Gia Davis, PhD

I am trained as a social psychologist, but am incredibly interdisciplinary, drawing a ton from all areas of psychology, Black feminism, history, sociology, political studies, legal studies, criminology, literature, really anything I can get my hands on. I have two lines of academic research, that I see as interrelated:

  1. Interpersonal Violence and Survivor-Led Movements for Justice
  2. Influence of Gender on Close Relationships

My work is mixed methods, with a strong emphasis on collaborative research methods (YPAR, CPAR) and research ethics. I believe in the democratization of research, and support the call to think expansively about what is knowledge and who has the authority to generate knowledge. 

Looking to collaborate?  I am really interested in how people are finding ways to buffer their communities against authoritarianism, fascism, and carcerality. In particular:

  • Communities using transformative justice to repair harm and address conflict
  • Creative family and relationship structures
  • Data for social justice and activist research methods
  • Impact of anti-DEI policies and practices on communities

My Peer Reviewed Publications

  • Mehta, C. M., Davis, G. E., & Smith, K. (2025). “Shouldn’t I Know If I Want to Have Kids or Not?”: Established Adult Women’s Reproductive Decision Making. Journal of Adult Development, 1-14.
  • Davis. G. E. (2023) Blame, Empathy, and Willingness to Label an Intimate Partner Sexual Assault by Victim Gender and Sexual Orientation. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 38(11–12), 7457–7484.
  • Davis, G. E. (2023). Intimate Partner Violence in the Lives of Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Men. In E. Bates & J. Taylor (Eds.), Domestic Violence Against Men and Boys: Experiences of Male Victims of Intimate Partner Violence. Routledge.
  • Davis, G. E. & Mehta, C. (2022). “We Are Okay to Be Ourselves” Gender Segregation in Gay Emerging Adult’s Friendships. Psychology of Men and Masculinity. 23(2), 209-221.
  • Davis, G. E., Hines, D. A., & Reed, K. M. P. (2021). Routine activities and stalking victimization in sexual minority college students. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37 (13-14), NP11242–NP11270.
  • Gambardella, G., Benz, M., Hines, D. A., & Palm Reed, K. M. (2020). A Descriptive Analysis of College Students’ Experiences of Female-Perpetrated Sexual Assault. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 36(4), 520-538.