Negotiating Gender and Caste - A Struggle in Hyderabad Central University ~~ A few dalit women stood up and asked: ‘What about us?’ ... In remarkable contrast to the national scenario, the dalit woman had stood up for herself and staked her claim to be partners in the struggle. Unlike in parliaMent where male members have been the most visible advocates for sub-quotas within the women’s reservation bill, dalit women took the initiative here to articulate their cause. This is important, also because we feel it is a pointer of things to come dalit women and women from minorities and backward castes, even as they are slowly, grudgingly allowed into modernity, will increasingly pose their demands themselves. The women’s movement, that has been largely upper caste, and the dalit movement that has been largely male, will both be forced to listen, will both have to re-examine their agendas, revise them and negotiate space for the dalit woman. ... It is precisely the possibility of an alliance simultaneously addressing gender and caste that was threatening to it. This alliance between dalit women, upper caste women, dalit men and progressive upper caste men is remarkable also because it offers possibilities that are different from those before parliament today. It is by actively pitching these groups against each other that the upper caste men in parliament are able to script their own roles as heroes who are pro-women, caring and sensitive. ~~ ambedkar.org/research/Univ..pdf
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 11:59:59 +0000
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