Mariam El-Haj

I am a Clinical Psychology graduate student who has been living on the southern border of Texas for over 18 years. I have my Bachelors' in Psychology and Sociology and plan to continue studying towards my Doctorates', aspiring for a phD in Health Psychology. I currently work as a babysitter for a child with autism, and previously worked as research assistant with the Office of Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention at my campus, The University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley, as a case manager at Tropical Texas Behavioral Health center, and as a secretary and medical assistant at Filosa Children's Clinic; I and am also a part of several on-campus and off-campus organizations, such as Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, Texas Freedom Network: Texas Rising, and Aquí Estamos RGV.

I am organizing locally for resistance against the Trump administration for immigration and border wall issues. As a personal victim of gun violence, I advocate for changing the way people view guns and gun laws, especially living in an open-carry state, as well as attending a campus-carry university. I am part of the #Fight4AFuture National Leadership Council for Generation Progress based in Washington, D.C. and our focus is gun violence and criminal justice reform.

I'm a first-generation American from Palestinian and Argentinian immigrants, and I grew up in a multicultural home. I live in the Rio Grande Valley and, thus, invest my work in the intersection of several different issues reflecting the region.

I like to spend time volunteering with South Texans for Reproductive Justice by being a clinic escort at Whole Women's Health Clinic. During my free time, when I'm not engaging in some form of activism, I like to work on crafts and I've started my own Etsy shop that reflects a lot of my values. I also like to help my mother out by working at her pediatric clinic every now and then.

I am a totally radical feminist, who fights for representation and equity for all marginalized groups on the basis of gender/gender identity, race, ethnicity, class, ability, et al. I am 100% against the patriarchy in every shape and form, including all of its distinct manifestations.

I like 70s and 80s music and, prior to my very specific hand injury, played piano (for 15+ years), guitar, clarinet, and was learning violin.

I have a chocolate pomeranian named Clover and I'm married to a wonderful man named Fabian Doty.

Etsy shop: femmeaura.etsy.com