Academia is a space that we all engage with for the longest part of our lives. From school to professional education spaces, universities, career milestones, and the like, we keep learning and keep interacting with some kind of mentorship/training. If we look at the people who work in academia, especially in research and teaching, there are a lot of stereotypes that become visible. Right from people generally saying that ‘teaching is a woman’s natural instinct’, to the glaring gap in the number of women holding decisive positions in academia, there seem to be quite many glass ceilings in the sector that women encounter.

In our country, what does it mean to be in academia? To be a qualified, efficient, driven, and passionate,  woman who aspires to teach, research and thrive?

Joining our hosts Shriya and Sukanya in this episode distinguished scholar and academic in the field of economics, gender, and women’s studies, Dr. Vibhuti Patel. Dr. Patel was previously a professor and head of the department at SNDT University in Mumbai and retired from the Advanced Centre for Women’s Studies, TISS, Deonar. She is known for her extensive research and expertise in the issues concerned with women’s rights and has played a critical part in the women’s movement in the 70s and 80s being a pivotal part in archiving the movement. Tune in as we discuss about the early stages of the women’s movement in academia, the biases within, the #MeToo movement, and much more!

Concept and communications: Japleen Pasricha  

Producer: Shriya Roy  

Hosts: Sukanya Shaji and Shriya Roy  

Cover Art by Shreya Tingal