She is a leading feminist sociologist who advocates for transnational and postcolonial approaches[1] to the study of gender, sexuality, state, nationalism, and death and migration.
Her first book, cited over 300 times,[7] Woman, Body, Desire: Narratives of Gender and Sexuality in Post-colonial India, focused on middle-class women in urban India about their experiences of gender and sexuality to show that the social control of women’s bodies occurs through the impact of nationalist and transnational discourses, rather than the family or kinship.
[1] As a prominent feminist scholar of sexualities, states, and nations, Puri has co-edited two special issues for the journals, Rethinking Marxism[10] and Gender & Society.
Established in 1977, the Jessie Bernard Award [14] is given annually “in recognition of scholarly work inclusive of research, teaching, mentoring, and service, that has enlarged the horizons of sociology to encompass fully the role of women in society.
It is presented for significant cumulative work done throughout a professional career that demonstrates broad scholarly impact.” Puri was named one of only three endowed chairs at Simmons University.