Reclaiming Dignity: The Struggle for Recognition Among Women Farmers and Widows in Maharashtra

This article seeks to apply Axel Honneth’s theory of recognition in investigating the forms of disrespect women farmers suffer in the Vidarbha region of India, where “agrarian distress” is maximal. The theory of recognition has been widely discussed in Europe and the United States. Still, hardly any studies use this theoretical framework to study the complex intersections of class, caste and gender in India. In this paper, I will explore the “invisibility” of female rural workers. This article can, therefore, be considered a contribution to social theory that combines Frankfurt School Critical Theory with the Indian Subaltern Studies in theoretically informed qualitative research on the plight of female farmers in times of rural transition, focusing on suicide committed in agrarian households.

Axel Honneth’s framework linking self-esteem to work aligns with the situation in Indian agrarian households. Despite women’s substantial contributions (75-85 per cent) across various agricultural processes, they are denied rightful recognition as farmers. The formation of a solidarity movement for female farmers is hindered by societal divisions based on caste, class, and gender, underscoring the ongoing struggle for recognition and equality. In response to these challenges, the paper highlights the role of women collectives, such as the Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch, as instrumental in empowering women farmers to reclaim their worth and identity. The concluding section traces the patterns of recognition—love, rights, and solidarity—establishing the formal requirements for interaction conditions that assure human dignity and integrity.