Shodh Prabha: A Multidisciplinary Journal

The Inner Grip of Patriarchy: Internalised Oppression and Resistance among Dalit Women in P. Sivakami’s The Grip of Change

This paper looks at the idea of patriarchy and self-policing among Dalit women in P. Sivakami’s The Grip of Change. The paper is not about how men have power over women, but also about how women follow the rules that society makes for them, and they do this without even thinking about it. The Grip of Change shows this through the character of Thangam and other women in the story. We see how things like caste and tradition, and patriarchal values become a part of the life of Dalit women and how these things affect the way Dalit women think. Dalit women like Thangam are influenced by these things. They start to police themselves, which means they start to follow the rules that restrict their freedom. The thing is, women are not just oppressed by the world around them and by men. They also have this oppression inside their minds. If we look at things from a Dalit point of view and really examine the text, we can see how this happens. It shows us that the way society is set up works with the thoughts and feelings that women have about themselves to keep things unfair. The paper says that Dalit women have to fight for the freedom to make their choices in two ways: against the world outside and against the thoughts and beliefs they have inside. Dalit women will not really be free until they question these thoughts and beliefs they have inside.