Comparative Analysis of Dalit Feminism and Western Feminism in Context to Manjula Padmanabhan's Light Out

Abstract

The discourse of feminist literary analysis provides a sophisticated investigation of overlapping identities and socio-political situations through the contrast of Dalit feminism and Western feminism. A contrast of this kind is examined in this abstract with reference to Manjula Padmanabhan's Lights Out. This research explores how female characters are portrayed in Indian society and their fights against patriarchal norms through a comparative lens. Dalit feminism addresses both gender inequality and caste oppression. It is based on the experiences of Dalit women who encounter prejudice grounded on their caste. Conversely, gender inequality is mostly addressed by Western feminism within a paradigm that is influenced by Western socio-political forces. Lights Out offers a rich environment for contrasting different viewpoints as it examines the experiences of underprivileged women battling structural injustices. This research clarifies the ways in which Dalit feminism and Western feminism differ and overlap in their approaches to empowerment and liberation through an examination of character agency, socio-economic determinants, and power relations. The analysis delves into the novel's handling of gender, caste, and class intricacies, highlighting the ways in which feminist movements are intertwined throughout many cultural and geographic settings. At the end of the day, this comparative research advances our knowledge of the complex worldwide terrain of feminist discourse.