Shamita Das Dasgupta
Encyclopedia
Shamita Das Dasgupta is an Asian Indian scholar, activist
, wife and mother. A social activist since early 1970s, she co-founded Manavi
in 1985. It is the first organization of its kind that focuses on violence
against South Asian women in the United States. A part-time teacher and full-time community worker, she has written extensively in the areas of ethnicity
, gender
, immigration
, and violence against women
. Her books include: A Patchwork Shawl: Chronicles of South Asian Women in America, Body Evidence: Intimate Violence Against South Asian Women in America, and Mothers for Sale: Women in Kolkata’s Sex Trade.
and received her PhD in developmental psychology
. She moved to NJ and taught at Rutgers University
for several years. Her deep interest in issues relating to domestic violence
led her to head a women’s agency in Pennsylvania. From her association with various women’s organizations, she realized that the issues that are unique to South Asian women were generally ignored by the mainstream domestic violence organizations. So she decided to establish an organization that would focus on South Asian women. She cofounded Manavi
in New Jersey with five other women.
. She serves on the editorial board of Violence against Women journal. Recipient of many awards including Bannerman Fellowship
, she is on the board of several national organizations.
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
, wife and mother. A social activist since early 1970s, she co-founded Manavi
Manavi - An Organization for South Asian Women
Manavi was originally formed by six South Asian women: Shamita Das Dasgupta, Radha Sarma Hegde, Shashi Jain, Rashmi Jaipal, Vibha Jha, and Kavery Dutta, as a consciousness raising group interested in addressing concerns faced by South Asian women in the U.S...
in 1985. It is the first organization of its kind that focuses on violence
Violence against women
Violence against women is a technical term used to collectively refer to violent acts that are primarily or exclusively committed against women...
against South Asian women in the United States. A part-time teacher and full-time community worker, she has written extensively in the areas of ethnicity
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
, gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
, immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
, and violence against women
Violence against women
Violence against women is a technical term used to collectively refer to violent acts that are primarily or exclusively committed against women...
. Her books include: A Patchwork Shawl: Chronicles of South Asian Women in America, Body Evidence: Intimate Violence Against South Asian Women in America, and Mothers for Sale: Women in Kolkata’s Sex Trade.
Background
Married at an early age, she moved to the US at the age of 19. She did her undergraduate and graduate studies at The Ohio State UniversityOhio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and received her PhD in developmental psychology
Developmental psychology
Developmental psychology, also known as human development, is the scientific study of systematic psychological changes, emotional changes, and perception changes that occur in human beings over the course of their life span. Originally concerned with infants and children, the field has expanded to...
. She moved to NJ and taught at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
for several years. Her deep interest in issues relating to domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
led her to head a women’s agency in Pennsylvania. From her association with various women’s organizations, she realized that the issues that are unique to South Asian women were generally ignored by the mainstream domestic violence organizations. So she decided to establish an organization that would focus on South Asian women. She cofounded Manavi
Manavi - An Organization for South Asian Women
Manavi was originally formed by six South Asian women: Shamita Das Dasgupta, Radha Sarma Hegde, Shashi Jain, Rashmi Jaipal, Vibha Jha, and Kavery Dutta, as a consciousness raising group interested in addressing concerns faced by South Asian women in the U.S...
in New Jersey with five other women.
Activism and Academia
Although, Shamita would like to describe herself as a community worker, she is one of the few community workers, who have established herself as an academic through her research work and teaching. She has written numerous articles on south Asian women’s issues and collaborated with her physician daughter, Sayantani DasGupta, on mother-daughter experiences. Currently she is an adjunct faculty at the New York University School of LawNew York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
. She serves on the editorial board of Violence against Women journal. Recipient of many awards including Bannerman Fellowship
Bannerman Fellowship
The Alston/Bannerman Fellowship Program, based in Baltimore, Maryland, is committed to advancing progressive social change by helping to sustain long-time activists of color. The program honors those who have devoted their lives to helping their communities organize for racial, social, economic and...
, she is on the board of several national organizations.