Caste Hierarchy and Oppression: Delinking Caste Violence from Gender

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Political Economy Of Dalit Development

Caste is not a singular entity operating from an isolated standpoint. Rather, the caste hierarchy and oppression manifests itself through various other binaries, that of gender - man and woman, culture in terms of civilized and uncivilized, societal stratification in terms of high and low, ethical valuation in terms of good and bad, pure and impure. This paper plans to locate the ritualization and naturalization of the caste system- particularly the brahminical patriarchy in terms of gender, specifically from a critical feminist standpoint. This brahminical patriarchy is not only a prerogative of the brahmins but also seen as virtuous and therefore 'to be emulated' by those seeking upward mobiliy in the social order. It further seeks to explore the notion of rape as a means of symbolic assertion of power of one caste group over the other.

Caste system thrives on the distinctiveness of one caste group from the other. Every caste maintains its identity by differentiating itself from other caste groups (Chakravarthy, U. ; pg. 27) . So, a brahmin is what a vaishya, kshatriya and shudra is not. This distinctiveness is achieved only through reiteration of separation through endogamy. Endogamy enables the expansion of certain production relations and also certain reproduction relations thus maintaining the cultural and identity discreteness of each communtiy (Chakravarthy, U. ; pg. 27) Endogamy expresses itself in what is known as 'marriage circles'- these include whom you can marry (one's caste fellows) and whom you cannot marry (one's kin belonging to the same gotra). Each caste group must reproduce as a bounded unit for it to preserve itself as a discrete social unit. This endogamy is n...

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...ys outdo the linkages of 'izzat' of the comunity and the personal assault faced by the victim. It would move the act of rape to a realm of crime and thereby move the act of rape from a collective domain where the entire community faces 'badnaami' to the domain of the individual where personal dignity is violated. This would perhaps help to make caste based violence less gendric and more criminal in nature.

References

Kannabiran, K. And Kannabiran, V. . 'De-eroticing Assualt'. Stree Shakti Sangathan (2002)

Chakravarti, U. 'Gendering Caste: Through A Feminist Lens'. Stree (2003)

Ed. By Rao, A. ' Gender And Caste'.Kali For Women (2003)

Chakravarti, U. 'From Fathers To Husbands: of love, death and marriage in North India' in 'Honour'. pg.309-327.

Menon, N. 'Sexualities'. Kali For Women (2003) .pg.144-173.

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