About Mischa
Mischa Shuman is a writer and researcher whose work intersects at the boundary of quantitative sociology, and gender. She is an applied physicist at Harvard University where she studies applications of mathematical and physical models to social network theory. At Harvard, prior to her work on social network theory, she did research on femtosecond lasers and then went on to study HIV entry into cells through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Mischa did her M.Sci in physics at Imperial College London and her thesis was on the development of high temperature superconductors. Her scientific research has been published in Applied Physics Letters.
Mischa is a feminist who believes intersectional engagement is crucial in the struggle for the liberation of women and queer people. As with any liberation struggle, she believes a feminist revolution will require a fundamental reorganisation of society and the dismantling of oppressive structures. Trans and queer liberation is a key tenet of women’s liberation. Mischa is a survivor of sexual abuse and harassment and stands in solidarity with others who have been victims of sexual violence.
As a trans woman of color, Mischa has been at the forefront of writing on intersectional aspects of misogyny, transphobia - especially transmisogyny - and queerphobia. Through her essays and opinion pieces, Mischa has exposed the alarming misogyny and transphobia that is central to the recent meteoric rise of “strongmen” authoritarians. Her writing has featured in Slate, the Guardian, Ms.Magazine, the Advocate, as well as other major publications. Mischa was the first transgender woman to serve on the board of Lambda Literary and was committed to bringing a transgender perspective to burning controversies and debates in queer literature. Mischa’s “brilliant words” have been quoted in essays and books on feminist thought, and she has been invited on radio and television to discuss her writing. In 2017, Mischa was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in the nonfiction category for her essay “Hiding the T in Trans Rights”.
Mischa is a mother of three, and her children amaze her every day with their wit, insight, and compassion. She has been featured in GOOD where she shared her perspectives on emotional labor and motherhood. While she misses their rapidly receding baby years, she is delighted to watch her children grow into curious and fascinating people and feels fortunate that her children have talents and passions that fill her days admiring art, musical performances, and dances that span a variety of genres and cultures. Through parts of the pandemic, like many other mothers and parents, Mischa taught her children their primary school curriculum, and it was one of the most difficult - but also richly rewarding - experiences of her life. According to the Advocate, Mischa “makes a powerful argument” that “a uterus is not required for motherhood” through her essay on her experiences as a trans mother. When she is not reading, exploring ethical issues with her family, and cuddling (or just as often negotiating) with her children, she loves to bake - especially cakes for her loved ones’ birthdays.
