Dalit comes from the Hindi word ‘dalan,’ meaning oppressed or broken. Dalits are a caste defined in the Constitution of India, under Article 341, listed as Scheduled Castes. India’s caste system started in 1500 BC, and the several thousand-year-old social hierarchy still exists despite its constitutional abolishment in 1950. Even in today’s time, many Hindus are at birth assigned their position in the social order, what jobs they can do, and who they can marry. The hierarchy is made up of 4 castes: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (kings), Vaishyas (traders and merchants), and Shudras (laborers). Shudras, now known as Dalits, fell at the bottom of the hierarchical system and were considered “untouchables.” Even though Article 15 of the Indian Constitution “prohibits discrimination of Indians on basis of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth,” the Dalit caste has always been considered inferior.
A Dalit woman is placed at the very bottom of the barrel in India’s caste, class, and gender hierarchies, and Dalit women suffer multiple forms of injustice as a result. They are doubly discriminated against, as women and as belonging to a poor caste. They are often trapped in highly patriarchal societies. Dalit women are exposed to many forms of violence, including temple prostitution, and are frequently raped as a way to humiliate Dalit men. They are forced into prostitution, stripped naked, and paraded around. They are even murdered for no crime of their own. This is all due to their caste.
On 14 September 2020, a 19-year old Dalit woman was raped by four upper-caste men (Rajputs) in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, India. Although no official statement has been made as to the motivation, this rape was likely a symbol to prove that the aggressors would strip her family of respect, to not only showcase the manhood of the upper-caste but the supposed inability of the Dalits to protect their women as well. What is more shocking in this case is the attitude of the police towards the situation. The Uttar Pradesh Police allegedly committed certain illegalities in the handling of the case. The police officers did not register a First Information Report even though they were obligated to as mandated by the Supreme Court of India. It is only after a First Information Report is filed that the police take up an investigation of the case. They delayed the forensic examination of the victim, pressured the family to change its claims against the accused, and forcibly cremated the body of the victim against the family’s will. The question remains as to why the police officers were so adamant in ensuring that the accused were not charged and that no evidence of rape remains. Was it because of the caste of the victim? Were they trying to hide the rape rate of the country?
A survey by Thomas Reuters Foundation in 2018 ranked India as the most dangerous country for women, rife with sexual violence. According to Times Of India, India saw 88 rape cases a day in 2020, with a conviction rate below 30%. Women are often victim-shamed in India for being sexually assaulted. Their character is questioned, their clothes are questioned, even their having male friends is questioned. They are excluded from society, constantly made to live in a judgemental sphere. Women are often told, “don’t go out after 7 pm,” “don’t be too outspoken,” “don’t wear mini skirts because it signals that you are asking for it.” Many people do stand up against these issues and voice their opinions to bring change and uplift women. However, when it comes to a lower caste, attitudes change. Many say, “why bring caste into this case, don’t non-Dalit women get raped?” Caste has everything to do with this case, as it does with almost every case of rape of Dalit women when considering rural India. Popular discourse shies away from discussions of caste because to do so would serve to expose the cruelty and everyday brutality of the caste system. This denial also serves to ensure that the caste system continues to flourish, and there remains a so-called social order. Additionally, suppressing mention of rape cases prevents exposing the atrocities against women in India.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in 2015 that “millions of Dalits, Tribals, and others still face discrimination, especially the women and girls. In too many communities, religious minorities also suffer.” To date, the severe discrimination Dalit women face makes them a key target of violence and systematically denies them choices and freedoms in all spheres of life. They are denied justice, education, health, and basic needs. So I ask, just because a woman belongs to a supposed lower caste, is it okay for her to be sexually harassed and used? Is it okay for our society to not support her? Is it okay for her perpetrators not to be held guilty? It is absolutely not okay. Rape is rape, regardless of who the victim might be, where they come from, or which country they live in. Their caste, religion, or skin color do not constitute determinants of their consent.
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