Jennifer Thigpen

About the Author

Jennifer Thigpen is a historian and scholar whose work illuminates the intricate intersections of gender, empire, and culture in the Pacific world. With a focus on Hawai‘i’s colonial history, she explores how missionary influences and imperial ambitions reshaped indigenous societies, particularly through the lens of women's roles and power dynamics. Her research draws on archival sources to reveal the agency of native women amid European encroachment, challenging traditional narratives of Pacific colonization. Thigpen’s scholarship bridges anthropology, gender studies, and global history, offering fresh perspectives on how empire remade local worlds. A dedicated educator and writer, she continues to contribute to understandings of cultural resilience and transformation in the Americas and beyond.