Everyday sexism in higher education: narratives of women in Indian academia

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to explore the experiences of different women in higher educational institutions in India. Through this piece the authors investigate how the prevalence of sexism is affecting women in academia in general and their everyday professional negotiations in particular. Furthermore, the article reviews the position of women in higher administrative responsibilities, and academic positions and also views the mundane everyday activities vis-a-vis their experiences of sexism in different universities across India. It is argued that sexism is pervasive in academic institutions in India, but often goes unnoticed and unaddressed in spite of various mechanisms and sensitization programs adopted by the Universities to address the prevailing issues of sexism across academic spaces. Gendered experiences of women have crippling and debilitating implications for women in general and more so it affects their career prospects in universities. in the process it perpetuates patriarchal power structures and hierarchies in the workplace