Pravartika Wankhede is an alumna of CCIR Academy. She began her research journey as a Year 12 student at Girls’ High School and College in India. Before joining CCIR Academy, she worked as a research fellow at Harvard’s Socioeconomics Lab.
Her research at Harvard examined India’s migrant labour crisis. In particular, she explored the challenges faced by undocumented workers, including women and Dalit labourers who had often been overlooked.
Exploring Social Inequality and Marginalisation
Pravartika also served as a Civic in Action Fellow at Write the World. This programme was funded by the National Children’s Fund. During her fellowship, she studied Dalitality and its connection to class and gender.
Drawing on her experiences, Pravartika recognised the importance of understanding how the state operates. She also explored ways to challenge oppressive systems. Her work reflects a commitment to examining inequality related to gender, sexuality, class, and caste.
Research on Menstruation and Women’s Employability
At CCIR Academy, Pravartika investigated an issue affecting women in her community. Her research paper was titled “The Penalty on Menstruation: Can Impoverished Indian Women ‘Choose’ Medically Unnecessary Hysterectomies to Improve Their Employability?”
The study examined the reported high rate of medically unnecessary hysterectomies in Beed, India. According to the article’s original figures, the rate was 14 times higher than the national average.
Pravartika explored the circumstances surrounding these procedures. Her research also examined women’s agency and the caste-based discrimination faced by impoverished migrant sugarcane workers.
Through this work, she investigated the relationship between healthcare decisions, economic pressures, and social inequality.
Sharing Her Research Journey
Pravartika recently appeared in an episode of CCIR Academy Student Spotlights. During the episode, she shared insights from her research project and reflected on her experience at CCIR Academy.
Her work highlights the importance of examining complex social issues through research. It also demonstrates how student research can explore questions affecting communities and marginalised groups.
Explore Your Research Interests
Are you interested in social sciences, gender studies, or public policy? You can explore these subjects through an original research project with guidance from experienced professor mentors.
Download the CCIR Research Programme Prospectus to explore our 170+ research areas. Learn about the Cambridge Future Scholar and 1-on-1 Research Mentorship programmes, discover professor mentors and student outcomes, and find information about scholarships and the application process.
