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Paper short abstract:

This paper tries to situate the control exercised by the Dalit women over her body especially among the lower income groups.This paper would highlight the social and cultural norms of motherhood on the one hand and the gender biases on the other hand pertaining to reproduction.

Paper long abstract:

The globalization and modernization of Indian society has given momentum though slow to transition from ascribed status to achieved status impacting the traditional hierarchical Indian society. The gender relations have also experienced incredible change. Yet, gender equality is a unlikely reality. Caste and gender still governs the socio-cultural communications in private sphere. It is contentious as to what kind of autonomy and parity of position has been given to women. It is debatable if a woman has power over her own body. The apprehension gets graver when the subject is a Dalit woman.

This paper tries to situate the control exercised by the Dalit women over her body especially among the lower income groups. The role of husband in wife's life and in matters relating to reproduction is overriding. Most of the decisions are usually made by the men. This paper would highlight the social and cultural norms of motherhood on the one hand and the gender biases on the other hand pertaining to reproduction. The interplay of gender, caste and poverty makes it interesting to see how women engage themselves to control their body in private spaces and outline their experiences of exclusion - inclusion in social spaces. It will also bring forth the question how far the beneficial impact of globalization has reached the Subaltern women in modern India.