Intersections of Caste, Class, and Identity in Womxn’s Liberation Movements

Moderator: Nandini Sen Mehra

Speakers: Dr. Ali Saha, Madhu Kishore, Minakshi Salave

In an incisive and necessary conversation, this panel examined how entrenched caste and class hierarchies shape, limit, and often silence feminist discourse. Moderated by Nandini Sen Mehra, the discussion brought to the fore the urgent need to reimagine feminist movements through an anti-caste, anti-class, and anti-patriarchal lens. The speakers reflected on how liberation for all womxn cannot be achieved without dismantling hegemonic structures that exclude Dalit, Adivasi, Bahujan, working-class, and other marginalised voices.

Dr. Ali Saha offered insights from her work as a media sociologist, emphasising how media representations reproduce caste and gender biases, and the importance of self-representation for marginalised communities. She drew from her forthcoming book Dalit Identity in Indian Print Media to explore how mainstream platforms often erase or tokenise Dalit women’s narratives.

Madhu Kishore reflected on her public sector and grassroots work in Australia and New Zealand, sharing how everyday casteism, racism, and gender discrimination manifest in welfare systems, policymaking, and community engagement. Her reflections underscored the emotional toll borne by women of marginalised backgrounds who are expected to perform care and advocacy work within hostile systems.

Minakshi Salave brought a grounded personal and professional perspective as a technologist and community advocate. She addressed the barriers faced by women in STEM and emphasised the importance of workplace equity, support networks, and courage in challenging status quo narratives around tradition and gender.

Together, the panel called for building transformative solidarities that do not subsume Dalit and Adivasi feminist struggles within savarna-led frameworks. Instead, they urged that womxn’s liberation must be intersectional, inclusive, and grounded in justice.