As the author of over twenty academic articles and essays, Garvin examines the early warning signs of dictatorial rule, as well as effective strategies for everyday resistance. Her Italian Studies publications bridge four historical arenas:

• Food and beverage (Annali d’italianistica, Food and Foodways)
• Architecture and design (Critical Inquiry, Design Issues)
• Reproductive health care (Signs, gender/sexuality/italy)
• Race and racism (Journal of Modern European History, Journal of Modern Italian History)

Garvin’s historical perspective on everyday life under Italian Fascism in Italy and Italian East Africa (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia) has made her an expert source for radio, podcasts, and print journalism. Her research has been supported by Fulbright, Getty Library, Oxford University, Cornell University, University of Oregon, Wolfsonian-FIU, Julia Child Foundation, CLIR Mellon, FLAS, AAUW, NWSA, AFS, and other fellowships.

A 100-year old chocolate wrapper at the Wolfsonian Museum in Miami Florida sparked her interest in the politics of food. With her forthcoming book Feeding Fascism (University of Toronto Press), Garvin uses food as a lens to examine how women’s work to feed their families became politicized under the Italian dictatorship. Model kitchens and culinary propaganda reveal the national stakes of daily choices, and the fine line between resistance and consent.