Structural Oppression and Dalit Women: An Intersectional Study of Labor and Faith in Bama’s Sangati

Author : Lisa win Edwards, Dr. Pallavi Thakur

Abstract : This study looks at the structural oppression of Dalit women in Bama's Sangati by analyzing the intertwining nature of caste, gender, labour, and religion using the lenses of Intersectionality Theory and Dalit Feminist Theory. The study seeks to explore the nature of the structural inequalities that affect the lives of Dalit women, the exploitation through the lens of labour, and the construction of oppression, identity, and resistance through the lens of religion and faith. A qualitative research methodology is employed, which involves descriptive textual analysis and secondary data analysis. The major source is Bama's Sangati, and secondary sources are from peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and scholarly publications dealing with Dalit literature, feminism, caste studies, labour, and religion. The findings show that structural oppression is rooted in caste, gender, class, labour, and religious institutions, which further deepen the social exclusion and economic oppression of the Dalit. The analysis also shows that labour is one way of controlling the caste system and that religion both reinforces institutional discrimination and fosters Dalit women's resilience, collective identity, and resistance. The study finds that Sangati is an in-depth representation of the experiences of Dalit women as an intersectional group, and literature serves as a strong tool to comprehend the structural inequalities, voice the marginalized, and promote Dalit feminist discourse.

Keywords : Bama, Sangati, Dalit Women, Intersectionality Theory, Structural Oppression, Dalit Feminism.

Conference Name : International Conference on Gender Studies, Peace Processes, and Violence Prevention (ICGSPPVP - 26)

Conference Place : Chandigarh, India

Conference Date : 3rd Oct 2026