Neeharika Kakunuri

  • Groundbreaker
  • Academic, Economic, Political

 

Neeharika Kakunuri

PhD Candidate

UCD School of Economics

Neeharika, from Bangalore in southern India, is a PhD candidate in Development Economics working to establish a causal link between inheritance rights and gender-based violence in her native country. She conceived of her doctoral thesis, 'Breaking the Chains of Patriarchy: Examining the Hindu Succession Act and its Impact on Violence Against Women in India,' in recognition of the crucial role women must play in society and out of a desire to enable them.  

I'm from India, which has a diverse culture and is home to the greatest percentage of women in the world. We have made some progress toward increasing women's economic, political, and social engagement, but there is still much work to be done. especially when it comes to women's security and safety. Women are unable to exercise their freedom and right to select the career path they prefer due to gender-based violence.  I hope with my research to add to the expanding conversation around women's and children's safety and equitable opportunity through my study.

Neeharika says her grandmother served as inspiration for her pursuing her PhD. "She was a brave young girl who grew up with three older sisters, with no parents. All of them worked hard, educated themselves until they finished high school, and were employed at government offices. This was in the 1950's in India when gender norms were extremely strict and women would never make choices like these. She then went on to have three children of her own and managed to play roles as a mother, wife, employee, friend, and relative with pure joy. During this time, India was still reeling from its losses and it did not have decent transportation. Her safety was always in question while she walked several kilometres each day to go to work.
"She broke glass ceilings for women in my family, in her circle, and possibly for every woman she has known. And I strongly believe that there are plenty of unsung heroes like herself."