“Ma’am, Why Are You So Dressed Up Today?”: Unmasking Everyday Harassment in Academia
Over the course of several weeks, I collected responses from young women professors across India; across disciplines, institutions, and experiences. They filled out anonymous questionnaires that asked about experiences of discomfort, harassment, and institutional response. What emerged was not a story of isolated “bad incidents,” but of deep-rooted cultural norms that weaponize politeness, professionalism, and silence against women who dare to be visible.
