Dalit Feminism: Historical Context And Impact

Abstract

Dalit feminism aims to dismantle the prevailing narratives that uphold their oppression by empowering Dalit women to express their agency and reclaim their stories. Notwithstanding casteist violence and persecution, Dalit women have always been important voices for their rights and dignity. Prominent individuals such as Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, and Ramabai Ambedkar have played a pivotal role in the anticaste and anti-untouchability campaigns in India, championing the cause of women's empowerment and education rights. Organizations like the Dalit Mahila Samiti and the All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM) sought to address problems including domestic abuse, healthcare access, and sexual exploitation of Dalit women in the 20th century. Dalit feminism also criticizes mainstream feminism for failing to represent the experiences of women from lower castes and for being dominated by upper-class viewpoints. It aims to elevate Dalit women in the feminist conversation and promotes unity with other oppressed groups, such as LGBTQIA+ people and males of lower castes.