Intersections of Caste and Gender in Indian English Writing: A Dalit Feminist Perspective

Abstract

The study examines how Indian English literature reflects the lived realities of Dalit women, whose experiences are shaped by the combined forces of caste and gender oppression. In India, caste hierarchies and patriarchal structures deeply influence social relations, often marginalizing Dalit women doubly—first as members of oppressed castes and then as women within both their communities and the larger society. This research explores how Dalit feminist writers use literature not only as a space for storytelling but also as a powerful tool of resistance, identity assertion, and social transformation.
Focusing on P. Sivakami’s landmark novel The Grip of Change, the paper analyzes how Dalit feminist narratives confront entrenched systems of caste violence, patriarchal authority, and economic marginalization. Sivakami’s choice to self-translate her Tamil novel into English highlights the deliberate attempt to extend Dalit voices to a global readership and challenge dominant literary discourses that have historically excluded marginalized communities.
The study situates Dalit feminism as distinct from mainstream Indian feminism, arguing that upper-caste feminist discourse often overlooks the intersection of caste with gender, thereby silencing Dalit women’s narratives. By adopting a Dalit feminist theoretical lens, the research emphasizes the importance of intersectionality, representation, and authenticity in literary studies.