Elizabeth Baer's scholarship is characterized by its tenacious investigation into significant and difficult issues, such as sexual violence in the Holocaust and genocide in Rwanda. Her work bridges history, religion, literature, and women's studies with a commitment to achieving social justice. She explores the role literary texts can play in advancing such justice. Baer approaches societal problems with an unwavering persistence, highlighting literature's power in driving social change.
In "The Genocidal Gaze," Elizabeth R. Baer examines the first genocide of the 20th century against the Herero and Nama in Namibia, linking it to the Holocaust. She explores the concept of the "genocidal gaze" and its ideological threads, using literary texts to reveal the power dynamics of genocide and resistance. Baer's work highlights the connections between colonialism and modern genocides.