In the paper Dalit Women Talk Differently Sharmila Rege, the author critically engages with the

complexities of Dalit women’s experiences and how these have been marginally represented
within mainstream feminist movements. Rege traces the intersections of caste, gender, and
class, arguing that Dalit women’s struggles are not just about naming differences, but about
challenging the foundational structures that perpetuate their oppression. Dalit feminism goes
beyond identity politics, advocating for a radical critique of Brahmanism, patriarchy, and
capitalist systems.

She examines the history of feminist movements, critiques the limitations imposed by
postmodern and post-structuralist frameworks, and presents a vision for a Dalit feminist
standpoint. The article argues for an inclusive and intersectional approach, where Dalit
women’s voices and histories are not only heard but are central to feminist theory and
activism.

Feminism and the Problem of 'Difference'

Feminism often talks about “difference,” meaning how women’s experiences vary based on
race, class, caste, or culture. While acknowledging these differences is important, relying solely
on this concept can be limiting. In the Indian context, caste-based issues often get sidelined in
mainstream feminism, leaving Dalit women to fight these battles alone.

Dalit feminism highlights that feminist movements must go beyond just recognizing
differences—they should focus on the systems that turn these differences into oppression,
such as patriarchy, caste, and economic hierarchies.

Historical Context: Dalit Women's Struggles

Rege provides a historical context for Dalit women’s activism, which, she argues, has been
underrepresented in both Dalit and mainstream feminist movements. Dalit women have long
been fighting against caste-based oppression, but their efforts have often been sidelined. Rege
traces the contributions of Dalit women in anti-caste movements, particularly the
Satyashodhak and Ambedkarite movements, which played a crucial role in challenging caste-
based discrimination and advocating for Dalit rights.

The writer highlights that Dalit women’s involvement in these movements was not merely
incidental; they were active participants in the struggle for social justice. Rege critiques how
mainstream feminist scholarship, particularly those influenced by postcolonial and
postmodernist frameworks, has ignored the contributions of Dalit women in these
movements. feminist theorists, by focusing on colonialism and postcolonial studies, have failed
to recognize how caste-based oppression existed long before colonial rule and how it
continues to shape Dalit women’s experiences today.

The Limits of Mainstream Feminism

The 1970s and 1980s witnessed the rise of feminist movements that were concerned with
issues such as dowry deaths, domestic violence, and women’s rights in the workplace.
However, these movements often failed to address the specific needs of Dalit women or
acknowledge the impact of caste on women’s lives.

the feminist movement in India has been dominated by the concerns of urban, middle-class
women. When Dalit women’s issues were raised, they were often subsumed under broader
categories of women’s rights or reduced to identity politics. For example, campaigns against
dowry violence or sexual assault rarely accounted for the particular forms of caste-based
violence Dalit women face, such as public sexual assault, gang rapes, and social ostracization.

She argues that the Leftist women’s movements tend to collapse caste into class, treating
caste as a secondary issue within a broader economic framework.

autonomous women’s groups, which focused more on women’s individual experiences of

Rege contends that both approaches fail to adequately address the reality of Dalit women’s
experiences, which are shaped by both caste and gender oppression.

The Dalit Feminist Standpoint

Dalit women bring a unique perspective because of their experiences at the intersection of
caste and gender oppression. They argue that their voices have historically been silenced both
in the Dalit movement, dominated by men, and in the feminist movement, led by upper-caste
women.

This "standpoint" is powerful because it starts with the lived realities of Dalit women, making
their struggles central to understanding broader systems of oppression.
Cultural and Material Dimensions of Caste

Rege draws attention to the cultural and material dimensions of caste and gender oppression.
She argues that caste is not just a social identity but a system that shapes women’s bodies,
labor, sexuality, and social status. Caste-based oppression operates through various
mechanisms, such as the control of women’s sexuality, violence against Dalit women, and
economic exploitation.

Dalit feminist analysis focus on how caste-based exploitation is intertwined with gender-
based violence. Rege critiques the feminist movement for focusing on individual rights without
addressing the ways that caste structures gender relations. Rege argues that addressing caste
and gender together, rather than in isolation, is crucial to any meaningful feminist politics.

Naming ‘Difference’ vs. Addressing Oppression

Acknowledging the “difference” of Dalit women is a start, but it’s not enough. Celebrating
diversity without examining why these differences exist risks turning feminism into a
fragmented identity-based movement. Instead, Dalit feminism calls for addressing the
systems—like Brahmanism and patriarchy—that create and sustain these inequalities.

For example: Instead of just highlighting that Dalit women face more public violence, Dalit
feminism pushes for policies and social changes that dismantle the caste structures enabling
this violence.

The Need for Dialogue and Solidarity

The writer argues that adopting a Dalit feminist standpoint is not just about recognizing Dalit
women’s voices but about challenging the structures of power that have historically oppressed
them. This standpoint offers a vision of feminist politics that is inclusive, intersectional, and
transformative—a politics that aims to dismantle not just patriarchy but the systems of caste,
race, and class that sustain it.

The rise of Dalit feminism offers important lessons for the broader feminist movement:

• Intersectionality: Feminism must recognize that struggles like caste, class, and gender
are interconnected. Ignoring one weakens the fight against all forms of oppression.
• Inclusivity: Feminist spaces need to amplify marginalized voices, especially those of Dalit
women, rather than speaking on their behalf.
• Systemic Change: Instead of focusing only on individual rights, feminism must challenge
the structures—like caste and patriarchy—that sustain inequality.

Dalit feminism challenges us to rethink what feminism means and who it serves. It
shows that the fight for gender equality cannot succeed without addressing caste, class,
and other forms of oppression. By centering the voices and experiences of Dalit
women, Rege calls for a feminism that is not just inclusive in name but radical in
practice. Dalit feminism, as envisioned by Rege, seeks to dismantle the intersecting
structures of caste and gender oppression and offers a new way of thinking about social
justice—one that includes the most marginalized voices and challenges the very
foundations of inequality in society.