Doctoral Canditate MSW Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Overview: The purpose of this E-poster is to make the participants understand that the Critical Caste Theory Framework provides a comprehensive demonstration of the process of recording social phenomena, political dynamics, legal status, socio-economic and power structures that drives the lives of marginalized castes while accessing their primary healthcare in IndiaProposal text: The presenter will introduce the concept of caste that is highly debated, that leads to nuanced heterogenous discourses in the contemporary Indian society until date. “Caste” as a social construct has its roots in the Vedic literature which depicts that the hierarchical stratification of the society is solely based on the perceptions of ritualistic practices, occupational purity and pollution (Dommaraju & colleagues, 2008). The present conceptual discourse will portray how the ever-complex Indian health care system creates a plethora of challenges for the rural marginalized castes in accessing primary health care services until date. This presenter will further delve into how these factors shape in determining poorer health outcomes and exacerbating higher morbidity and mortality rates among them. To support these observed empirical notions, a newly expanded model of critical caste theory is presented, which draws heaving from critical race theory to understand the intersecting role of caste and existing power structures within the Indian social sphere. The fundamentals of CCT will comprehensively ensure that the disparities faced by the lower castes in social spheres not only in India but gradually across countries in South Asia are brought to the understanding of social science researchers, social workers, government administrators, not-for profit-organizations working in grassroot community levels, policy makers and other civil society organizations.
Attendees will have the opportunity to understand the Indian caste system as caste hierarchies took varied forms over the two and a half millennia. Attendees will be able to gain knowledge about the expansion of the Critical Race Theory (CRT) into Critical Caste Theory (CCT) to address structural subjugation in healthcare accessibility in India. Attendees will be able to learn the importance of instituting CCT as a theoretical framework to address systemic oppression in countries riffed in caste incongruencies.
