Lani Both is a doctoral student at The University of Texas at Austin whose research interests center on human trafficking, gendered violence, and systemic inequalities, with a particular focus on the experiences of women subjected to trafficking and exploitation in domestic work. She earned her master’s degree in Women’s and Gender Studies from The University of Texas at Austin in 2024. She previously served as a Research Fellow on a community-engaged, trauma-informed research team focused on the ongoing needs, recovery, and resilience of rural communities affected by mass violence.
Prior to her graduate studies, she worked with a nongovernmental organization addressing human trafficking, where she contributed to program development and monitoring, conducted welfare visits, and supported the repatriation of trafficking survivors. These experiences shaped her interest in understanding human trafficking not only as an individual experience of exploitation, but also as a complex social issue embedded within broader systems of power, gender inequality, and structural vulnerability.
Building on this professional experience, her research examines the intersections of gendered violence, labor exploitation, and human trafficking, particularly among women working in domestic service. Her work is grounded in her home province of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, where she is interested in understanding how social, economic, and structural inequalities shape vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation.
Lani also holds an undergraduate degree in education from Universitas Nusa Cendana in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Her background in education provided her with extensive experience working with children and youth and continues to inform her commitment to expanding access to quality education. She views education as an important component of addressing structural vulnerabilities and creating opportunities that can reduce risks associated with exploitation and human trafficking.
Her recent writing is featured in the anthology Mosaico Feminista (Feminist Mosaic), contributing to broader conversations about gender, power, and human rights. Across her research and professional work, she seeks to bridge academic scholarship with community-engaged practice and advocacy, with the goal of contributing to meaningful social change in both local and global contexts.