She has served as the Chairperson of the Kerala State Youth Commission, National Vice President of Students Federation India, and President of the SFI Kerala State Committee.

[4] During the campaign, she was promoted as "the symbol of the UDF government's use of force to suppress students' stir against privatisation of the education sector.

[10][11] As an active politician, she has held various positions, including: In 2011, Joy resigned from CPI-M, stating she had been "neglected" by the party.

[19] In 2014, after participating in the Malayalam reality show, Malayalee House,[20] Joy announced she would return to politics, but did not say which party she would join.

[22][23] When she was finishing her thesis in 2006, she was jailed for 24 days on charges connected to a mass protest.