Questionnaire

Views on the Possible Influence and Interpenetration of Psychology and

Feminism in India

Kindly share your experiences and thoughts on how and whether feminist inquiry (feminist
movement of various forms, or women’s movement -women studies) has influenced the
practice of psychology in India. Your feedback will support preparation of the paper ‘Locating
the Feminist Standpoint in Practice of Psychology Today: A case of India’ to be published in
the Handbook of international feminisms: Perspectives on psychology, women, culture, and
rights" (New York: Springer, forthcoming).The abstract of the paper can be found at the end
of this questionnaire.

Please elaborate on these questions.

1 How do you define your research and intellectual engagements within psychology?

2. (How) Has your work been influenced by feminism (of whichever orientation or
form) and if yes, how has it shaped your thinking and influenced the way you
practice psychology?

3. What in your view is the state of psychology in India today? a) Please share your
experiences and thoughts on what you think has been the contribution of the
discipline of psychology in India, how is it faring in the country (in terms of academic
output, research and public engagements etc) , or share your personal experiences
and encounters from within your own organization/ institution/ broad geographical
region you come from. b) Please also evaluate whether your own work has taken a
different trajectory or extended existent modes of thinking and practice.

4. Do you visualize a greater exchange between psychology and feminism and what
sort of interpenetration and cross-fertilization of praxis and ideas do you think is
needed?

5. What are the biggest challenges towards practicing a ‘feminist’ psychology in

India?

6. Do you see a difference between what women’s movement and feminist

movement in India have to offer to the discipline of psychology? Are there unique
challenges and differences in the struggles and concerns of these two movements?

7. Please write here any other comments you may have.

Please fill in these details about yourself

Your details
Name:

Age range (tick one):

20-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

Above 60

Gender:

Organizational affiliation:

Email:

Any Publications (relevant to the theme of this paper):

Feminist Engagements and Associations where you are involved:

Any comments:

Thanks a lot for your time and assistance! A copy of this paper can be sent to you if
you are interested. Please make sure you provide your email or address in that case.
** Please do not quote or cite from this w/o permission of the author**

Abstract of the proposed chapter

Locating the Feminist Standpoint in Practice of Psychology Today: A case of India

Manasi Kumar

The chapter is divided into four sections. The first section attempts to retrace the history of
psychology in India with a view to recount how the feminist movement developed, shaped
and interrogated social sciences particularly the discipline of psychology. The attempt is to
present various hues of the Indian feminist movement and discuss ideological underpinnings,
dissident voices that contributed directly or indirectly to the enterprise of modern psychology
in the Indian context. It also delves into the political clashes between the radical Marxist /
feminist and the socialist (a’la Lohia) formations associated with the women’s movement
with a view to present different worldviews and ideologies on class, caste, secularism,
marriage, development, women’s rights and liberation that persists between these two cartels
and how these influence the discipline. Were these oppositions substantial or merely
‘narcissism of minor (political) differences’?

The second section goes over the existent patriarchal set-up of academic psychology where
there exists many more ‘natural sciences’ inspired male scientists/teachers and
students/followers who continue to be largely young women. The idiosyncratic
developments within academic psychology in India are discussed in this light. In this
scenario, the question is whether feminist enterprise has failed to penetrate the academic
psychology arena or in its continued disengaged stance it conveys a voice of dissent of its
own kind. What shape and form this disengagement has taken is another matter of concern.

The third section sets out on a small empirical exercise of surveying women academics in
psychology departments in the country to seek their voices and opinions on the twinned
questions of the fate of psychology and feminist movement today. It explores their own
contributions, failures, disappointments, and achievements in making psychology more
egalitarian, humane, socially relevant and politically committed discipline.

Finally the paper picks up postcolonial feminist writer Mahashweta Devi’s works to explore
portrayal of women’s complex identities, struggles and choices and to debate whether and
how psychology in India can be inclusive enterprise and open itself responsibly to the public
sphere.