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Dr. Usha Rana is a scholar of Sociology, specializing in gender studies, women’s studies, social justice, social implications of technology, culture, and marginalized communities. She is currently working as an Associate Professor at the School of Gender and Development Studies (SOGDS), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Dr. Rana earned her PhD in Sociology from Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, with a focus on marginalized communities, particularly the Bedias. Her doctoral research, which explored the cultural subjectivity of this marginalized group, reflects as commitment to amplifying the voices of those often overlooked by mainstream discourse. She has qualified for the UGC-NET examination in Sociology three time. She currently serves as the Coordinator for the Diploma in Women’s Empowerment and Development (DWED). With over a decade of academic and research experience, she has published extensively in high- impact journals indexed in SSCI, SCI, and Scopus, and her recent works include manuscriptssuch as Gond Painting and Their Women Artists: Journey from Tradition to Modernity (AsianEthnicity, 2024) and, Are We Safe? An Investigation on Eve-Teasing (Sexual Harassment) in India (Journal of International Women’s Studies, 2023). Additionally, Dr. Rana has edited several books that tackle pressing issues like gender inequality, sex trafficking, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on women. Some of her notable works include Gendered Nature ofSocial Media Networks (CRC Press, USA 2025), Sociotechnical Framework for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (CRC Press, USA 2024), and  Exploring the Consequences of theCOVID-19 Pandemic: Social, Cultural, Economic, and Psychological Insights and Perspectives (CRC Press, USA 2022).

Dr. Rana has actively presented her research at national and international conferences, includingthe Finland World Convention 2023 in Mikkeli, Finland, the ISA World Congress of Sociology 2023 in Melbourne, Australia, and the ISA Forum of Sociology 2021 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. She has delivered expert talks on various national and international platforms and continues to contribute to global discussions on social justice, gender equality, and marginalized communities. In addition to her research and teaching, she mentors postgraduate and PhD students, guiding them in their sociological research and fostering critical perspectives on social issues. She is an active member of several academic organizations, including the International Sociological Association (ISA), the Indian Sociological Society (ISS), and the Indian Association for Women’s Studies (IAWS). Dr. Rana also serves as a reviewer for numerous SSCI and Scopus-indexed journals. She has received research grants for presenting her work in International Conference and is voluntarily involved with NGOs, contributing to community-based research for social change.