Contextualising queerness examining caste class intersections in select gay and transgender writings in India

Abstract

This thesis explores the intersections of caste, class, and queerness in Indian gay and transgender writings. Using the theoretical framework of intersectionality, it examines how overlapping identities shape lived experiences and reproduce hierarchies within queer spaces. It argues that caste and class privileges enable some queer people to live independently and express their identities freely, while those from marginalized backgrounds negotiate their queerness within heteronormative family and community structures, highlighting the need for coalition-based activism attentive to such differences. newline