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Paper short abstract:

Foregrounding the lived experiences of four women's movements and their communities, this paper contributes to understanding how feminist resistance navigates backlash at the intersections of gender, power, and identity within India’s authoritarian developmental framework.

Paper long abstract:

In the context of intensifying authoritarian developmentalism, rising religious and caste-based polarization under the guise of ethno-nationalism, and widening socio-economic inequalities in India, women’s movements face formidable backlash tactics rooted in processes of othering. This paper examines the strategies of resistance employed by women’s movements to counter such forms of othering and sustain their gains. Drawing from the five-year SuPWR project, funded by ESRC and conducted across South Asia, this study specifically explores insights from four Indian women’s movement: Adivasi Vikas Manch, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Gharelu Kaamgar Union, and Samarthan Mahila Sanghathan.

Using a multi methods qualitative methodology comprising oral histories, in-depth panel interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and reflective workshops, the research captures both the structural and inter-subjective dimensions of women’s resistance. Movement partners contend with backlash that is taking place through mechanisms of inaction, co-optation, and vilification, manifesting as exclusion, cultural stereotyping, and direct violence.

The findings highlight the context-specific strategies women’s movements have deployed to counter this backlash, including processes of othering. These include fostering intersectional alliances that address the interplay of caste, religion, and class; building internal leadership through feminist training programs to strengthen local capacities; directly engaging with state institutions to demand accountability while resisting co-optation; and utilizing public campaigns, legal actions, and grassroots mobilizations to challenge dominant narratives. By creating alternative spaces for dialogue and action, these movements effectively navigate polarized environments, redefine community norms, and assert their agency in the face of systemic oppression.