Sejal Choudhary Week 3

“GENDERING CASTE THROUGH A FEMINIST LENS”

- Uma Chakravarty

Uma Chakravarti in her book – “Gendering Caste Through a Feminist Lens” has talked about the manner in which caste has shaped the lives of women across all the classes. Chakravarty further emphasises the power associated with the status of a caste group – as we go up in this caste structure, the power increases and as we move down, the caste groups are not only deprived of power, but these caste groups are regarded as “dirty and polluted”. The author also throws some light on these victims suffering from the force of caste and class, termed as “cultural oppression” by Ambedkar. Cultural oppression majorly operates in the lives of Dalits and women, and other women from lower castes, which is not only dehumanising but also results in economic exploitation.

            Chakravarty also talks about “Brahmanical Patriarchy”, which has been surviving in our society since ages. The system Brahmanical Patriarchy works to safeguard the sexuality of an upper caste women by protecting it from the lower caste males and ensuring the reproduction of pure blood. Uma Chakravarty through her book tries to make its reader aware of the way women in our society, stuck in this loop of caste and class not only suffer because of this tragic system but also because of their gender.