Intersectional Marginalization of Dalit Women in Imayam’s Beasts of Burden : A Dalit Feminist Reading

Indian society continues to be profoundly shaped by the caste system, which has historically marginalized and silenced Dalit communities. In recent decades, Dalit literature has emerged as a powerful medium through which these suppressed voices articulate their experiences of exclusion, discrimination and resistance. Among these voices, Dalit women occupy a particularly vulnerable position, facing multiple forms of oppression based on caste, gender and class. This article examines the intersectional marginalization of Dalit women through a sociological reading of Imayam’s Beasts of Burden . Drawing on the perspectives of Dalit feminism and intersectionality, the study analyses how social hierarchies regulate the lives of Dalit women in rural Tamil society. Through a close reading of the characters Arokkyam and Mary, the article explores the interconnected experiences of caste discrimination, economic exploitation, patriarchal control and emotional suffering. The analysis demonstrates how these women negotiate structural inequalities while striving to preserve their dignity and agency within oppressive social conditions. By foregrounding the voices and experiences of marginalized women, the novel contributes significantly to Dalit feminist discourse and offers a critical understanding of the relationship between caste, gender and power in contemporary Indian society.