Dalits in Catholic Church of South India

Abstract

We examined the Caste induced discrimination of Dalit Christians with a specials emphasis on the social position of Dalit women. Using multi‐stage probability sampling procedure, 210 Catholic Christians of Dalit origin were selected from rural areas of Tamil Nadu in South India. The interviews were conducted by using structured interview schedule that contained socio demographic variables and patterns of discrimination. First, an increasing gender gap against women was observed when educational grades went up in lower educational grades with a sudden fall from higher secondan; level onwards. Most Dalit Catholics were unskilled daily wage earners irrespective of gender while it was further increased for women. Extremely limited numbers of Dalits were self employed while it was further limited for women. Second, Dalit Christians were faced with high level of perceived and actual discriminations, religious distancing and restricted social interaction with dominant Caste Christians. Finally, the study concludes that social interaction act as a critical context by which dominant castes induces, maintain and reinforce caste dominance on religious and social life of Dalit Christians.