Meet…Meera Sehgal

Story by Holly Holmes, A&S Journalism Intern

When we meet a faculty member on this page, we are usually saying hello, but this time, we are telling Meera Sehgal goodbye. Even though she is leaving at the end of the academic year, she is worth meeting because she has been an example of the cutting-edge visiting scholars in the department of women’s studies.

The Friends Visiting Assistant Professor, who has accepted a tenure track position at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota says, “I am sad to leave, but I think the Carleton opportunity is really excellent. It is a dual position in the department of sociology and anthropology and in women’s and gender studies.” In addition to her responsibilities in these departments, Sehgal will also direct the school’s India Study Abroad Program.

Since she arrived at UC for the 2003-4 school year, she has taught six different courses in the women’s studies department and has enjoyed her time here: “I’ve loved it. I love my students, and I like the department a lot.”

Sehgal’s research centers on women in the right-wing Hindu Nationalist movement in northern India and the practices and processes that transform ordinary women into committed activists who actively participate in the movement.

Her passion for combating violence against women is evident in the fact that she trained as a feminist self-defense instructor. Her skill helped her clients when she worked at the Rape Crisis Center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She extends this passion to anti-war organizing and has taught classes on third-world women’s activism. She believes in connecting theory to practice and supports the women’s studies program’s efforts to initiate social change, bring multi-cultural issues to light, and attract more women of color.

Originally from Delhi, India, Sehgal completed her PhD work at Madison. Though her young daughter keeps her busy, her work will continue to focus attention on social movements and challenge her future students to be concerned about global women’s issues as well.