Sreerekha Sathi

Sreerekha Sathi

Curriculum Vitae

Email: sree[dot]sathi[at]iss[dot]nl

Publishing Names: Sreerekha Sathi and M.S. Sreerekha

Full Name: Sreerekha Mullassery Sathiamma

University Page: http://www.iss.nl/sathiamma

Current Position: 2020- Assistant Professor, Gender and Political Economy, International Institute of Social Studies of the Erasmus University in the Hague, Netherlands.

Areas of interest

Gender and political economy, women welfare workers in South Asia, feminist theories and epistemologies, anti-caste politics and activism, land rights movements in India, racialization, masculinities, women in precarious work, home care industry and its workers, robotics in care, globalization and transnational corporations and the political economy of decolonization and reparations.

                Sole-Authored Books

2017 State Without Honour: Women Workers in India’s Anganwadis.: Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780199468164 (Reviewed in: Economic and Political Weekly and Indian Journal of Gender Studies). https://global.oup.com/academic/product/state-without-honour-9780199468164

Articles and Book Chapters

2023  "When My Brown Got Colored: Living Through/In the Times of White and Brahmanical Supremacy", Meridians- Duke University Press. https://doi.org/10.1215/15366936-10637564

2023 "Sectarian Citizenship and the Marginalized in the New India", Journal of State and Society, Vol.1, No.1, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. https://jstatesociety.in/2023/07/01/sectarian-citizenship-and-the-marginalized-in-the-new-india/

2023 "Marriage murders and anti-caste feminist politics in India", Women's Studies International Forum, volume 100. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277539523001437

2022 Karin Astrid Siegmann and Sreerekha Sathi, "Unfreedoms in South India’s Tea Value Chain: Reproduction and Resistance".  Globalizations, March 24.  https://lnkd.in/eBgmeVQ7 

2022  Bezawit Fantu, Genet Haile, Yordanos Lassooy Tekle, Sreerekha Sathi, Binyam Afewerk Demena & Zemzem Shigute. "Experiences of Eritrean and Ethiopian Migrants during Covid 19 in the Netherlands" in Papyrakis, Elissaios (Ed), Covid 19 and International Development. The Hague, Netherlands: Springer.  https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-82339-9_4

2021 "How do we pay back? Women Health Workers and the COVID-19 pandemic in India", Globalizations, December 9. https://doi.org/10.1080/14747731.2021.2009308  

2021 “The Honorary Women Workers in India’s Anganwadis” in John, Mary E., and Meena Gopal, Eds., Women in the Worlds of Labor: Interdisciplinary and Intersectional Perspectives. Hyderabad: Orient Blackswan

2020 Karin Astrid Siegmann, Sreerekha Sathi, Cynthia Embido Bejeno, Richard Toppo & Lize Swartz. "Research for Transformative Social Change: Toward Understanding and Applying Transformative Methodologies".

2020. “How Kerala’s Responses to Covid 19 pandemic is highlighting inadequate responses elsewhere in India” https://www.iss.nl/en/news/how-keralas-response-covid-19-pandemic-highlighting-inadequate-responses-elsewhere-india.

2020 Jeb Sprague and Sreerekha Sathi. "Transnational Amazon: Labor Exploitation and the Rise of E-Commerce in South Asia" in Ellen Reese and Jake Wilson, Eds., The Cost of Free Shipping: Amazon in the Global Economy. London, UK: Pluto Press.

2020 “Punished if you care, punished if you don’t: Women Health Workers and the COVID-19 pandemic in India”, https://convivialthinking.org/index.php/2020/12/19/covid-19-pandemic-in-india/,  convivialthinking.org, December 19.

2019 Sreerekha Sathi and Rosalba Icaza "Gender, Development and the Global," Sectors: Newsletter of the American Sociological Association's Sociology of Development Section. Vol 6, No. 2. P. 14-16.

2018 "Rereading Nature, Reproduction and Motherhood: Towards an Alternative to Development,” Reflections on Politics of Ecology, May 2018, Vol. IX, No. 1, pp. 34-42, ISSN 0976-1861

2016 “Whatever Happened to Women’s Studies,” Economic and Political Weekly (EPW), April 9, 2016, No. 15, pp. 64-68, ISSN 0012-9976

2015 “Mapping ‘Empowerment’ in Gender and Development,” Journal of Political Economy and Fiscal Federalism, Vol. 1, March 2015, pp. 65-86, ISSN 2395-6976

2015 “Mummar Oru Chhondupalakayanu” (The Women Workers in the Munnar Tea Plantation Struggle), “Sanghaditha” Journal, Vol. 10, Issue No. 5, November 2015, Anweshi Publication, ISSN 2319-9741. Alternative version. Read it in English.

2013 “Illegal Land, Illegal People,” in Speak Up! Sozialer Aufbruch und Widerstand in Indien, (Social Awakening and Resistance in India), (in German), edited by Fleig, Elina; Kumar, Madhuresh; Weber, Jurgen. Berlin: Assoziation, pp. 90-98, ISBN 978-3-86241-423-9

2012 " 'Illegal Land, Illegal People’: The Chengara Land Struggle in Kerala,” Economic and Political Weekly, Commentary, Vol. XLVII, No. 30, July 28, pp. 21-24, ISSN 0012-9976

2010 “Challenges before Kerala’s Landless: The Story of Aralam Farm,” Economic and Political Weekly, Special Article, Vol. XLV, No. 21, May 22, 2010, pp. 55-62, ISSN 0012-9976

2008 “Understanding Being Queer: Exploring Sexuality and Sex Work,” Indian Historical Review (New Delhi), Vol. XXXV, No. 2, July 2008, pp. 27-48, ISSN 0376-9836

Ongoing Projects

2023 Project Coordinator, Erasmus Trustfonds grant for the project titled, "Robotization of care: The emerging scenario for care workers in Europe’s care economy".

2023  Project Coordinator,  ISS grant for Research Innovation Facility (RIF) for project titled, “Men in Home Care Industry in Kerala, India: Navigating Masculinities and Gender Division of Labor". 

2021-2024 Project Coordinator for Erasmus plus cooperation partnerships Grant: "Changing Our Story: The Pursuit of Inclusive Education" for  International Institute of Social Studies of the Erasmus University in the Hague, Netherlands in collaboration with the University of West Bohemia, Pilsen, Czech Republic,  NITRA, Slovakia and THUAS Netherlands. https://changingourstory.eu/

                 Book Reviews

2008 Review of Feminist Post-Development Thought, edited by Kriemild Saunders, Indian Journal of Gender Studies (New Delhi), Vol. 15, No. 2, May-August, pp. 409-413, ISSN 0971-5215

2007 “A Relentless Battle”, review of the book From Mathura to Manorama: Resisting Violence against Women in India, by Kalpana Kannabiran and Ritu Menon, Biblio (Delhi), Vol. XII, Nos. 5&6, May-June, p. 11

2006 Review of Against Empire: Feminism, Racism and the West, by Zillah Eisenstein, Feminist Review (London), Issue 83, August 2006, pp. 175-77, ISSN 0141-7789 

Professional Positions

2020- Assistant Professor, Gender and Political Economy, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) The Hague, Netherlands.

2019- Visiting Professor, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India.    

2016-2019 Assistant Professor, Global Development Studies, Global Studies Program, University of Virginia, USA

2007-2016 Assistant Professor, Department of Women’s Studies,   Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.

Educational Qualifications

2015 Ph.D., Political Science, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal  Nehru University, New Delhi, India

2002 M.Sc., Gender and Development, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

2000 Post-Graduate Diploma, Gender and Work (IFU), Hanover University, Germany

1998 M.Phil., Political Science, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

1996 M.A., Politics and International Relations, School of International Relations, MG University, Kerala, India

                Memberships, Awards, Grants, Trainings, and Associations

2022 Member, Editorial Board, "Development and Change"- Development studies journal published on behalf of International Institute of Social Studies,  The Hague. 

2022- Member, Expert Committee, School of Gender Studies, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India.

2022- Project coordinator to ISS Grant for Research Innovation Facility (RIF-6) for the project titled: “Democratizing land governance at the grassroots: what can land titling do for Adivasis in Odisha, India?” with ISS PhD scholar, Sanchita Bakshi.

2021 Risbo online short course training- MircoLab, "How to lecture with impact", Erasmus University, June 21.

2020  Project Coordinator,  ISS Grant for Research Innovation  Facility (RIF) for project titled, “Research for Transformative Social Change: Toward Understanding and Applying Transformative Methodologies” with Transformative Methodologies Working Group at ISS. https://www.iss.nl/en/research/research-projects/transformative-methodologies

2020 Member, Diversity and Inclusion Team,  International Institute of Social Studies of the Erasmus University in the Hague, Netherlands.

2018-2019 Coordinator, Kerala-Shared Research and Involvement (SRI) Lab, Global Grounds, University of Virginia

2018 University of Oaxaca, Mexico, Social Emancipation Summer School Seminar on “Post-Development and Decoloniality,” August 5-14

2018 Ignite Scholar, University of Virginia, Teacher’s Training Course for Full-Time Faculty, January-April            

2017- Advisor, Society for Learning through Advancement and Empowerment (SLATE) Trust, New Delhi

2017 Page Barbour Grant for organising an International Conference in Global Studies knowledge production titled,  “Global  Knowledges and Local Universities,” March 22-23, 2018, Global Studies, University of Virginia

2017 Teacher’s Training Course, Course Design Institute, Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Virginia, June 19-23

2017-2019 Member, Advisory Board- Social Movements Lab Project, Duke University, Franklin Humanities Institute, in collaboration with Bologna Academy and University of Virginia

2016-2018 Coordinator, Global Grounds Film Series, University of Virginia

2014 Member, General Body, Centre for Education and Communication (CEC), New Delhi

2010-2014 Member, University Grants Commission’s (UGC, New Delhi) Standing Committee for Women’s Studies for Curriculum Development for Undergraduate Teaching in Women’s Studies, 2010- 2014

2009-2010 External Member, Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) at Jawaharlal Nehru University

2005 University Grants Commission’s (India) National Eligibility Test for Lectureship in ‘Women’s Studies,’ December

2001 LSE-ACU Scholarship, Masters in Gender and Development at the London School of Economics, UK

2000 DAAD Scholarship, Post-Graduate Diploma at the International Women’s University (IFU), Hanover University, Germany

1996 Awarded First Rank with scholarship, Masters in Politics and International Relations, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala

Invited Lectures

2023 “Women’s/Gender Studies in South Asia: Challenges and the path forward”, School of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences (EHESS), Paris, February 14.

2022 "Transformative Methodologies", Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp, Belgium, December 2.

2021 "Global Solidarity and Covid 19", Opening Plenary, European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), July 5.

2021 "Revaluing India's welfare workers", Kerala Council for Historical Research, May 31.

2020 "Transnational capital, women workers, and the new Hindu India," International Online Lecture Series in Honour of the Founding Pillars of SIRP (School of International Relations and Politics), Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), Kerala, December 21.

2020 "Book discussion on Isabel Wilkerson's Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents," https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dRoG2CFnovDeeFz8M9-dzDzf4wbptUq7/view?usp=sharing, by Dalit Intellectual Collective Book Discussion Series. October 10.

2020 “Blue Revolution meets Green Revolution: Modernizing food production: Response by women In Resistance,” organised by Center for Financial Accountability, New Delhi, India. July 28.

2020 “Cinema Charchakal”, Webinar organised by Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), Kerala, India, June 21.

2019 "From 'Third World to Global South": Understanding Global South Epsietmologies, MG University, Kerala, India, November 13.

2019 "Between the Formal and the Informal," International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague. September 3.

2019  “The Third World”, Journal Launch Lecture at the Wilson Journal of International Affairs, University of Virginia, USA, April 17

2018   “Development and Decolonization”, University of Oaxaca, Mexico, Social Emancipation Summer School Seminar on “Post Development and Decoloniality” August 14

2018  “Marriage in Times of Love Jihad,” Distinguished Lecture in International Studies, The Program in Asian & Middle Eastern Studies, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, October 1.

2018 “Real Talk: Unmasking Intersectionality,” Multicultural Student Center, University of Virginia, March 30

2018 “Global Feminism: Cultural Understandings of Feminism and Equality,” Indian Students Association, University of Virginia, March 29

2017 “Gender Sensitization in Development: Issues and Prospects,” Department of Economics, Maharajas College, Ernakulam, Kerala, India, July 31

2017 “On Intersectional Feminism, ‘Community Development,” symposium on Challenges in Equitable Development, organized by Yamuna River Project, University of Virginia, April 14

2017 “The Women’s Panel,” Multicultural Student Center and the United Nations Women at UVA, University of Virginia, April 12

2015 “Emerging Perspectives in Feminist Research Methodology,” Area Studies Research Methodology Workshop on “Researching the Arab/Islamic World: Epistemological and Methodological Issues,” India Arab Cultural Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, March 12-13

2015 “Feminist Research Methodology; New Perspectives,” Refresher Course in Gender Studies, Academic Staff College, Calicut University, Kerala, January 20

2015 “Understanding Gender Politics: A Perspective on the Contemporary Malayali Life world,” Keralavarma College, Kerala, January 19

2014 “Methodological Issues of Researching Gender,” Training Workshop on Research Methodology for Social Sciences, Council for Social Development, New Delhi, September 24

2013 “Adivasi Women’s Work and Entitlements,” Research Methodology Workshop on “Gender, Transversal Politics and Intersectionality; A Workshop on New Methods in Feminist Research,” organized by Inter University Centre for Social Science Research and Extension (IUCSSRE), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, in collaboration with Indian Association for Women’s Studies (IAWS) and Council for Social Development (CSD, Hyderabad), September 3

2013 “Between the Devil and the Deep Sea: Ethnographies of Livelihoods,” International Summer School, New Delhi, hosted by the Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, June 27.

Presentations at National and International Conferences

2023 "Mind the gap(s)? The political economy of feminist knowledge production in women, gender and development studies across global south/north divide", panel presentation, Europen Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI) Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, July 10-13.

2023 "‘Android Kunjappan’ Versus Men in Care Work", 41st International Labour Process Conference, Glasgow, UK, April 12-14.

2022 "Neoliberalism, Hindutva and Women in Social Welfare Work in India- A Feminist Perspective", Gender, Work and Organization (GWO) Conference & Colloquium on 'A Decolonial vIew beyond the borders', Bogota/Hybrid format, June 21-24.

2018 “When My Brown Got Colored,” Global Studies Conference on “Globalization, Race and New Nationalism,” Howard University, Washington D.C, June 6-8

2015 “Definition of Work and the History of Women’s Work,” National Seminar on “Kerala Economy: Challenges and Way Forward,” organized by the K.N. Raj Centre for Planning and Centre-State Finance Relations, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, March 28-29

2014 “Understanding the Informal Sector in India from a Gender Perspective,” National Seminar on “Human Rights and Good Governance in India and West Asia,” organized by Centre for West Asian Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, November 25-26

2014 “Rereading Nature, Reproduction and Motherhood: Towards an Alternative to Development,” National Seminar on “Re-imagining Human-Nature Relationship: Focusing North Bengal,” organized by Salesian College, Siliguri, Darjeeling, West Bengal and Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi, November 21-22

2014 “For More Rights and Less ‘Honour’: The Sarkari Social Workers of Anganwadis,” Women in the Worlds of Labour: Interdisciplinary and Intersectional Perspectives, organized by at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Centre for Women’s Development Studies, Delhi and Indian Council of Social Science Research at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, February 21-22

2012 “Illegal land, Illegal People,” National Workshop on “Exclusions: Gender and Politics in South Asia,” Developing Countries Research Centre, University of Delhi, supported by National Commission for Women, Delhi, September 14-15

2011 “Role of Women and Communities in People’s Movements,” National Seminar on “People’s Governance, State Accountability and Movement Mechanism,” Indian Social Institute, New Delhi, August 29

2010 “Kerala’s Landless: Struggles by the Adivasi Community,” National Seminar on “Militant Left Radicalism, State and Civil Society: The Centrality of Tribal Land Rights,” Council for Social Development, New Delhi, December 10-11

2010 “Yes to Reservation with Some Reservations,” Seminar on “Women’s Reservation Bill- 2010,” K.R. Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minority Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, August 10

2010 “A Gender perspective on the Strategic Diversity in the Contemporary Land Struggles of the Marginalized,” National Seminar on “Special Economic Zones and Resistance of the Marginalized People,” Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS), Chennai, July 27

2009 “Gendering the Representation of Politics of Terror in Contemporary India,” International Conference on “Media, Culture and Ideology,” Osmania University Centre for International Programs, Hyderabad, January 29-31

2008 “Tribe and Gender- Crosscutting Identities,” Developing Countries Research Centre, Grassroots Politics Colloquium (GPC) on Identity and Politics in India, University of Delhi, February 22-23

2008 “The Development Onslaught & the Women in Dalit and Adivasi Struggles,” XII National Conference on “Feminism, Education and the Transformation of Knowledges,” Indian Association of Women’s Studies, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, February 7-10

2005 “Feminist Queers and Queer Feminists: An Indian Reading,” XI National Conference on “Sovereignty, Citizenship and Gender,” Indian Association of Women’s Studies, Dona Paula, Goa, May 3-6

2000 “Kerala’s Development from a Gender Perspective: A Study in the Context of Globalization,” International Women’s University (IFU) Conference, Hanover University, Germany, October 16

2000 “Democracy and Difference” at the International Conference on ‘Justice or Barbarism,” Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Berlin, October 5-6.

Courses Taught (2007-2021)

2020-2023 (International Institute of Social Studies of the Erasmus University in the Hague, Netherlands)

Feminist Perspectives on Gender and Development,  Gender@Work in Development & Contemporary Perspectives on Social Justice, Critical Social Policy for Transformative Development.

2016-2019  (Global Studies Program, University of Virginia, USA)

Social Movements and Development, Work, Women’s Work and Women Workers in South Asia, Binaries: Global Epistemologies from a Feminist Perspective.

Gender, Development and Power, Development on the Ground, Engaged Learning for Global/Local Development (co taught with David Edmunds).

2019- (August- December) Gender and Development, Research Methodology, Gender Studies Theories (School of Gandhian Thought and Development Studies, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India)              

2007-2015 (Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India)

Introduction to Gender Studies, Gender, Development and Globalisation, Women’s Movements: Global and Local,

Introduction to Feminist Thought, Women’s Studies and Feminist Research. Graduate: Gender Perspectives on Development, Feminist Theories, Status of Women in India, Gender Rights: International Initiatives.

Administrative and Service Work

2021 Convener,  Major in Social Justice Perspectives,  International Institute of Social Studies of the Erasmus University in the Hague, Netherlands.

2018 Principal Organiser, International Conference, “Global Knowledges and Local Universities’, Global Studies Program, University of Virginia, March 22-23

2016-2018 Global Development Studies Undergraduate Admissions Committee, Global Studies Program, University of Virginia

2015-2016 Program Advisor/Coordinator, M.A in Gender Studies, Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

2015-2016 Nodal Officer, on behalf of the University Registrar, Jamia Millia Islamia, for the University Grants Commission (UGC) e-scheme for the Development of Women’s Studies in Indian Universities and Colleges under XII Plan

2010 Coordinator, Refresher Course in “Gender Studies” for teachers at Academic Staff College, Jamia Millia Islamia, on behalf of the Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies and the Academic Staff College, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, October 7-29

2010 Coordinator, National Seminar on “Lives of Dalit and Tribal Women in Contemporary India,” Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, March

2009 External Faculty for M.A. Women’s Studies course titled, “Sexuality, Patriarchy, Social Reproduction,” Department of Women’s Studies, School of Culture, Mahatma Gandhi Antarashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha, Maharashtra

2006-2009 Editor, Expressions, biannual newsletter for the Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Public Scholarship and Interviews

2024 World Social Justice Day: reflections on care work and dignity. https://www.iss.nl/en/news/world-social-justice-day-reflections-care-work-and-dignity, February 20. 

2021  താലിബാനുമായി ചങ്ങാത്തമാകാമോ? | Editor's hour| Reporter TV Live | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DU46VQa24o,  August 16.

2021 Corona science: ‘The Indian government needs to get their act together, to avoid more unnecessary deaths’, Interview, Erasmus Magazine, May 11. https://www.erasmusmagazine.nl/en/2021/05/11/corona-science-the-indian-government-needs-to-get-their-act-together-to-avoid-more-unnecessary-deaths/

2021 "ചരിത്രത്തിലേക്ക് ജോ ബൈഡൻ"- Analysis of the US presidential inauguration on Reporter TV Live, Kerala, Malayalam news channel, January 20.  https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=3992009694184942

2020 "Punished if you care, punished if you don't: Women health workers and the Covid 19 pandemic in India", convivialthinking.org https://www.convivialthinking.org/index.php/2020/12/19/covid-19-pandemic-in-india/

2020 "How Kerala’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting inadequate responses elsewhere," The ISS Blog. https://www.iss.nl/en/news/how-keralas-response-covid-19-pandemic-highlighting-inadequate-responses-elsewhere-india

2019 "India’s Rahul Gandhi Resigns, PM Modi Faces Little Opposition to Far-Right Agenda," The Real News Network (Baltimore, MA, USA) https://therealnews.com/stories/indias-rahul-gandhi-resigns-pm-modi-faces-little-opposition-to-far-right-agenda

2018 “Swathvam,” Sanghadita Malayalam Journal, March 8 Issue, Anweshi Publication, ISSN 2319-9741

2017 “Chengarayude Pathu Varsham: Keralathinte Nilapadenthu?,”Azhimukham Malayalam Online, August 5, http://www.azhimukham.com/opinion-chengara-land-struggle-s-10-year-and-the-plight-has-no-change-by-sreerekha/ Read it in English

2015 Guest Editor, “Sthreeyude Swathenna Sankalpavum Swathavakashavum,” Sanghaditha Malayalam Journal, Special Issue on “Women’s Concept of Property and Property Rights,” Vol.10, Issue No. 3, September 2015, Anweshi Publication, ISSN 2319-9741

2015 "Irikkaatha Stree Prathimakal", Azhimukham Malayalam Online, February, 26, https://www.azhimukham.com/kerala-sails-girls-strike-irippu-samaram-gender-equality-sreerekaha/ Read it in English.

2014 “Nirbhaya-Fearlessly For Men,” countercurrents.org, October 15, http://www.countercurrents.org/sreerekha151014.htm

2014 “Aralavum, Adivasiyum Punaradhivaasathinte pichhachhattiyum,” Azhimukham Malayalam Online, September 8, http://www.azhimukham.com/aralam-fam-adhivasi-nilppu-samaram-chengara-muthanga-ck-janu-sreerekha/ Read it in English.