week 6- Aishwarya Ramkumar
FEMALE AUTOBIOGRAPHY
In her autobiography, Viramma, a Dalit woman living in Pondicherry discusses her life and struggles through an intersectional lens. She discussed her childhood, her premature marriage, childbirth, instances of sexual harassment, and employment.
She delves into how women from her caste were deemed to be promiscuous and others often did not take allegations of harassment made by them seriously due to the notion of their 'loose' character and sexual prowess. This is contrasted with the harassment of a savarna woman, whose allegation is taken seriously and action is taken against the perpetrator.
Further, she delves into an instance where she nursed her employer's son. At a later instance, when the boy has grown into a young adult, he refuses to give Viramma water. This marks a stark contrast, as the very child that she breastfed and nursed, refused her something as basic as water due to her Pariah status.
However, despite this narrative of oppression and subjugation, one can see hope in her tone. The internalization of her position is evident in her staunch belief that if she follows her social duty, she will lead a good and fulfilling life.
In her autobiography, Viramma, a Dalit woman living in Pondicherry discusses her life and struggles through an intersectional lens. She discussed her childhood, her premature marriage, childbirth, instances of sexual harassment, and employment.
She delves into how women from her caste were deemed to be promiscuous and others often did not take allegations of harassment made by them seriously due to the notion of their 'loose' character and sexual prowess. This is contrasted with the harassment of a savarna woman, whose allegation is taken seriously and action is taken against the perpetrator.
Further, she delves into an instance where she nursed her employer's son. At a later instance, when the boy has grown into a young adult, he refuses to give Viramma water. This marks a stark contrast, as the very child that she breastfed and nursed, refused her something as basic as water due to her Pariah status.
However, despite this narrative of oppression and subjugation, one can see hope in her tone. The internalization of her position is evident in her staunch belief that if she follows her social duty, she will lead a good and fulfilling life.
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