Women’s Voices from the Northeast

The Centre for Women’s Development Studies (CWDS), in collaboration with Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung South Asia, is documenting the struggles and contributions of indigenous women from Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland toward gender equality.

While women in these Northeastern states are often perceived as having greater mobility and autonomy, many face entrenched barriers rooted in patriarchal customs. Bride price, polygamy, unequal inheritance, and exclusion from decision-making continue to shape their lives. Yet women have consistently resisted these practices through community initiatives, everyday leadership, and local movements that remain under-recognised.

This project highlights those struggles through oral histories and indigenous research methods, ensuring that women’s narratives are recorded with authenticity and cultural sensitivity. By focusing on intergenerational dialogue, it preserves the stories of women leaders and makes them accessible to future generations.

The research will also map how struggles differ across the three states while tracing shared strategies of resistance and collaboration. The project will culminate in a research report and workshop with scholars, activists, and women’s groups, contributing to wider debates on gender justice by centering the voices of indigenous women.