Dr Zahra Tizro

I am a social and health psychologist. My background is interdisciplinary, with degrees in psychology and gender studies, and my research interests focus on gender and violence from a cross-cultural perspective. I have a number of publications in this area that integrate critical and psychological theories of violence with innovative methodologies and empirical research. I have experience designing and executing multidisciplinary research projects.

Prior to joining the University of East London, I was working as a senior lecturer in psychology at York St John University. Meanwhile, I worked as a research fellow at the Academic Unit of Public Health, the University of Leeds on an ESRC-funded project "Exploring Cross-cultural Values of 'Informed Choice'" in antenatal genetic screening using Q methodology. The focus of the research was to investigate the values of women, with diverse ethnic backgrounds, attached to the concept of 'informed decision-making' within the context of antenatal screening tests using Q-methodology. In the context of my PhD, I investigated the issues surrounding domestic violence against women in Iran which resulted in the monograph 'Domestic Violence in Iran: Women, Marriage and Islam'.

A particular interest is the exploration of violence at different scales, from the interpersonal to the international, with an empirical and theoretical focus on national and international relations. My most recently published co-authored manuscript is titled: The Political Economy of Iran Development, Revolution and Political Violence. My upcoming publication is titled 'Veiling and unveiling in Iran: The History, politics and lived experiences of Hijab'.