“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.” – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Major women movements in India
Anti-Sati Movement led by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Satyashodhak Samaj led by Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule pioneered female education
Anti-Dowry Campaigns (1980s)- Led by groups like Mahila Dakshata Samiti
Women’s Indian Association first to demand women’s suffrage
SEWA – Founded by Ela Bhatt, organized women in SHG and trade unions
Mathura Rape Case Protest (1979-80)- led to first major amendment in Rape Laws
Triple Talaq Movement led by the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA)
Chipko Movement- Led by women like Gaura Devi
Navdanya Movement (Vandana Shiva) – empowers women to preserve biodiversity and seeds
#MeToo Movement – against sexual harassment at workplace
However, they failed to address the issues of women of lower strata
It failed to recognise the triple burden of discrimination (intersection of Caste, Class, and Gender) as it treated “Woman” as a monolithic category. Eg- Hatras rape case
Intersection of gender and religious marginalization was weakly addressed. Eg- Muslim women’s socio-economic exclusion received less attention beyond advocacy of UCC and Triple Talaq
Leadership and agenda dominated by elite women – Early focus on legal reforms like dowry and workplace equality over survival issues like hunger and wage security.
Limited focus on informal and unpaid work – Eg- more focuses on “glass ceilings” in corporate offices, neglecting agricultural laborers. (Over 90% of Dalit women work in the unorganized sector.)
Urban bias in issues and mobilization – Eg- Rural women’s access to drinking water, fuelwood, and sanitation remained peripheral.
Inadequate engagement with tribal women’s concerns – Development-induced displacement received limited feminist mobilization.
Neglect of women issues in conflict zones – Eg- Women in Kashmir and the Northeast did not become sustained focal points of mainstream movements.
Dependence on NGO-ization and donor agendas – Project-driven advocacy replaced mass mobilization among poor women.
Educational Exclusion- Elite feminism focuses on “STEM representation,” while lower-strata women struggle with basic literacy and school dropouts.
Health Disparities- feminist debates revolve around “reproductive choice” (abortion rights), while marginalized women face lack of basic maternal healthcare.
Language Barrier- Feminist discourse is largely in English, creating a “vocabulary of exclusion” for rural, non-English speaking women.
Digital Divide- “Hashtag Activism” (#MeToo) failed to reach rural women due to digital illiteracy.
Counter-Argument- Positive Impacts on the Lower Strata
Grassroots Political Entry- Eg- women representation in PRIs stands at 46%
SHGs- NABARD-led SHG movement has empowered millions of rural women through micro-credit and financial literacy. Eg- Kudumbshree in Kerala
Legal empowerment-
SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
Right to temple entry after Sabrimala Verdict
Triple Talaq ban
Anti-Liquor Movements led by poor women to save household income and reduce domestic abuse. Eg- Arrack Movement in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
Eco-Feminism- Chipko Movement was essentially a struggle by rural women for their daily fuel and fodder resources.
Labor Reforms- SEWA model has successfully unionized thousands of street vendors and ragpickers.
Dalit Feminism- rise of autonomous groups like the National Federation of Dalit Women (NFDW).
Way Forward
Adopting an “Intersectionality Lens” that acknowledges caste and class alongside gender in every policy.
Caste-Gender Sensitivity Training for police and judiciary
Mainstreaming Gender Budgeting
De-NGO-ization – Revive grassroots feminist politics.
Only by embracing a “Bahujan Feminism” can the movement fulfill Ambedkar’s vision of a truly progressive and equal society.