Shifting Identities: Interplay of Self and Politics | Dr. Supriya Subramani

Friday, 25 October | 12pm-2:00pm

Talking about the self—and its varied aspects shaped by gender, caste, class, ethnicity, ability, and all of its idiosyncrasies—often brings discomfort to oneself and others. Reflecting on identities is frequently dismissed as “navel-gazing.” But isn’t this how one lives as an embodied self, within and outside these academic halls? In this talk, by reflecting on my shifting identities and narratives, I critically engage on this question: What epistemic insights can we gain from reflecting on our identities? I will explore why reflecting on one’s identities and experiences matters, and I attempt to engage and draw attention to how critical self-reflection is inevitable if we acknowledge the inherent ethical and political nature of knowledge production. Through this talk, I hope we can appreciate the interplay between our identities, social and political locations, and any theorizing we engage in to make sense of and make claims about this social world.

About the author:

Dr. Supriya Subramani explores morality, behavior, and attitudes in healthcare contexts. She employs ethnographic and phenomenological methods, adopting an interdisciplinary approach to study moral emotions (such as humiliation, shame, and rage) and moral concepts (including respect, othering, and belonging). Her current projects focus on migrant health and belonging, and epistemological and methodological questions concerning the relationship between self, the others, and knowledge production.

Location: Vere Gordon Childe Centre

Images courtesy of Dr. Supriya Subramani