Constructing the Self at the Intersection of Gender and Caste: Understanding the Motivations of Marginalized Activist Women in India.

In the present qualitative study, we used self-presentation theory to examine how women from marginalized communities in India engage in self-presentation. Using semi-structured interviews of 18 Dalit women, including two Dalit transwomen, we explore factors shaping their self-presentation motivatio...

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Published in:Sex Roles Vol. 89; no. 11/12; pp. 834 - 855
Main Authors: Samarjeet, Smarak, Bharti, Kumkum
Format: Article
Published: Springer Nature Dec2023
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Dec2023
      vid: 89
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      pub: Springer Nature
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        10.1007/s11199-023-01434-1
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        atl: Constructing the Self at the Intersection of Gender and Caste: Understanding the Motivations of Marginalized Activist Women in India.
      aug:
        au:
          Samarjeet, Smarak
          Bharti, Kumkum
        affil: https://ror.org/02j8pmw82 Indian Institute of Management, 244713, Kashipur, Uttarakhand, India
      su:
        India
        Self-presentation
        Gender
        Caste
        Motivation (Psychology)
        Women political activists
        Dalit women
        Trans women
      sug:
        subj:
          Self-presentation
          Gender
          Caste
          Motivation (Psychology)
          Women political activists
          Dalit women
          Trans women
          India
      keyword:
        Activism
        Grounded theory
        Intersectionality
        Marginalized women
        Self-construction motives
        Self-presentation theory
        Social psychology
        Transactivism
        Transwomen
        Activism
        Grounded theory
        Intersectionality
        Marginalized women
        Self-construction motives
        Self-presentation theory
        Social psychology
        Transactivism
        Transwomen
      ab: In the present qualitative study, we used self-presentation theory to examine how women from marginalized communities in India engage in self-presentation. Using semi-structured interviews of 18 Dalit women, including two Dalit transwomen, we explore factors shaping their self-presentation motivations and behavior. While most self-presentation research has focused on audience-pleasing motives, the current study is focused on self-construction motives. Using a grounded theory approach, we identify and explicate four themes: independent voices and bold choices, building solidarity through empathy and social capital, discriminatory practices and labeling, and mental wellbeing and self-care under discrimination. The narratives highlight the strategies these Dalit women and Dalit transwomen adopt to construct and present an authentic self in a complex and negotiated Dalit and Dalit trans activism space. Findings have implications for creating diversity awareness where a narrow understanding of intersectionality prevails, ensuring recognition of independent political expression and visibility of Dalit women and Dalit transwomen and the challenges thereof. These findings can inform policymakers, activists, and social workers on the changing psychosocial dynamics in the activism space and re-examine its structure and process.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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