Prof. Anat Herbst-Debby

Email
Anat.Herbst@biu.ac.il
University
Bar Ilan University
CV

Prof. Anat Herbst-Debby

 

I'm a associated Professor in the Gender Studies program at Bar-Ilan University, specializing in several research fields including gender aspects of welfare policies, the social security system, old-age pensions, families undergoing change, motherhood, and adolescent employment. Over the past decade, my scientific work has primarily focused on inequality within four main areas: welfare-to-work programs and mothers’ employment, family changes and divorce, old-age pension and adolescent employment My recent publications on these topics have appeared in leading journals.

I believe macro and micro domains should be integrated when addressing inequality. In other words, researching the various mechanisms of welfare policy on their own fails to provide a comprehensive picture of how certain social groups are excluded from resource allocation and rights realization. Rather, macro-level research of welfare policy needs to be combined with micro-level study of family and demographic change and labor market processes.

Top of Form

My scientific work advances research in the intersection of economics and society, with a focus on its implications for family life. My specializations in welfare policy, social security, family changes and gender contribute to the expansion of theoretical and empirical discussions in these fields. My involvement in international comparative studies aims at filling lacunas in these research fields, both in Israel and worldwide.

I am committed not only to fundamental scientific research, but also to teaching, guiding and mentoring students, which I consider to be valuable pursuits in their own right. At present, I am supervising 15 doctoral and master’s students and 2 post-doc students.

Teaching affords me the opportunity not only to provide tools for critical and analytical thinking to students, but also to help sharpen their critical perspective on the social world. In the 2017 academic year, I received recognition from Bar-Ilan University as outstanding lecturer.

I am committed to effecting social change. Over the past decade, I have served as a board member of ESPAnet Israel, a branch of the Network for European Social Policy Analysis. Furthermore, between 2022-5, I have held the position of chairwoman of ESPAnet Israel, allowing me to contribute significantly to advancing social policy analysis and fostering positive societal transformations.

 

Research grants in the past five years.

 

2019 – 2023      Israel Science Foundation (ISF) grant (with Amit Kaplan) – “Parental divorce or loss, adolescent employment, and later life outcomes.”

 

2019 – 2022      Rector’s grant for Interdisciplinary Research Groups, Bar-Ilan University – “Families undergoing change.”

 

2019 – 2023      Funding by The Humanities and Social Sciences Fund for the conference: “Vulnerabilities in old age: Aspects of social and economic security, pension reforms and long-term care.”

 

2020 – 2021      Grant from The Impact Center in the Field of Aging and Agism, Bar-Ilan University – “Gendered pensions: multidimensional analysis.”

 

2022 – 2023      Israel Science Foundation (ISF) grant – “From childhood to young adulthood: Stratified patterns of childhood and adolescence through a life course perspective” (International workshop, May 2023).

 

2024 – 2026     DFG (German Research Foundation), with Professor Patricia Frericks, Kassel University. The genderedness of future pensions: Disentangling the triangle of future pensions for Germany and Israel. (FR 2687/18-1).

 

COMMENDATIONS

2017 – Outstanding lecturer for the 2017 academic year.

2021 – Current Sociology: Sociologist of the month.

2024 – Creativity in teaching.

Research

Gender aspects of welfare policies

Gender aspects of the social security system

Families undergoing change

Motherhood  

Old age pensions

Adolescent employment

 

Courses

Courses

  • Gender and the Welfare State
  • Feminist Policy Paper Writing
  • Seminar – Perspectives on the Family
  • Motherhood and Feminism
  • Care and Health from a Gender Perspective

 

Publications

Prof. Anat Herbst-Debby – Publications

 

Email: anat.herbst@biu.ac.il

 

PUBLICATIONS (ARTICLES IN REFEREED JOURNALS)

  1. Herbst, A. (2009) “We Support the Single Parent Families Law, Poor Things”: The Single Parent Family Law – A Survey. Social Security, 80: 25-58 (Hebrew). Reprinted in the course reader: Welfare State: Citizenship, Rights and Division of Resources (2011), Ra’anana: Open University. Also reprinted in the book and course: Social Security (2011), Ra’anana: Open University (C, The social science ranking of Bar-Ilan University).

  2. Herbst, A. (2011). This is the State Defending the Woman & Offspring Abandoned and Neglected by the Husband-Father. Studies of the Re-emerging State, special issue, 651-681 (Hebrew). (B, The social science ranking of Bar-Ilan University).

  3. Herbst, A. & Benjamin, O. (2012). It was a Zionist Act: Nationalism, Citizenship and Welfare Policy in Israeli Feminist Mobilization. Women’s Studies International Forum, 35: 29-37. (Impact factor-Web of Science-1.049; 5 years impact factor-1.241).

  4. Herbst, A. & Gez, Y. (2012). From “Crime of Passion” to “Love Does Not Kill”: The Murder of Einav Rogel and the Role of Women’s Organizations in the Construction of Violence against Women in Israel. Israel Studies, 17(2): 129-155. (Impact factor-Scimago-0.121, Q3).

  5. Herbst, A.(2012). Discourse of Need: The Case of Child Support (Payment Assurance).Women’s Studies International Forum, 35(4): 214-222. (Impact factor-Web of Science-1.049; 5 years impact factor-1.241).

  6. Herbst, A. (2013). Welfare Mom as Warrior Mom: Discourse in the 2003 Single Mothers’ Protest in Israel. Journal of Social Policy, 42(1): 129-145. (Impact factor-Web of Science- 2.261; 5 years impact factor-2.372).

  7. Herbst, A. (2013). The Legitimacy of Single Mothers in Israel Examined through Five Circles of Discourse. Israel Studies Review, 28(2): 228-246. (Impact factor-Scimago-0.15, Q2).

  8. Kaplan, A. & Herbst, A. (2015) Stratified Patterns of Divorce: Earnings, Education and Gender. Demographic Research, 32: 949-982. (Impact factor-Web of Science-1.478; 5 years impact factor-1.921). full partner in the research

  9. Herbst, A. & Kaplan, A. (2016). Mothers’ Post-divorce Earnings in the Context of Welfare Policy Change. International Journal of Social Welfare, 25(3): 222-234. (Impact factor-Web of Science-0.761; 5 years impact factor-1.709).

  10. Herbst, A. & Benjamin, O. (2016). Between Activation and Supporting Women: Alternative Operation of Welfare-to-Work Programs. Journal of Social Policy and Administration, 50 (5): 501-519. (Impact factor-Web of Science-1.418; 5 years impact factor-1.689).

  11. Kaplan, A., & Herbst-Debby, A. (2017). Mixed-ethnicity marriages and marital dissolution in Israel. Journal of Israeli History, 36(2), 291-312.‏ (Impact factor-Web of Science-0.263, 5 years impact factor-0.357). full partner in the research

  12. Kaplan, A. & Herbst-Debby, A. (2018). Fragile Employment, Liquid Love: Employment Instability and Divorce in Israel. Population and Policy Review. 37(1): 1-31. (Impact factor-Web of Science-1.027; 5 years impact factor-1.457). full partner in the research

  13. Herbst-Debby, A. (2018). Doing Good Motherhood: Creating Their own Responsible Single Mother Model. Women’s Studies International Forum, 69, 151-158. (Impact factor-Web of Science-1.049; 5 years impact factor-1.241).

  14. Herbst-Debby, A. & Benjamin, O. (2018). Low-income mothers in an Israeli welfare-to-work program: Symbolic violence and its limitations. International Sociology. 33(1): 45-63. (Impact factor-Web of Science-1.033; 5 years impact factor-1.507).

  15. Herbst-Debby, A. & Kaplan, A. (2018). Fragile Autonomy: The Implications of Divorce on Mothers’ Earnings Following Welfare Policy Changes. Social Security, 103: 113-135 (Hebrew). (C, The social science ranking of Bar-Ilan University).

  16. Herbst-Debby, A. & Kaplan, A. (2018). Love in Times of Crisis: Gendered Aspects of Education, Employment, and Divorce. Megamot, 53(2): 107-136 (Hebrew). (B+, The social science ranking of Bar-Ilan University).

  17. Herbst-Debby, A. (2019). The Economically Responsible Single Mom who Sees to her Future: Welfare-to-Work Programs and Pension Savings. Journal of Social Policy, 48(3), 489-510.‏ (Impact factor-Web of Science-2.261; 5 years impact factor-2.372).

  18. Herbst-Debby, A. & Benjamin, O. (2020). Changing Gendered Moral Rationalities among Israeli Welfare-to-Work Participants. Community, Work and Family. 23(1): 44-61. (Impact factor-Scimago- 0.553, Q2).

  19. Herbst-Debby, A., Meler, T., & Karkabi-Sabbah, M. (2019). “Deserving” and “Responsible” Motherhood: Palestinian Motherhood in Israel and Welfare-to-Work Programs. Society and Welfare, 39(1): 49-79 (Hebrew). (B, The social science ranking of Bar-Ilan University).

  20. Herbst-Debby, A. (2019). The “Proper and Moral” Single Mother and “Welfare to Work.” Social Security, 107: 79-108 (Hebrew). (C, The social science ranking of Bar-Ilan University).

  21. Herbst-Debby, A., Endeweld, M., & Kaplan, A. (2021). Differentiated routes to vulnerability: Marital status, children, gender and poverty. Advances in life course research, 49, 100418. (Impact Factor Web of Science: 5.548, social sciences, interdisciplinary, 15/265, Q1).

  22. ‏Herbst-Debby, A., Majadly, B.,[*] & Barzilai-Lumbroso, R. (2022). Journey to Liberation: Israeli-Palestinian Women Living in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 45(14), 2749-2769.‏ (Impact Factor Web of Science: 2.5, ethnic studies, 11/40, Q2).

  23. Soskolne, V., & Herbst-Debby, A. (2022). Health and Psychological Distress Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Single Mothers in Israel. Journal of Family Studies, 29(4): 1628-1644.‏ (Impact Factor Web of Science: 1.6, Family Studies, 33/66, Q2). full partner in the research

  24. Herbst-Debby, A (2022). (De)Legitimization of Single Mothers’ Welfare Rights: United States, Britain and Israel. Journal of European Social Policy, 32(3): 302–316. (Impact Factor Web of Science: 3.0, social issues, 14/66, Q1). full partner in the research

  25. Endeweld, M., Herbst-Debby, A., & Kaplan, A. (2022). Do the Privileged Always Win? Economic Consequences of Divorce by Income and Gender Groups. Social Indicators Research, 159(1): 77-100. (Impact Factor Web of Science: 3.1, social sciences, interdisciplinary, 30/265, Q1). full partner in the research

  26. Meler, T., Herbst-Debby, A., & Sabbah Karkabi, M. (2022). Economic Abuse of Palestinian Mothers in Israel: The Case of Participants in a Welfare-to-Work Program. Violence Against Women, 28(9): 2122-2144. (Impact Factor Web of Science: 2.2, women’s studies, 14/64, Q1). full partner in the research

  27. Herbst-Debby, A., Karkabi-Sabbah, M., & Meler, T. (2022). Palestinian Mothers in Israel: Can a Welfare-to-Work Program Enhance their Social Capital? Current Sociology, 70(1): 42-60. )Impact Factor 2.0, sociology, 79/216, Q2).

  28. Herbst-Debby, A., Kaplan, A., Endeweld, M.[†], & Achouche, N.* (2023). Adolescent Employment, Family Income and Parental Divorce. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 100772 (Impact Factor 5.0, sociology, 17/216, Q1).

  29. Kaplan, A., Herbst-Debby, A., Endeweld, M.*, & Achouche, N.* (2023). Stratified Patterns of Adolescent Employment and their Relation to Educational Attainment. Journal of Youth Studies, 27(4): 588–608. (Impact Factor 1.9, social sciences, interdisciplinary, 75/265, Q2).

  30. Herbst-Debby, A. (2023). What’s Your Pension Story? Women’s Perspectives during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Their Old-Age Pension Status, Past and Present. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 20(10), 5912. (Impact Factor 4.614, public, environmental & occupational health, 110/392, Q2).

  31. Herbst-Debby, A. & Achouche, N. * (2023). Double jeopardy: Gendered social policy for two risky life periods in six welfare state contexts. Women's Studies International Forum. 100, 102814. (Impact Factor: 1.5, Women's Studies, 27/66, Q2).

  32. Herbst-Debby, A. Kaplan, A. and Endeweld, M. * (2024) Working their way to young adulthood: Labor market outcomes of working in adolescence. Young. 32(1) 78–99. (Impact Factor: 2.5, social sciences, interdisciplinary, 33/263, Q1).

  33. Kaplan, A., Mortelmans, D., Herbst-Debby, A. & Endeweld, M. (2025). How Ethnicity and Migration Matter: The Economic Consequences of Union Dissolution in Belgium and Israel. Journal of Family Studies. (Impact Factor: 1.6, Family Studies, 33/66, Q2).

  34. Kaplan, A., Herbst-Debby, A., & Endeweld, M. (2025). Employment of Adolescents in Israel: Insights from Generation Z. Society and Welfare. (Social Sciences Ranking, Bar-Ilan University, B).* (Hebrew).

  35. Green, L.* & Herbst-Debby, A. (2025). Motherhood as a Prism Shaping Financial Literacy for Retirement Among Generation Y Women. Social Sciences (Impact Factor: 1.7,  Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary 77/267, Q2).        

  36. Rosenberg-Lavi,* S. & Herbst-Debby, A. (2025). The Unheard Voices of Mothers and Fathers with Disabilities in the Adjudication of Compulsory Adoption. Women's Studies International Forum. (Impact Factor: 1.5, Women's Studies, 27/66, Q2).

  37. Almog, E.* & Herbst-Debby, A. (2025).   Women who initiate divorce embrace autonomy. Journal of Marriage and Family. (Impact Factor: 2.7, Family Studies, 9/66, Q1).

ARTICLES IN BOOKS

  1. Swirski, S., Kraus, V., Konor-Atias, E. & Herbst, A. (2007). Single Mothers in Israel. In: Matat Adar Bonis (Ed.), Families: A Sociological and Anthropological Perspective (pp. 208-237). Ra’anana: Open University (Hebrew). full partner in the research

  2. Herbst, A. (2010). The National Motherly Discourse versus the Leeching Discourse: The Protest of the Single Mothers, 2003. In: Chana Katz & Erez Tzfadia (Eds.), Abandoning State, Supervising State: Social Policy in Israel, 1985-2008 (pp. 211-231). The Western Negev: Sapir Academic College (Hebrew).

  3. Herbst-Debby, A. & Foigel-Bijoui, S. (2020). Building Spaces of Care, Compassion, and Westernization: Maternalism and the Establishment of the Social Work Profession in the Yishuv in Palestine, 1912-1948. In: John Gal & Roni Holler (Eds.), Not Charity but Justice: Chapters in the Development of Social Work in Israel. (pp. 124-151). Ben Gurion University of the Negev. (Hebrew).

  4. Kaplan, A., Endeweld, M., & Herbst-Debby, A. (2020). The More the Merrier? The Effect of Children on Divorce in a Pronatalist Society. In Dimitri Mortelmans (Ed.), Divorce in Europe: New Insights in Trends, Causes and Consequences of Relation Break-ups (pp. 123-143). Springer.‏full partner in the research

  5. Herbst-Debby, A., Kaplan, A., & Endeweld, M. (2023). Economic Resources After Divorce: Family Income and Housing in the Wake of Welfare Reform. In Mary Daly, Birgit Pfau-Effinger, Neil Gilbert, and Douglas Besharov (Eds.), International Handbook of Family Policy: A Life-Course Perspective (pp. 869–890). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

  6. Herbst-Debby, A. & Kaplan, A. (forthcoming). Exploring Family Change from a Intersectionality Perspective: How Can Social Policy Make a Difference? In: T. Klenk & L. Lahat (Eds.) Handbook of Social Policy Implementation. Edward Elgar Publishing (EE).

WRITING AND DEVELOPING TEACHING RESOURCES

  1. Collaborating with Ruth Ben Israel on the development and authorship of a three-volume series of social security course books. Open University, Ra’anana.

BOOK REVIEWS

  1. Herbst, A. (2010). Theories of Social Justice. Social Security, 82: 170-173 (Hebrew).

  2. Herbst, A. (2015). The Poverty Challenges of Administrative Law. Social Security, 97: 175-190 (Hebrew).

  3. Herbst-Debby, A. (2023). Care Poverty. Social Security, 102: 201-203 (Hebrew).

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

  1. Swirski, B., & Herbst, A. (2003). Gender Aspects in Allocations for the Handicapped. Tel Aviv: Adva Center (Hebrew).

  2. Swirski, S., Kraus, V., Konor-Attias, E., & Herbst, A. (2003). Solo Mothers in Israel. Tel Aviv: Adva Center.

  3. Herbst, A. (2015). Women of Valor: Program to Promote the Employment of Women. Research Report. Jerusalem: The National Insurance Institute (Hebrew).

  4. Herbst-Debby, A., Kaplan, A., & Endeweld, M. (2021). Mobilization of Adolescents and Young Adults in the Context of Family Changes. Jerusalem: The National Insurance Institute. (Hebrew).

  5. Herbst-Debby, A. (2023). Prolonged State Neglect – Is Reform Possible? Hevra U'Revacha, 43(4), 486–490 (Hebrew).

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

2016    Kaplan, Amit, & Anat Herbst. “Fragile Employment, Liquid Love: Employment Instability and Divorce in Israel.” The Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) Conference, Washington, D.C., June.

2017    Herbst-Debby, Anat, Miri Endeweld, & Amit Kaplan. “Divorce and Widowhood Penalty in Terms of Poverty Risks: Gender and Welfare Policy.” The 15th Annual Conference of ESPAnet, Lisbon, September.

2019    Herbst-Debby, Anat, Tal Meler, & Maha Karkabi Sabbah. “Palestinian Motherhood in Israel.” The Transforming Care Conference, Copenhagen, June.

2022    Herbst-Debby, Anat. “Path-dependent Old-age Pensions and Gender Inequality.” The ESPAnet 2022 Conference, Vienna University, September.


 

* MA/PhD student or Postdoctoral fellow.

[†] MA/PhD student or Postdoctoral fellow.

Last Updated Date : 14/05/2025