Margaret at a BRAC community Empowerment meeting in Bangladesh.

MARGARET ABRAHAM: RESEARCH

For the past two decades, Margaret Abraham’s primary research interests have been in the area of ethnicity, gender, and migration, more specifically on domestic violence in the South Asian immigrant community.

"Underlying all my research work is an interest in power relations at the micro, meso, and macro levels. An approach grounded in sociology but drawing upon other disciplines such as anthropology, women studies, social work, and history offer me an avenue for understanding. Though my entry into the field of domestic violence in 1989 was primarily as a researcher whose main goal was to contribute to the discourse on domestic violence, over the past two decades, I view myself as a sociologist engaged in ‘action research,’ committed to bridging the gap between scholarship and activism. As such, I continue to be an action researcher in the field of domestic violence." 

Since 2004, Margaret’s research has examined the process of globalization and the transformation of work and labor relations in the context of business outsourcing to India. In 2008, her review essay Globalization and the Call Center Industry, was published in the International Sociology Review of Books. The essay focuses on the book Developments in the Call Centre Industry Analysis, Changes and Challenges edited by John Burgess, and Julia Connell (Routledge, 2006), and the report Bi-National Perspective on Offshore Outsourcing: A Collaboration between Indian and US Labour October, 2006. Issues she addresses in the essay include resource strategies, managers and management, jobs and job skills. Margaret also has received HCLAS grants, the Hofstra President’s grant, and Asian Studies supplemental grants for conducting this research.

Margaret also served as research consultant and co-author of Serving Limited English Proficient (LEP) Battered Women: A National Survey of the Courts' Capacity to Provide Protection Orders for the National Center for State Courts. This first national study collected national-level information on the provision of protection orders for non English speaking applicants (seeking orders of protection). The multi-method study design included a national survey of courts, an intensive survey of a select group of courts and community-based organizations within their jurisdictions, and the assessment of selected sites that can serve as national models.

Margaret also has explored the impact of suicides in social justice movements, and the sociological frames of Occupy Wall Street.

Research

Books and Edited Volumes

  • Abraham, M. (Ed.) (2023) “Power, Violence and Justice”. SSIS Book Series, SAGE Publication 

  • Abraham, M. (Ed.) (2019) “Sociology and Social Justice”. SSIS Books Series, SAGE. (November 24 2018)

  • Abraham, M. & Tastsoglou, E. (Eds.) (2016). “Interrogating gender, violence, and the state in national and transnational contexts,” Current Sociology, Special Issue: Monograph Series, SAGE

  • Abraham, M. & Purkayastha, B. (2012). “Making a difference: Linking research and action in practice, pedagogy and policy for social justice,” Current Sociology, Special Issue: Monograph Series, SAGE

  • Abraham, M., Ngan-ling Chow, E., Maratou-Alipranti, L., & Tastsoglou, E. (Eds.) (2010). “Contours of Citizenship: Women, Diversity and Practices of Citizenship,” Aldenshot, Hampshire, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.

  • Abraham, M. (2000 and 2002). “Speaking the Unspeakable: Marital Violence Among South Asians in the US,” New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press

Journal Articles and Chapters

  • Abraham, M. (2022) “Vulnerabilities, Violence, and social justice in pandemic times,” Philippine Sociological Review

  • Abraham, M. (2021) “Domestic violence during the global pandemic,” Global Dialogue, GD 11.2 (Translated into multiple languages)

  • Abraham, M. (2019). “Power, violence, and justice: Reflections, responses and responsibilities,” International Sociology, 34(3), 243–255

  • Abraham, M & Aulenbacher, B. (2019) “Contested capitalism: some reflections on counter movements, social justice and the task for sociology,” in: Dörre K., Rosa H., Becker K., Bose S., Seyd B. (eds) Große Transformation? Zur Zukunft moderner Gesellschaften. Springer VS, Wiesbaden

  • Abraham, M. (2019) “Persistence and Change: Gender Inequality in the US,” Global Dialogue, GD 9.2 June (Translated into multiple languages)

  • Abraham, M. (2019). “Making a difference: Addressing gendered and intersectional violence,” in: Género, Direitos Humanos e Desigualdades, Torres, A., Pinto, P., & Casimiro, C. (Eds.). Lisbon:  ISCSP- ULisboa, Coleção Estudos de Género

  • Abraham, M. (2019) with Bandana Purkayathsa, “Feminisms in the United States Diaspora,” Economic and Political Weekly Vol. 54, Issue 17, 27, April 2019

  • Abraham, M. (2017). “Selbstmord als protest und das streben nach sozialer gerechtigkeit: Öffentliche soziologie ür eine bessere welt,” (“Protest suicides and the quest for social justice: Public sociology for a better world”) (pp. 243-259), in: Aulenbacher, B., Burawoy, M., Dörre, K., & Sittel, J. (Eds.) Öffentliche Soziologie. (German) Campus Verlag: Campus Verlag Frankfurt/New York

  • Abraham, M. & Tastsoglou, E. (2016). “Interrogating gender, violence, and the state in national and transnational contexts: Framing the issues,” Current Sociology, 64(4), July. pp. 517–534

  • Abraham, M. & Tastsoglou, E. (2016). “Addressing domestic violence in Canada and the United States: The uneasy co-habitation of women and the state,” Current Sociology, 64(4), July. pp. 568–585

  • Abraham, M. (2015). “The intersections of protest suicides, oppression and social justice,” Sociologies in Dialogue, Journal of Brazilian Sociological Society, Porto Alegre, Brazil, 1(1), July-December

  • Abraham, M. (2015). “Talking the talk and walking the walk: Linking research and action on domestic violence,” Sociologists in Action on Inequalities: Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality. SAGE Publications: Thousand Oaks, California

  • Abraham, M. (2014). “Strengthening sociology’s commitment to social justice,” Global Dialogue, International Sociological Association, 4(3), September. (translated into multiple languages)

  • Abraham, M. & Purkayastha, B. (2012), “Introduction: Making a difference: Linking research and action in practice, pedagogy and policy for social justice,” Current Sociology. SAGE

  • Abraham, M. & Maney, G. (2012). “Transforming place and belonging through action research, community practice, and public policy: Comparing responses to NIMBYism,” Current Sociology. SAGE

  • Abraham, M. (2010). “Globalization, work and citizenship: The call centre industry in India,” In: Contours of citizenship,” Women, diversity and practices of citizenship. Hampshire, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.

  • Abraham, M., Ngan-ling Chow, E., Maratou, L., & Tastsoglou, E. (2010). “Rethinking citizenship with women in focus,” in: Contours of citizenship: Women, diversity and practices of citizenship. Hampshire, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.

  • Abraham, M. & Maney, G. (2009). “Whose backyard? Boundary making in NIMBY opposition to immigrant services,” Social Justice

  • Abraham, M. (2008). ‘Globalization and the call center industry,” Review Essay, International Sociology Review of Book

  • Abraham, M. (2007). “Ethnicity and marginality: A study of Indian Jewish immigrants in Israel,” Indian Diaspora in West Asia: A Reader, Jain, P. C. (Ed.). New Delhi: Manohar Publishers. (Reprint)

  • Abraham, M. (2006). “Infanticide,” Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender, Macmillan Library Reference

  • Abraham, M. (2006). “Model minority and marital violence: South Asian immigrants in the United States,” in: Cultural psychology of immigrants. Mahalingam, R. (Ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc. Publishers

  • Abraham, M. (2005). “Domestic violence and the Indian diaspora in the United States,” Indian Journal of Gender Studies. (Reprinted in Marriage and Migration Palriwala, R. & Uberoi, P. (Eds.). SAGE Publication, 2007

  • Abraham, M. (2006). “Serving limited English proficient (LEP) battered women: A national survey of the courts' capacity to provide protection orders conducted by national center for state courts,” Williamsburg, VA. (This was a co-authored report on NIJ-sponsored project). www.ncsconline.org, 2006

  • Abraham, M., Chakkappan, R., & Won Park, S. (2005). “South Asian immigrant women’s HIV/AIDS related issues: An exploratory study of New York City,” APICHA

  • Abraham, M. (2005). “Strategies of resistance,” in: Domestic Violence at the margins: Readings in race, class, gender and culture. Sokoloff, N. & Pratt, C. (Eds.). Rutgers University Press

  • Abraham, M. (2002). “Addressing domestic violence and challenging the model minority community of South Asians in the United States,” Intersections and divergences: Contemporary Asian American communities. Bonus, R. & Vo, L. (Eds.). Temple University Press

  • Abraham, M. (2002). “Immigrant status and marital violence. Women and the politics of violence,” Abraham, T. (Ed.). New Delhi: Shakti Books

  • Abraham, M. (2001). “Femicide,” Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women's Studies

  • Abraham, M. (2001). “Infanticide,” Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women's Studies

  • Abraham, M. (2000). “Reflections on doing research” in: Asian Mode, Issue 2

  • Abraham, M. (2000). “Isolation as a social factor in marital violence: The South Asian immigrant experience” Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 9(3)

  • Abraham, M. (2000). “Sexual abuse in South Asian immigrant marriages,” Violence Against Women, 5(6)

  • Abraham, M. (1998). “Speaking the unspeakable: Marital violence among the South Asian community in the United States,” Indian Journal of Gender Studies, 5(2), August-December

  • Abraham, M. (1998). “Marital violence and alienation among South Asian immigrant women in the United States,” Designs on Alienation. Kalekin-Fishman, D. (Ed.). Finland: Sophi Press

  • Abraham, M. (1995). “Ethnicity, gender, and marital violence: South Asian women's organizations in the United States,” Gender & Society, 9(4), August

  • Abraham, M. (1995). “Ethnicity and marginality: Indian Jewish immigrants in Israel,” South Asian Bulletin

Prefaces

  • Abraham, M. (2022). Book Preface (invited). "Global Agenda for Social Justice,” Edited by Glenn Muschert et. al Bristol University Press, UK

  • Abraham, M. (2022). Book Preface (invited) “Sociologies in Dialogue,” Edited by Sari Hanafi and Chin-Chun Yi in SAGE Studies in International Sociology