Gender
SSA is a pioneering South Asian institution in critical gender studies and has been networking with feminist intellectuals of the region for more than four decades, and continues to explore the interplay between gender and other vectors of power in the production of aggregate social outcomes. Among its focus areas in this relation are issues concerning gender based discrimination, sexuality, gender pay gap and women’s lived experiences.
Research Projects
An Assessment of Political and Civic Rights of the LGBT Community in Sri Lanka August 2023 – February 2024
This project aimed to create an advocacy tool by quantifying the civic and political engagement of the LGBT community. Through a data-driven approach, it evaluated multiple facets of their lives, including political participation, interactions with legal systems, engagement with governmental institutions, possession of identity documents reflecting chosen gender, registration within local divisions, access to welfare benefits, experiences in education and employment, housing accessibility, public facility use, and possession of permanent residence. By translating these insights into tangible data, the project strived to catalyse policy discussions, address inequalities, and foster a more inclusive society that honours the rights of all citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.