Navigating the Stigma of Caste: Identity Work among Dalits in West Bengal, India

How do Dalits deal with stigmatising caste identities, especially when the visibility of their stigmatised attributes (namely, their somatic features and social associations) varies in accordance with the circumstances? I address this question by investigating the everyday social interactions of Dalits who are affiliated with the label of 'Paliya' in West Bengal, India. Based on observations, in-depth interviews, and auto-ethnography with this community, and drawing on theoretical perspectives that consider stigma as a matter of degree and social process, the article identifies a range of 'stigma management strategies' that can in turn be subdivided into three broad patterns of identity work: fitting in, navigating ambiguities, and distancing. These patterns vary depending on how Paliyas perceive the visibility of their stigmatising attributes in a given situation. The findings of this article shed light on the everyday interactive activities of Dalits, and have implications for how we understand the constructs of caste identities and the dynamics of caste-based stigmatisation in West Bengal.