Contours of Change: An Empirical Review of Feminism in Contemporary India

Abstract

This paper provides an empirical review of feminism in India, focusing on its diverse trajectories, evolving discourses, and intersectional challenges. Drawing on peerreviewed studies, field-based research, and feminist scholarship from the past two decades, the review interrogates the relationship between feminist praxis and broader social structures, including caste, religion, class, and region. It critically examines key sites of feminist activism—such as legal reform, education, digital platforms, and grassroots mobilization while highlighting tensions between liberal, Dalit, Adivasi, queer, and Islamic feminist frameworks. The analysis foregrounds the experiences and epistemologies of subaltern women and gender minorities to challenge hegemonic constructions of Indian feminism rooted in urban, upper-caste, and English-speaking milieus. Additionally, the review evaluates empirical contributions to debates on gender-based violence, labor rights, and political representation. Despite gains, the evidence reveals persistent patriarchal control within families, workplaces, and state institutions. The review concludes with a call for decolonial, coalition-based feminist praxis that prioritizes intersectionality, community-led research, and policy engagement rooted in local realities.