A Woman Domestic Worker Narrates the Blind Side of ‘Due Process’
This co-authored article, originally published in NewsClick on 13 October 2020, discusses conditions of women domestic workers in the informal sector. Through the narratives of Rupa, a survivor of serial sexual harassment at both agencies and households, the article exposes how legal frameworks like the POSH Act fail those whose lives defy linear “due process.” It is structured around three main sections: “Harassment as a Norm,” which details Rupa’s early experiences; “No Place Called Home,” which describes her search for belonging, identity, and legal recognition; and “Failure of Due Process,” which analyzes systemic barriers, from stigma to resource constraints, that deter victims from seeking justice.
Informal Lives, Formal Laws: Sexual Harassment in Film Industry
This co-authored article, originally published in NewsClick on 16 September 2020, discusses the conditions of women working at all levels in Kerala’s Malayalam film industry. Through the narratives of junior artists, supporting actors, costume designers, and makeup artists, it reveals how informal work hierarchies and male-dominated unions render the POSH Act incompatible on set. The piece is organized into four parts: “Collectivised but Informal,” which examines union structures; “Incompatibility with POSH Act,” detailing legal gaps; “Where Is the Justice Hema Commission Report?,” highlighting institutional denial; and a concluding call for transparency and release of the suppressed commission findings.
Managing the Misinformation Effect: The State of Fact-Checking in Asia
This co-authored report chapter, originally published by the International Federation of Journalists in 2023, discusses the evolving misinformation landscape and the rapid growth of -checking initiatives across India. Through the narratives of country experts, the report highlights how political, health, and communal hoaxes spread, particularly via WhatsApp and social media, and the resultant real-world harms, from mob violence to economic losses.
Less-Evident Forms of Violence: Muzzafarnagar Riots
This co-authored article, originally published on Countercurrents.org on 30 January 2014, provides an in-depth examination of the less visible forms of violence experienced by women and children during the 2013 Muzzafarnagar riots. Through firsthand narratives from affected survivors and camp residents, it highlights brutal physical and psychological abuses, systemic state apathy, and social stigmatization. The article critically explores the intersection of communal conflict, gender-based violence, and institutional neglect, emphasizing the enduring trauma, forced marriages, and lack of rehabilitation faced by victims.
This solo-authored article (in Malayalam), originally published in Mathrubhumi Weekly in 2014, documents the harsh working conditions faced by sales girls in Kerala’s retail sector. It highlights issues such as prohibition from sitting during long working hours, invasive surveillance, and entrenched patriarchal cultural attitudes. The article played a pivotal role in raising awareness and advocacy around these problems. Following sustained efforts, in 2018, the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Act was amended to explicitly include provisions for providing chairs to sales staff, addressing a previous gap where the labour department had claimed no such legal requirement existed.
Jenny Sulfath 