Dalit women: Overcoming a life of oppression and discrimination

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY AANYA BARMAN

Historically consigned to the bottom of India’s social, economic and political pyramid, the Dalit community has grappled with systemic oppression for a long time. They have endured relentless marginalization, occupying the lowest tier in the Hindu caste hierarchy, in all walks of their life, from property to safety and even education. Over the years, a rise in Dalit consciousness has served as a glimmer of hope for the Dalit communities but, much of this growth is centered around men, sidelining the arduous struggles of Dalit women. The issues of these women, to this day, remain overshadowed by male-centric policies and opinions. Yet, despite the exhausting levels of oppression and disdain that they have encountered, Dalit women are still striving, challenging and fighting to have their voices heard, their contributions recognized, and their rights upheld in the face of societal discrimination. 

Born into a society where caste dictates identity, Dalit women are denied equality from the very start. In villages across India, they are forbidden from entering religious temples, accessing clean water from common wells and shunned from opportunities that prove their skill and talent. An NGO called Navsarjan Trust reported that in 71. 4% of non-Dalit villages, Dalits are not allowed to fetch water and 66.2% of midwives refuse service to Dalit women in childbirth and pre-natal care. This refusal to share basic human necessities and services to the marginalized class exemplifies how deep the scars of caste bias really are, and how they even govern access to survival essentials. Moreover, Dalit rural women have very limited access to and control over land, as due to cultural norms they do not own land, even when it is within their family. In the few cases where a Dalit woman does have land, she is often accused of being a witch and forced off the land or out of the community. 

“Women’s labor is already undervalued; when she is a Dalit, it is nil...” says an article by Human Rights Watch. This is the harsh reality of economic tyranny that Dalit women face every single day. Many find themselves forced into degrading, low-paying jobs such as manual scavenging, being landless laborers or are forced into prostitution and sold in urban brothels. A majority of Dalit communities still abide by the ancient Jajmani system- where members of low castes perform services for upper castes in exchange for goods and services. It is this ingrained socio-economic system that normalizes inequality and perpetuates exploitation, pushing them towards dependency and vulnerability under the illusion of job and financial security. Even those who manage to acquire formal employment are treated as less capable than their colleagues, are rarely offered promotions and do not receive any service and utilities offered by the employer, from housing to healthcare to even training. For Dalit women, every step towards financial independence is met with roadblocks of prejudice. It is the weight of this societal prejudice that crushes their aspirations before they even have a chance to bloom.

Amidst the obstacles faced by Dalit women, their vulnerability to sexual violence and abuse stands out as one of the most harrowing manifestations of caste and gender discrimination. Cases of sexual abuse and other forms of violence against Dalit women are calculated tools wield by landlords and the police to enforce social hierarchy in society and to impose political lessons within Dalit communities. In most cases, the attacks were neither investigated nor prosecuted. Even when cases are registered, the lack of appropriate investigation or the judge’s own caste and gender biases can lead to exoneration or acquittal, regardless of availability of evidence or witnesses. Furthermore, Dalit women are pressured to withdraw statements or reports or settle, to make compromises as they go up against dominant caste members of society. This failure to successfully prosecute cases of rape also allows for crimes against women to continue and encourages the use of rape as a tool to punish and silence Dalit communities. Studies show that in India, the conviction rate for rape cases against Dalit women is under 2% compared to the conviction rate of 25% in rapes against all other women in India. Reports also reveal that the women in most cases are denied their right to medical treatment for their injuries. Fear of retaliation and the indifference of law enforcement agencies leave many voiceless, their stories untold. 

Education is often portrayed as a path to empowerment, but for Dalit women, it is riddled with obstacles.  Dalit families residing in rural areas are unable to send their children to schools and educational centers due to the societal and financial constraints that they endure. In addition, Dalit women are married off at a very early age and thus are unable to continue their education and academic exploration. Those who do attend school are segregated from their peers, forced to sit at the back of the classroom, given fewer opportunities and are bullied brutally for their caste-based identity. This results in high illiteracy rates, dependency and the inability to financially contribute to their families.

Yet, even in the face of relentless adversity, Dalit women continue to rise. They fight for dignity, justice, and opportunities—not only for themselves but for others like them. Let us take the story of Bhanwari Devi, an activist who, after her own heart-wrenching experience, stood up against the abuse that she and her fellow Dalit women endured. For nearly a quarter of a century, she challenged caste and gender violence in Rajasthan. It was her case that paved the way for the formulation of guidelines to deal with sexual harassment in the workplace called the “Vishaka Guidelines”. Similarly, is the story of a Dalit woman, Mayawati, who broke societal boundaries and rose to political platform as she became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1995. She stood as a role model for woman around the country, showcasing what Dalit women can achieve when they are given the chance. Dalit women are also breaking barriers in education. Anita Bharti, a Dalit writer and poet, has used her pen to challenge caste norms and showcased the harsh realities of what it is like to be a Dalit woman.

Some more examples include TTCU (Tamil Nadu Textile and Common Labor Union) is a women-led independent and majority Dalit union of textile workers that represent 11, 000 female workers in Tamil Nadu. They have proved to be taking steps towards the safety and security of textile workers and Dalit women in society. The Dindigul agreement was signed in April 2021 by TTCU and Eastman Exports with an aim to end caste-based and gender-based violence and harassment in Eastman factories and spinning mills in Dindigul. This agreement has received support from major multinational fashion companies such as H&M.

While these victories inspire hope, the path to equality is speckled with stones. Measures must be taken to reform the justice system to ensure that Dalit women are heard and protected, and that justice is accessible for all.  Steps towards this goal would include police and judicial training and monitoring, strengthening laws against domestic and sexual violence and implementing awareness campaigns to help prevent exploitation. Moreover, resources must be invested in educating women and girls thus, ridding them of the dependency of their male counterparts or employers. Representation matters—more Dalit women in parliament and panchayats and in leadership roles will ensure their voices are no longer ignored. Change will come not just from policies but from transforming societal attitudes—by teaching empathy, celebrating diversity, and confronting bias. 

The struggles of Dalit women reflect the deep injustices that live in our systems, pushing the talents and rights of millions of people down, but their victories and perseverance show that they are not ready to give up, so neither should we. As a society, we owe them more than acknowledgment; we owe them solidarity and action. As a young person of this generation, I commit to treat all girls and women in my society, especially Dalit women with respect and amplify their stories of resilience. We must empower these resilience women so that they can take their earned place in society and through that, we can take a step towards a future where no one is defined by their gender, caste or background, where every woman has the right to live and to flourish.