Caste in Transit: Experiences of Dalit Women Domestic Migrants from Andhra Pradesh to Gulf Countries

Abstract

This study aims to understand the challenges faced by dalit women who migrated to Gulf countries as domestic maid workers. It is critically important to analyse the pre-migration challenges, at the destination and upon return, the reintegration challenges. This article seeks to understand the experiences of 130 dalit women returnees from two high-Gulf migration pockets in Andhra Pradesh, which were studied using qualitative and quantitative methods. The study found that dalit women migrants face compounded vulnerabilities at every stage, including rural labour market discrimination and social exclusion in pre-migration; exploitative working conditions at destination and social stigma, instability upon return. This study highlights the critical need for formal migration and reintegration by foregrounding caste-specific vulnerabilities, thereby facilitating a robust framework for policymakers.