Psychosocial Determinants of Dalit Identity: Evidence from Dalit Women of Tamilnadu in South India

Abstract

Conceptualizing within the identity mediated psychosocial perspective of social exclusion, the present study examined the influence of stigma, discrimination, psychosqcial disability and quality of social life on Dalit women's social identity. Using explanatory research design, 301 Dalit women were selected using probability sampling procedure. The variables of interest were measured using psychometrically standardized scales and data were analyzed using multivariate regression procedure. Results reveal that socio-demographic variables such as education ( {3=.175 ), rural residence ( {3=.142 ), working hours per day ( {3= -.404) and income per month ( {3=.090) have significantly influenced social identity. Negative self image ({3= -.320), positive self esteem ({3=-.263), social discrimination ({3= -.263), relationship with colleagues ( {3= .184 ), access to, and availability of medical and other facilities ( {3= -.207) in society have significantly predicted social identity. Regression coefficient shows an overall variance of 54.9% (R 2 =0.549) on Dalit women's positive social identity perceptions. The study concludes that aspects of stigma, discrimination, self esteem and social life have substantial influence on Dalit women's identity construction.

Identity and Social Exclusion of Dalit Women: A Psychosocial Perspective

“…On the other side, this stigmatized identity induced discrimination results in increased social disability, which represents increased conflicts in social relations and poor social integration with out-group or larger society (Jose et al, 2016). Poor normative and social integrations are associated with risk for social exclusion and poor quality of life (Bayram et al, 2012;Jose, Cherayi, & Sadath, 2014;Jose & Cherayi, 2016). Evidently, the psychological and social disability showed inverse influence on Dalit women's quality of social life.…”

“…Stigma has two dimensions, viz., perceived and enacted (Scambler, 1998). Social interactional milieu is characterized through perceived and enacted stigma which induce and sustain discrimination (Jose, Cherayi, & Sadath 2014). Persistent discrimination result in psychosocial disability, which is self imposed by individuals and groups or ascribed to members of marginalized social groups by society (Jose, Cherayi, & Sadath, 2016).…”

Conceptualizing Psychosocial Disability in Social Exclusion: A Preliminary Discourse

“…The studies on psychosocial disability are largely focused on physical and mental impairments and its use in social marginalization is relatively new (Jose & Cherayi, 2014;Jose et al, 2011a). Systematically developing knowledge on psychosocial disability has several merits.…”

“…Individuals and groups perceive and internalize negative and devalued social identities, cultural images and stereotypes subscribed by the dominant communities (Major & O’ Brien, 2005). On the other side, society and social institutions discredit and devalue non-dominant social groups through institutionalized disabling practices (Jose, 2014; Jose & Cherayi, 2013; Jose & Sultana, 2012).…”

“…Therefore, we argue that mere absence of physical or mental impairment does not ensure persons’ quality of life and well-being. Instead, people who are marginalized and oppressed need to be viewed as psychologically and socially disabled due to various social discriminations (Jose et al, 2011a; Jose et al, 2013). This article is an effort to conceptualize the psychosocial disability of socially marginalized individuals and groups in India.…”