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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

Sociology ProgramDepartment of Sociaology and Anthropology
Sociology Program

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Sangeeta Jha

Assitant Professor, Fixed Term

sjha@stcloudstate.edusangeeta

Phone: 320-308-3169

Dr Jha has taught courses in Sociology and Anthropology:

  • Principlies of Sociology
  • Race and Ethnic Relations
  • Introductory Cultural Anthropology
  • Women in South Asia
  • Societies and Cultures of South Asia

Research Projects:

Listening to the young voices of India: a journey through the enigmatic world of Indian Teenage culture

D r. Lalita Subrahmanyan, Professor of Elementary and Middle Level Education at St. Cloud State University, and I are currently working on a project titled “Listening to the Young Voices of India: A Journey through the Enigmatic World of Indian Teenage Culture.”  This topic stems from our interest in the teen culture of developing India and its educational and socio-cultural implications.  Our recent visits to India have sparked in us the curiosity to explore, unravel, understand, and appreciate the elusive world of the young adolescent of modern India.  Our intent therefore is to focus on and unravel the mysterious and confusing world of younger teenage students in India.  Our long term goal is to broaden this investigation by applying a comparative perspective to assess and explain both similarities and differences between adolescent, popular, and native cultures of Indian teenagers and of adolescents of the Indian origin in the United States.

HIV and AIDS: Fighting for our future

I am also working with Dr. Patience Togo (Social Work, SCSU) on a research project called, “HIV&AIDS:  Fighting For Our Future.”  The very thought of AIDS (Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome) sends down chills down one’s spine.  Little wonder then that AIDS has been declared as a worldwide pandemic.  This deadly disease is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  We decided to explore this worldwide pandemic because its consequences are far-reaching.  It victimizes people irrespective of their race, ethnicity, religion, sex/gender, and age.  However, certain groups are more vulnerable than others.  According to WHO (1995), sexually transmitted infections, including HIV are most common among young vibrant people between the ages of 15-24.  The purpose of this exploratory study is to enhance our understanding of today’s youth, their social, cultural, physical, and sexual behavior patterns.  In order to get to the crux of these burning issues, we decided to go to the fountainhead, i.e., the students of SCSU. The study will build a bridge between students, teachers, policy makers, planners, administrative officers, and health officials.