Explain how Gender, Caste and Class hierarchies plays a pre-dominant role in sexual exploitation in rural India.

Gender hierarchy

Consideration of women as lower in status, economic position guided by patriarchy results in both exploitation inside and outside of marriage. For eg → most girls drop out of schools in rural India due to prevalent sexual exploitation.

Caste hierarchy

Caste conflicts when lower caste tries to be upwardly mobile & retaliation by upper caste manifests itself in 'power rape.' Consideration of women as 'honour' of household, makes them the first target of caste attacks. eg Hathras rape case

Class hierarchy

Rural India's class structure is predominantly woven around land and agriculture. Economic dependence, lack of alternative employment & poverty results in cases of exploitation of agricultural labour women by landlords. This is further aggravated by male migration.

Intersection