A Cry for Dignity

Book excerpt: There are over two-hundred million Dalits– people designated as "untouchable" – across South Asia. Dalit women are subject to greater oppression than men: many are denied access to education, meaningful employment and healthcare and are subjected to temple prostitution and rape. A Cry for Dignity explores the lives of Dalit women and the violence they face and examines whether their spirituality – manifest in songs, stories and myth – is a source of strength or oppression. The lives of Dalit women on the subcontinent are set within the broader context of Dalits in the diaspora. A Cry for Dignity presents the plight of Dalit women from the unique perspective of their own movements for solidarity and justice.