Caste, Race, and Woman in P. Sivakami’s The Grip of Change and Gloria Naylor’s The Women of Brewster Place: A Comparative Study

This paper explores the intersectionality of caste, race, and gender in P. Sivakami’s The Grip of Change and Gloria Naylor’s The Women of Brewster Place. The novels offer poignant portrayals of women’s struggles against societal hierarchies and prejudices in India and the United States. P. Sivakami’s novel delves into the complexities of the caste system in India, highlighting the Dalit women’s experiences and their fight for dignity and equality. Gloria Naylor, on the other hand, vividly depicts African American women’s lives in an urban setting, focusing on their resilience against racial discrimination and economic hardships. The study aims to analyse how the two authors address the systemic oppression faced by women in their respective societies and how the social constructs of their societies influence the characters’ identities, relationships, and quests for empowerment. By comparing narratives and characters this research reveals similarities and differencesof Dalit and Afro-American women in India and America. The research also delves into the strategies used by characters to overcome their struggles.

Keywords: Dalit, Gender Oppression, Race. Patriarchy, Intersectionality, Marginalization