Beyond Boundaries: Caste, Gender, and the Human Rights Challenges of Dalit Women

Abstract

Dalit women in India face a unique combination of caste and gender discrimination, resulting in severe marginalisation and systematic injustice. This study offers a worldwide investigation into the multiple obstacles faced by Dalit women, situating their experiences within the larger framework of human rights abuses and socioeconomic inequities. Drawing on comparative analyses and case studies from diverse places, this study investigates how caste-based discrimination interacts with gender inequality to worsen Dalit women's vulnerability and exclusion. The article examines legislative frameworks, policy measures, and grassroots movements to show the persisting disparities in Dalit women's protection and access to justice in India. Furthermore, it emphasises the importance of global solidarity and collaborative action in addressing the structural causes of caste and gender-based oppression, advocating for transformative approaches that prioritise Dalit women's voices and agency in the pursuit of social justice and human rights for all. Finally, this study adds to wider discourses about social justice, human rights, and intersectionality by including the perspectives and experiences of Dalit women in global discourse. It asks for national and international cooperation to eliminate caste-based discrimination, combat gender inequality, and protect the human rights and dignity of all people, regardless of caste, gender, or socioeconomic background.