The Department of Political Science welcomed Dr. Calla Hummel to UBC this summer as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Hummel joined us from the University of Miami.
We spoke to Dr. Hummel about their research and what students can look forward to in their courses.
Dr. Calla Hummel
Could you tell us a bit about your research and what drives it? What types of questions do you attempt to address?
I research how people influence politics, especially people who don’t usually get political power. Most of my work is with trans activists and informal workers’ unions in Bolivia, Brazil, and the United States. My book, Why Informal Workers Organize, was about how people unionize and work with local government even when they do not have stable jobs or labor contracts.
What projects are you currently working on? Do you have any publications recently out or forthcoming?
I am currently working on several projects about the expansion of trans rights around the world. I and a coauthor recently published an article about how trans activists in Bolivia, including a very active group of unionized sex workers, wrote and passed trans rights legislation in Bolivia. We have an article forthcoming about how trans people who work informally often start their own businesses to avoid employment discrimination. I am also leading another team of researchers to look at name change processes in the United States and the effects of anti-trans legislation.
You’re teaching Issues in Comparative Politics: 2SLGBTQIA+ Politics and Policy starting in September. Can you tell us about the class? What can students expect?
The class looks at the kinds of 2SLGBTQIA+ policies that have spread around the world in the last few decades, why policy spreads, and their effects. There will be a big emphasis on the role of activists and activism, because 2SLGBTQIA+ activists are most often the people writing and pushing for these policies. There will be a lot of examples from Latin America, with some from Europe and North America, and a lot on trans rights because that is my current research agenda. The class will be lecture-based with a fair amount of reading and small and large group discussions.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I run, cook, read a lot of science fiction, and spoil my dog. I have started to get to know the city by running around it and walking with my dog, and I am enjoying using the public library. One of my favorite weekend activities is to buy too much produce at the farmers’ market, get creative with how to eat it all, and invite friends over to help.
