrete measurable constructs to assess critical consciousness and choice, agency and backlash, and goal achievement as the empowerment process, recognizing its operation at multiple levels-from the individual to the collective.

Examines how witnessing sexual harassment affects the mental health and substance use of adolescent girls. Findings suggest that, in addition to direct experiences of sexual harassment, indirect experiences of witnessing the sexual harassment of others may also be associated with negative outcomes regarding girls’ health and well-being.

Examines the relative effects of everyday discrimination and racial/ethnic institutional discrimination on experiences of violence and mental health during the pandemic using a statewide sample of adults in California. Findings show significant effects on these outcomes, with stronger effects from everyday versus institutional discrimination.

Evaluates the impact of a gender-transformative family planning intervention (CHARM2) on young married couples in rural India, offering a scalable model to improve contraceptive use, communication, and agency and possibly decrease unplanned pregnancies for couples.

Examines the relationship between gender parity in the workplace and workplace sexual harassment among employed adults in the U.S. Findings indicate that women in female-dominated industries and men in male-dominated occupations, relative to those with workplace gender parity, are at lower risk for harassment. Additionally, women in male-dominated occupations are at greater risk for sexual harassment from supervisors. Underscores that while gender parity can influence rates of harassment, additional normative changes in workplace culture are necessary to effectively reduce workplace sexual harassment.

Introduces a journal special issue that focuses on whether and how gender equality and empowerment affect health. Defines gender equality and empowerment as used in the global health agenda, and it explains how these issues influence public health at scale.

Examines the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and sexual risk behaviors, as well as fatherhood, among young men. Findings show that participants who reported perpetrating IPV in the past year were significantly more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors such as inconsistent or no condom use, coercing sexual intercourse without a condom, having intercourse with other women, and having fathered three or more children.