Dalit Women’s Narratives on Sexual Violence: Reflections on Indian Society and State

Abstract

Sexual violence generally leaves a mark on historical records only if such incidents come to trial. Today’s experience suggests that only a fraction of such cases have ever reached the courts in the past; and even in those cases, the evidence that survives is far from the whole story. This neglect reflects the way sexual violence against women has been so easily waved aside, mainly by men, as a marginal event, a private catastrophe doubtless, but one of little historical significance for such criminals have been generally considered as sex maniacs. Also, ingrained misogynistic caricaturing of women has always allowed people to trivialise rape and render it titillating to the pornographic imagination. It is therefore suggested that such stereotypes in turn infect the way men have written history. A major achievement of feminist history, particularly in the post-structuralist debate, has been to end this neglect and challenge this trivialisation. Drawing upon post-structuralist feminists and Indian writings, this study examines sexual violence that forms a common theme in the daily lives of numerous dalit women in India.