Our project examines how caste-based clothing customs in pre-independence Kerala shaped women’s roles and identities, focusing on acts of resistance like the breast tax protests and Nangeli’s defiance. These practices reveal how caste hierarchies controlled women’s attire and autonomy, influencing the region’s social and political structures. While some women benefited from matrilineal systems, lower-caste women faced significant oppression, such as the breast tax. Using sources like J. Devika’s Her-Self and the Osellas’ research on Kerala’s social mobility, we explore how modernization transformed caste and gender roles while preserving inequalities. By connecting historical struggles to contemporary debates on women’s clothing, feminism, and bodily autonomy, this study highlights the lasting impact of caste on identity in Kerala and underscores the importance of understanding these dynamics for social justice and gender equality.
Note: This website was created using research conducted for a class project, and therefore may include errors.
Relevancy
Bridges past struggles with current debates about feminism, bodily autonomy, and moral standards - making history relevant and engaging for today’s audiences by having contemporary conversations
Highlights the evolution of Kerala’s sartorial practices by analyzing historical and contemporary sources - showing how women’s movements and colonial influence changed caste hierarchies and sparked social change.
Uncovers how caste-based clothing restrictions served as tools of oppression, while acts of defiance became crucial in shaping women’s autonomy and identity