Digital Activism and Dalit Women

Abstract

This paper attempts to understand that in the world of technology and its development, people are updated with social media, and they can connect with people around the world, gain information and acquire knowledge across borders. Digital media can also be used to provide platforms to share their thoughts and problem which can reach millions of people at their fingertips. It has also given a great opportunity for the people who are always kept away from the mainstream media and restricted from all their social, political, and economic rights. Such communities are like Dalit or Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, due to the roots of casteism in India. After much of struggles, pains, and hardships they are living an independent life by representing themselves through their works. But still, in many corners of the country, people of these communities are still suffering from the issues, and the painful part of the situation is that they could not make it heard with the threats of the society which is still been dominated by upper caste elites. The main sufferer of these communities are the Dalit women, who are marginalized and subordinated with triple colonization; from upper caste men, Dalit men and women are oppressed in society, mainstream social media, and other aspects of living. As society is comprised of higher caste elites in different powerful positions and patriarchal norms that have completely ruined the lives of these community women. Digital media is providing a platform, that every citizen of this country is heard and can be equivalent to share their problems in front of the world and live a life with equal respect and dignity. Dalit women activists are using both feminist media theory and social movement theory for reaching the heights of development which was always denied to them. The main concern of the study is to focus on the conditions of Dalit women and how this Digital Dalit media activism is paving the path, providing opportunities to change their lives and make themselves heard in society.