Dr. Tara Deubel

November 4, 2019  |  USF WORLD NEWS

Dr. Tara Deubel, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology, is a Fulbright Global Research Scholar who spent 10 months conducting her research in Morocco.  She was affiliated with Université Ibn Zohr and worked closely with their Department of Sociology studying the Moroccan dialect of Arabic and two main research projects that primarily focused on women’s legal rights and forms of feminist activism.

The first project analyzed the impacts of the 2004 national reform of Moroccan family law and the experiences of women seeking assistance in cases of domestic violence, divorce, and other family issues. The second project, conducted with graduate students, was a study of rural Berber women’s experiences producing argan oil in villages surrounding the Souss region and investigated the socioeconomic impacts of this expensive oil industry on women producers at the village level.

“By witnessing firsthand some of the difficulties and limitations faced by Moroccan women in both urban and rural settings,” Deubel says, “I learned that one of the greatest needs is to increase women's access to literacy, education, and employment opportunities to improve their position in society.” Throughout her Fulbright experience, Deubel affirmed that although legal change is important, investing in and promoting women’s education must be a priority worldwide.

Deubel wants to share her findings and experiences in her upcoming classes, and plans to start a future summer study abroad program in Morocco so that USF students can have the opportunity to learn about Moroccan history, culture, and contemporary social issues.

To those looking to apply for a Fulbright scholarship, Deubel says, “Fulbright provides an incredible opportunity to experience daily life in a host country and to broaden your perspective as a scholar by collaborating with international colleagues and students in your field.”