Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
CURRENT POSITION: Doctoral Candidate
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
LANGUAGES KNOWN: English, Hindi, and Sanskrit (Read and write)
ADDRESS: Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Indian Institute of Technology
Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA, 208016
Tel.:
+91-9935461858
Fax. +91-512 2597510
Email: ashishm@iitk.ac.in or akiips@rediffmail.com
CURRENT WORK
Pursuing PhD in Sociology . Currently in the fourth semester of the program
Advisor: Prof. AK Sharma
PhD TOPIC
Self Image, Actualization, Risk and Coping Strategies: A Study of Men Having Sex With Men in the Wake of HIV /AIDS Epidemic in Mumbai
Abstract
In the wake of HIV epidemic MSM behaviors have been categorized as high risk behaviors. The persistent stigma, heterosexism, prejudices, stereotypes and taboo about the same sex relationships’ are the major barriers for research and interventions among MSM subpopulation. MSM is a diverse group and importance should be given to their social- psychological factors involved in perpetuating their risk behavior. The sexual behaviors and societal pressures enhance their chance to get infected with HIV/AIDS. Nevertheless, the persistent traditional Indian society and its heterosexism perpetuate their psychosexual health which leads them to survive in distress. In the Indian context, very little is known about such people, their socio-sexual networking, context, sexual behavior, problems and coping strategies. Therefore, there is need to understand these socio- psychological processes through which they safeguard their rights and lives. For MSM individual there is a big pressure of societal needs and wants which are often grilled and guided by societal norms. As a result, conflict between multiple norms, roles and identities perpetuate the risk and frustration which propels them to live in miserable conditions. Moreover, this situation becomes more dismal when conflict comes between sexual orientation and sexual behavior. The proposed research will try to focus on self -image of MSM individuals and related risk factors involved in making them more vulnerable towards this endemic. The study will also look into the interrelationships between self image, actualization, risk and coping strategies along with a closer look at their self esteem and its effect on coping; and vice-versa. Further, this study will also try to give a theoretical framework for the future intervention research. To achieve the goal of this study a scientific sampling design will be developed and it will be implemented in field for data collection. Moreover, the objective issues will be covered through a pre-tested structured interview schedule. The data will be collected from the scientifically selected samples from different cruising points in Mumbai. In all, 300 respondents will be interviewed and interviews of key informant and stake holders’ will be conducted to discern the problems and prospects for the intervention among such hard to reach population. The quantitative findings will be corroborated by the findings from the qualitative results. For the quantitative and qualitative data SPSS and ATLAS TI-5 will be used respectively. After all these effort, a theoretical frame-work will be developed for the possible intervention research to reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS.
2003 Masters of Philosophy in Population Studies from International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India.
2001 Masters in Population Studies, Banaras Hindu University, Uttar Pradesh, India.
1996 B.Sc. Mathematics, Physics and Geology from Lucknow University, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Assistant Research Officer in International Institute for Population Sciences, January 2004 –June 2004 in the project entitled "Mapping Of High Risk Behavior Groups in Goa" funded by Goa State AIDS control Society (PI:Prof.G.RamaRao & Dr.S. Niranjan)
Data collection using both qualitative and quantitative techniques, analysis of data and report writing was done for this project.
· Evaluation of the Targeted Intervention Programme of Truckers Project in Wardha was done and the report submitted to Maharastra State AIDS Control Society, Mumbai, June 2004.
Research Officer in International Institute for Population Sciences, June-July 2004 in the project entitled “CHARCA Base Line Survey 2004” funded by different UN agencies ( PI: Dr.T.K Roy & Dr.S.K Singh)
DISTINCTIONS/MEDALS/AWARDS
Cleared NET exam (National Eligibility Test for University teaching) in Demography (2003).
Institute’s Fellowship for PhD in Sociology
Government of India Fellowship for Masters of Philosophy in Population Studies.
SPSS, STATA, MLWIN, SPECTRUM, ATLAS-TI-5, ANTHROPACK, MAP INFO & ARC-VIEW (GIS)
AREA OF RESEARCH INTEREST: HIV /AIDS & Reproductive health
TRAINING PROGRAM ATTENDED
2006-Short term Training Program on ‘Management and Control of RTI/STI in India’ Training Program was Sponsored by DFID London, RISHTA IIPS & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, February 27th -March10 th.
RESEARCH PAPERS PRESENTED AT CONFERENCE
2005- XXV IUSSP International Conference , Tours, France “Two Men Together: Love , Sex and Risk in the wake of HIV/AIDS Epidemic in India” VINCI Convocation Centre, Tours, France, July 18 - 23 (Joint paper with Prof. A.K Sharma & Dr. SK Singh (IIPS), Trip was Sponsored by National French Organizing Committee.
2005-1st National Conference of AIDS Society of India “Sexual Behavior among MSM: Problems and Prospects of Risk Reduction for STD/HIV” Hotel Ashoka, New Delhi, April 2-4(Joint paper with Dr. SK Singh (IIPS) & Prof. A.K Sharma).Trip was sponsored by AIDS Society of India.
2005- National Seminar on Tribal Demography of Chattishgarh. “Tribal Health: Issues and Challenges”. Hotel Piccadilly, Raipur February 25-27 (Joint paper with Prof. A.K Sharma).Trip was Sponsored by International Institute for Population Sciences ,Ministry of Health and Family Welfare GOI..
2004- Conference on young people’s sexual and Reproductive health needs in Asia: Progresses, Achievements and Ways Forward. “Routes to General Population: Redefining Vulnerability in the Spread of HIV /AIDS” The Hotel Claridges, New Delhi, December 2-4 (Joint paper with Prof. A.K Sharma). Sponsored by UNAIDS, FPAI & CORT.
2004-Population and Development of Madhya Pradesh. "Adolescent Fertility and Reproductive Health: A Comparative Study of Madhya Pradesh and its Neighboring States, Narohana Prasasnik Academy, Madhya Pradesh, February . Trip was sponsored by Government of Madhya Pradesh.
2003-4th IASP regional conference. A comparative Study of North and South Indian States”, Hotel Clarks, Lucknow.
DISSERTATION AND OTHER PAPERS
"Socio-Economic Conditions of the Rural Households and its Impact on Family Size" a dissertation submitted to Banaras Hindu University, 2001(as a part of the M.Sc. in Population Studies).
"Problems and Prospects of Risk Reduction for STD/HIV among MSM"a Term Paper Submitted to IIPS, 2003 (as a part of the M.Phil. Program in Population Studies).
"Sexual Health Problems among MSM and their Coping Strategies in Mumbai” a dissertation submitted to IIPS, 2003 (as a part of the M.Phil. Program in Population Studies).
“Behavioral Change and Communication Strategies in the Spread of HIV /AIDS” Term Paper Submitted to IIT Kanpur, 2004(as a part of PhD Programme in Sociology).
“Social Interaction: Interaction in Everyday Life” Term Paper Submitted to IIT Kanpur, 2004 ( as a part of PhD Programme in Sociology)
“Disenchantment From Social Life: A Critical Theory Approach” Term Paper Submitted to IIT Kanpur, 2005 (as a part of PhD Programme in Sociology).
REFERENCES
Prof. A.K. Sharma
Head, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Indian Institute of Technology
Kanpur, India 208016
Email:arunk@iitk.ac.in
Dr. S.K Singh
Reader, Department of Mathematical Demography and Statistics
International Institute for Population Sciences
Govandi Station Road , Deonar, Mumbai-88
Phone: 022-25563255
Fax: 022-25563257
Email: sksingh1992@ yahoo.co.in