Women’s Movement in India and the Issues of Lower Social Strata Women
Introduction
The women’s movement in India has been instrumental in advocating for gender equality, legal rights, and empowerment. However, women from lower social strata (Dalits, Adivasis, working-class women, etc.) often remain marginalized in mainstream feminist discourse.
Gaps in Addressing Issues of Women from Lower Social Strata
1. Focus on Elite Concerns
- Middle-class, urban feminism has dominated the movement, addressing issues like workplace harassment, political representation, and reproductive rights.
- Neglect of rural and working-class struggles, such as livelihood security, caste-based violence, and lack of basic amenities.
- Example: The #MeToo movement in India focused on urban, educated women, sidelining Dalit and Adivasi women facing everyday harassment in informal jobs.
2. Caste and Gender Intersectionality Ignored
- Dalit women face triple oppression – as women, Dalits, and economically marginalized.
- Mainstream feminism has historically ignored caste-based violence, such as Khairlanji massacre (2006), where a Dalit woman and her family were brutally murdered.
3. Exclusion from Economic Policies and Labor Rights
- 80% of women in India work in the informal sector (domestic workers, construction laborers, agricultural laborers), yet feminist movements have not adequately fought for social security, maternity benefits, or minimum wages.
- SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association) remains an exception, fighting for informal women workers’ rights.
4. Land Rights and Resource Control
- Adivasi women face land alienation and displacement due to mining, deforestation, and large projects (e.g., Narmada Bachao Andolan).
- Women’s movements have rarely prioritized land rights for marginalized communities.
5. Domestic Violence and Honor Killings
- Lower-caste women suffer higher domestic violence rates (NFHS-5: 43% Dalit women face intimate partner violence, higher than the national average).
- Honor killings, often linked to caste-based marriages, disproportionately affect lower-caste women (Haryana, Uttar Pradesh cases).
Movements Led by Lower-Class/Caste Women
Since mainstream feminism has been inadequate, marginalized women have formed their own movements:
- Dalit Women’s Collective – Challenges caste-based violence and patriarchy.
- Kudumbashree Movement (Kerala) – Women-led self-help groups for economic empowerment.
- Gulabi Gang (UP) – Grassroots movement against domestic violence and caste oppression.
- Shaheen Bagh Protests (2020) – Led by Muslim women against CAA-NRC, highlighting exclusionary policies.
Conclusion
While the women’s movement in India has made significant progress, it has not adequately addressed the specific struggles of women from lower social strata. Future feminist activism must be inclusive, intersectional, and prioritize economic justice, caste issues, and grassroots participation to achieve true gender equality.
