Cancer and the Kali Yuga: Gender, Inequality, and Health in South India

Global public health planners increased efforts to prevent, screen, and treat breast and cervical cancer in low-income Indian communities in the early twenty-first century. Cecilia Coale Van Hollen's critical feminist ethnography centers and amplifies the voices of Dalit Tamil women who critique the sociocultural and political-economic conditions that marginalize them and jeopardize their health and well-being in twenty-first-century India.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 306 pages
Publication date: 11 October 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

As news spread that more women died from breast and cervical cancer in India than anywhere else in the world in the early twenty-first century, global public health planners accelerated efforts to prevent, screen, and treat these reproductive cancers in low-income Indian communities. Cancer and the Kali Yuga reveal that women who are the targets of these interventions in Tamil Nadu, South India, hold views about cancer causality, late diagnosis, and challenges to accessing treatment that differ from the public health discourse. Cecilia Coale Van Hollen's critical feminist ethnography centers and amplifies the voices of Dalit Tamil women who situate cancer within the nexus of their class, caste, and gender positions. Dalit women's narratives about their experiences with cancer present a powerful and poignant critique of the sociocultural and political-economic conditions that marginalize them and jeopardize their health and well-being in twenty-first-century India.

Breast and cervical cancer are the most common cancers among women in India, with a higher mortality rate than in any other country in the early twenty-first century. This alarming trend prompted global public health planners to intensify their efforts to prevent, screen, and treat these reproductive cancers in low-income Indian communities. However, a critical feminist ethnography by Cecilia Coale Van Hollen reveals that the perspectives of women who are the recipients of these interventions in Tamil Nadu, South India, differ significantly from the mainstream public health discourse.

In her study, Van Hollen focuses on the voices of Dalit Tamil women, who are marginalized by their class, caste, and gender positions. Through their narratives, these women provide a powerful and poignant critique of the sociocultural and political-economic conditions that perpetuate their marginalization and jeopardize their health and well-being in twenty-first-century India.

One of the key findings of Van Hollen's research is that Dalit Tamil women often attribute their cancer diagnoses to factors beyond their control, such as fate, luck, or divine punishment. This belief in supernatural causality hinders their ability to seek timely medical attention and treatment, as they may be reluctant to consult doctors or undergo medical examinations. Moreover, Dalit women face significant barriers to accessing healthcare services, including financial constraints, discrimination, and a lack of awareness about cancer prevention and screening.

Furthermore, Dalit women's narratives highlight the social and cultural norms that perpetuate gender inequality and discrimination. They describe how women from lower castes and genders are often stigmatized and marginalized, making it difficult for them to access education, employment, and healthcare services. This marginalization further exacerbates their vulnerability to cancer, as they may be less likely to receive regular screenings and preventive measures.

In response to these challenges, Van Hollen advocates for a more inclusive and intersectional approach to cancer prevention and treatment in India. She suggests that public health campaigns should prioritize the needs and perspectives of marginalized communities, including Dalit Tamil women. Additionally, healthcare providers should be trained to address the cultural and social barriers that prevent women from seeking medical care and to provide sensitive and respectful treatment that takes into account their unique experiences and needs.

Overall, Cancer and the Kali Yuga provides a valuable insight into the experiences of Dalit Tamil women with cancer and the sociocultural and political-economic factors that contribute to their marginalization and vulnerability. Through her critical feminist ethnography, Van Hollen amplifies the voices of these women and calls for a more inclusive and equitable approach to cancer prevention and treatment in India.

Weight: 434g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520386532