Finding power in community

This International Women’s Day, we speak to Anshu Choudhary (MSc International Social and Public Policy 2020) about the challenges she has faced as a woman and why she decided to lead the LSE’s Women’s Alumni Network.

Growing up in India  

Growing up in a small city in the northern part of India, I had very few role models. Women were usually engaged in 'women friendly' jobs such as teachers or in the hospitality industry and often left their jobs owing to 'family responsibilities' where unpaid care work took up most of their time. Economic independence for women was not considered a necessity and quite often seen as not ideal. However, my parents saw things differently. They were determined that my sister and I obtain a good education and become financially independent. This helped me and my sister (who also attended LSE after me) to dream bigger for ourselves where some of our female peers' dreams were destined to end at finding a good husband and having a family. So, when I moved to London to study at LSE in the first year of my marriage, it came both as a surprise and recognition of changing social norms, for many, about women taking charge of their life choices and becoming financially independent.

Choosing LSE and a career in policy 

LSE has a remarkable presence in the life trajectories of some of the most formidable personalities who shaped India's destiny. I was deeply moved by the impact that LSE had on Herabai and Mithan Tata and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who were great social reformers advocating and working towards improving the lives of women in India. So, it was a natural next step when I decided to study social and public policy. I have always been drawn to roles where my work can have a direct impact on the lives of people. Such roles provide me with a great sense of satisfaction and fills me with more hope towards the future. Moving to the UK civil service to work in a policy role after graduating from LSE was one such opportunity that I took on. I employ LSE's motto 'to know the causes of things' regularly in my work which has not only helped me challenge the status quo but to take decisions that make things work better for those who are often left behind.

Examining gender inequality

It took me a long time to understand that a lot of so-called women's problems are resulting from inequalities embedded in the systems that we operate in. Imposter syndrome, the 'glass ceiling' - these are challenges that wouldn't exist if women were part of designing these systems. We need to recognise these problems as the system's problem rather than women's problem to tackle them better. 

There are many dimensions of gender inequality, many of them are normalised to such an extent that we don't even realise them as problems. I spent a long time undervaluing my own potential and apologising for others, often to 'fit in' especially while working in ecosystems where women were in minority. It didn't help me and only provided a temporary refuge in those hostile work environments, so I started to change my approach. What provided me with support and direction in those situations were some incredible women who helped empower me to take charge of my life. They helped me overcome these challenges in a positive manner, allowing me to grow and create more spaces for other women to flourish. 

The LSE Women’s Alumni Network  

The LSE Women's Alumni Network emerged as part of my quest to find and build spaces where women can build meaningful connections and help each other dream bigger and grow together. These spaces provide opportunities for interactions which can be authentic and organic, going beyond just professional networking. I am committed to developing more spaces through the network that can empower us to tackle the challenges women face. We need to make sure we lift each other up and secure seats on the tables where decisions about issues impacting our lives are taken. 

For those who are considering joining the network, I want to say that as women, we have all faced problems that halt our progress in professional and personal spheres. You are not alone. The network is a place where you might meet someone with similar lived experiences and who might already be working to transform the world we live in. So, if you want challenge our current realities, create better systems, and build lifelong connections, the Women's Alumni Network is waiting to hear from you. Let's join hands and take action! There is power in the community and together we are invincible.

Anshu Choudhary
(MSc International Social and Public Policy)

Join the Women's Alumni Network