Esther Anne Victoria Moraes

Research Interests: Political Economy of Development; NGOs; Health; Law; Activism; India.

Esther (she/her) is a PhD student in the Department of Sociology at UMass and a certificate student in the Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She holds a BA in History and an MA in Sociology. Esther is interested in studying the politics of reproduction in India and its relationship to histories of global development, philanthrocapitalism, and transnational feminist movements. Her doctoral research examines abortion activism and NGOs using qualitative and historical methods. She draws from postcolonial theory, feminist theory, and development theory. Esther has worked as a researcher and programme coordinator in feminist and human rights NGOs in Delhi in the areas of education, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and youth leadership.

Prospective graduate students (esp. from the Global South), please reach out if you would like to talk to a current grad student. I'm happy to help!