The development sector is among the many fields where critical investigations in social engineering, policy pushing, social audit, and accountability initiatives, happen, among other projects. Often, with women who work in this sector, there is a stereotypical representation attached - the NGO woman - geeky, always serious, somewhat rigid - and these are all the images we have seen in popular culture and narratives that are largely male and far from the truth. So what is it to be a woman working in the development sector in India?

Joining our hosts Shriya and Sukanya in this episode is human rights and animal rights activist and founder and executive director of The Naz Foundation Trust, Anjali Gopalan. Anjali set up Naz, dedicated to the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India mainly focused on women and children. Anjali has also been a strong campaigner for LGBTQ+ rights in the country and played a huge role in decriminalisation of homosexuality by the Supreme Court in the Section 377 judgment in 2018. Tune in as we discuss gender bias in the development sector, the discrimination she faced while doing her work, the pay gap, and much more!

Concept and communications: Japleen Pasricha  

Producer: Shriya Roy  

Hosts: Sukanya Shaji and Shriya Roy  

Cover Art by Shreya Tingal