2139 - CASTE-BASED MICROAGGRESSIONS IN INDIA: AN INTERSECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Session: D03S018 - Social Inequality 3
AUTHORS:
Narain Shruti (Patna University ~ Patna ~ India)
Abstract text:
The caste system, a hierarchical social structure determined by birth, remains deeply rooted in Indian culture. Historically overt, its influence persists in subtle ways, shaping societal perceptions and fostering biases, stereotypes, and discrimination against marginalized communities. This subtle, often unconscious discrimination manifests as microaggressions. Grounded in social identity theory, this research examines caste-based microaggressions and their interplay with other identity factors, including gender, socioeconomic class, geographic region, sexual orientation, and disability. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study involved 850 participants (553 females & 297 males), aged 14 to 53 (M= 28.47). Data were collected through surveys and semi-structured interviews. Results revealed that caste-based microaggressions, often expressed through verbal insults or non-verbal acts such as practices of untouchability, remain prevalent in Indian society. These microaggressions are exacerbated when intersecting with gender, class, region, and sexual orientation, intensifying the marginalization experienced by individuals with multiple disadvantaged identities. While disability was associated with significant prejudice and discrimination, it did not show a specific correlation with caste-based microaggressions. The findings emphasize the persistent influence of caste on social interactions and highlight the compounded effects of intersecting identities. This study contributes to understanding how microaggressions, as subtle forms of discrimination, perpetuate social inequalities in contemporary India, calling for further research and interventions to address these complex dynamics.