The Role of Feminism in Empowering Minority Communities
Social forces and hierarchies are complex, yet often interrelated. Patriarchy often emerges or is strengthened by other forms of discrimination and marginalization, especially against minority communities. Examples of this can be seen across the world, and most prominently in India, where gender is invariably linked with caste, and the system of Brahmanical Patriarchy oppresses ‘backward’ caste communities and women alike. These systems create intersectional levels of oppression, with some individuals being oppressed more than others despite having similarities in identities. Dalit women in India, for example, face higher discrimination and oppression from society than Dalit men and Savarna women.
Empowering minority communities is directly linked with the growth of feminism. Even before western feminist discourse reached India, there is enough historical evidence to suggest this. Jyotiba and Savitri Bai Phule revolutionized women’s education in their region and also contributed to doing away with discriminatory caste practices. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, perhaps the most popular and influential Dalit activist, and politician was also a staunch feminist and advocated for the liberation of women from regressive religious structures to give them the agency to actualize their fundamental rights. Even in the western context, social reforms and activists including Rosa Parks have often fought against majority oppression and women’s empowerment at the same time, yet again proving the existence between the same.
Feminism, therefore, plays a very important role in empowering minority communities. This happens firstly because feminism is based on the cognizance of oppression, and the value of lived realities. Feminists are therefore cognizant not just about the unfair playing field faced by women, but also that faced by racial, religious, and ethnic minorities. Moreover, women from minority communities face the worst consequences of social hierarchization. Given that feminism includes fighting for their rights, it is bound for the movement and ideology to pay special attention to social forces oppressing them and fight against the same. Feminism also encourages all individuals to introspect their behavior, which leads many to many privileged individuals realizing the presence of other social forces that contributes to people’s privilege or the lack of it.
Feminism has always been an anti-status quo and progressive movement. It has and continues to be an ideology and a rallying cry for all those who face adverse realities because of their birth and identity. The role played by feminism in empowering minority communities is important and must continue to be encouraged, because there is a need for activism to be inclusive and cognizant to fight against discriminatory practices, structures, and narratives.
