A Conversation with Dr. Priya Deshmukh: Gender Equity in South Asia

Originally Published: June 5, 2024

An intimate lecture with Dr. Priya Deshmukh during my time at the Sundar Singh Institute was with one of the foremost gender studies scholars and human rights activists in South Asia. This comprehensive take on the topic for applied research was a unique opportunity between extensive study and fieldwork. Dr. Deshmukh evaluated where concrete steps have been taken toward gender equity both in a quantifiable range and qualitative range throughout the South Asian experience.

However, she unfortunately ended up discussing more structural and cultural barriers that rendered no social change transformative. For example, while legislation spanning reproductive rights, political agencies, and workplace harassment has occurred in the last few years, Dr. Deshmukh noted that jurisdictional implementation occurred via geographical/international/national/regional boundaries.

In addition, she assessed how geographically specific efforts and intersectional feminist collaborations are critical to keeping the issues in the public sphere—and publicized media—to ensure action could be taken. Ultimately, she determined that transformative efforts against patriarchal institutions must come from changes in the educational curriculum, teacher intervention, and policy efforts from the ground up.

Pertinent to her background in gender studies and her community involvement, Dr. Deshmukh offered access to a multidimensional perspective of such realities beyond just the lecture. The lecture and highlights helped realize the mission of the Sundar Singh Institute to foster a more educated, dialogue-based awareness of justice, equity, and human development in South Asia.