Gender, Caste and Liberation: A Feminist Reading of Savitri Bai Phule in Dialogue with Simon De Beauvoir

Abstract

Through a comparative feminist analysis of Simone de Beauvoir's existentialist philosophy and Savitribai Phule's educational movement, this dissertation investigates the relationship between gender and caste. It contends that despite their geographical and temporal distance, both theorists share the fundamental belief that structural change, critical consciousness, and individual activity are necessary for emancipation. Savitribai Phule's groundbreaking work in 19th-century India shows how education can be a vehicle of emancipation for women and oppressed populations, upending patriarchal conventions and long-standing caste inequalities. In addition, Beauvoir's claim that "one is not born, but rather becomes, woman" highlights the need for women to actively participate in changing their social reality by framing gendered oppression as socially produced. The paper highlights an intersectional and transformational feminist politics of liberation by contrasting Phule's practice with Beauvoir's theoretical findings. In order to fight internalized subordination and achieve social justice, it emphasizes education, consciousness-raising, and group social action as crucial tactics. The study emphasizes that liberation is a real, continuous process that calls for attention, introspection, and teamwork rather than an abstract ideal. In the end, the conversation between Phule and Beauvoir offers a framework for comprehending how caste and gender inequality might be challenged concurrently, providing important insights for modern feminist movements and social reform projects. By linking philosophical and historical viewpoints, this study advances feminist theory and shows how action and critical thinking are still relevant in the fight for equality and human dignity.