About
Dr. Cara Snyder (she/they) is Assistant Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and affiliated faculty of the Latin American and Latino Studies program.
Research Interests
My work focuses on transnational feminist politics, culture, and social movements in Latin America from the 20th century to the present. Against the backdrop of rising rightwing extremism, my first book project examines the strategic uses of visibility by women and LGBTQ+ futebolistas (soccer players) in Brazil as they struggle for rights and recognition beyond the bounds of normative citizenship. My published scholarship, both recent and forthcoming, demonstrates my interest in the following areas: transnational feminism, LGBTQ+ studies, Latin American and Brazilian Studies, physical cultural/sport studies, digital studies, visual studies, performance studies, race and racialization studies, antifascism, and feminist pedagogy. Fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, I seek transnational, multilingual research collaborations that are ethical, reciprocal, and action-oriented.
Currently, I am conducting Community Engaged Research as co-Principal Investigator of “Homing In: Community Engaged Research on LGBTQ+ Youth Houselessness in Louisville, Kentucky” (IRB 22.0675). Together with Sweet Evening Breeze, queer youth experiencing homelessness, and a team of undergraduate and graduate student researchers from UofL, we are exploring how LGBTQ+ youth who are currently unhoused understand their pasts, navigate their presents, and imagine their futures. Our methods include survey, interview, focus groups and photo voice.
Since arriving at UofL in Fall 2020, I have received a number of fellowships and grants including a/an: Jon Rieger Seed Grant (2022- 2023), Gheens Grant for Community Engaged Scholarship (2022-2023), Commonwealth Center for the Humanities in Society Bingham Faculty Fellowship (2021-2022), and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Digital Ethnic Studies Consortium Teaching Fellowship (2021-2022).
Prior to my doctoral training, I worked as a Program Associate in The Americas Program at The Carter Center, Fulbright Scholar and English Teacher in Brazil, College Admissions Counselor at Agnes Scott, bartender and server, swim instructor, and tutor. Having recently given birth to my first child, I am increasingly interested in reproductive justice and feminist parenting. I aspire to feminist and antiracist pedagogy and rejoice in working with students!
Courses Taught:
- Online and In the Streets: Feminist Protest in Latin America
- Transnational Feminism in Theory and Praxis (graduate level course)
- Feminist, Queer, and Trans Approaches to Sport (graduate level course)
- Women in American Culture (AHD1)
- Seeing Gender: Gender and Visual Studies (AHD1)
- Digital Feminism (SBD2)
I have taught the following independent studies:
- Methods in Digital Studies
- Feminist Game Studies
- Feminist Social Justice Leadership