August 2023: Dr. Nazli Kibria (CAS Sociology)
Professor Nazli Kibria is Professor of Sociology. She received her undergraduate degree from Wellesley College and her PhD in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. Her teaching and research interests are in the areas of migration, race, family, and childhood with a focus on South Asia and the Asian American experience. Her current projects include research on experiences of economic decline in families and on the negotiation of adult sibling relationships across divisions of social class, immigration, and citizenship. From her earliest writings on refugee families to a recent paper on immigrant mothers of children with disabilities, the study of family life has been a central theme in her career. Professor Kibria has approached this topic from an understanding of “the family” as a dynamic, contested and variable social institution that offers a powerful window into the interactions of larger social forces with human experiences of intimacy, love, care, trust, responsibility, dependence, interdependence and more. Learn more about Professor Kibria in her full interview below.
What made you decide to be a social scientist/ why does social science matter to you?
I came to social science out of a desire to understand social inequalities and how to dismantle them. I grew up in Bangladesh, at a time and in a family that sparked my interest in colonialism and political oppression. I was also driven by a desire to make sense of gender inequality and how it impacted the lives of people, including my own. My interests have evolved over the years, but these questions are still what attract me to social science.
Can you tell us about a recent research project that you’re excited about?
I’m in the midst of a research project on cross-class adult siblings. This is a qualitative study of siblings who grew up together but whose life trajectories have diverged and created dissimilar economic circumstances and lifestyles for them in their adult years. We explore how sibling relationships are shaped by economic inequalities. What is particularly exciting about the project is that I am working with researchers in different parts of the world, including India and Sweden.
What is the best piece of professional advice you ever received?
A wise mentor once said to me: “Always remember that it’s a marathon, not a race.” In other words, what matters is the work you do over time.
What is your favorite course you’ve taught at BU?
I love teaching sociology of family. It’s a course that encourages people to see intimate aspects of their lives in a completely new light. I also see the family as a concept and an institution to be a powerful lens on social inequalities.
Tell us a surprising fact about yourself.
I’ve been writing a novel, a long family saga, for many years. Stay tuned.