Savarna Fragility

Savarna fragility is the equivalent of White Fragility. White Fragility, defined by DiAngelo, is the result of white racial socialization. A state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves. These moves include the outward display of emotions such as anger, fear, guilt, and behaviors such and as argumentation, silence, and leaving the stress-inducing situation. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial comfort and status quo. (Robin DiAngelo)

Savarna fragility is a hindrance to caste healing because it prevents people from being able to engage Savarnas in honest conversation without also having to bear the burden of catering to the emotional comfort of Savarnas. At its worst, Savarna fragility can cause an emotionally unhealthy situation for dalits and bahujans because of caste power dynamics and the weight of being responsible for the feelings of Savarnas while not having space to express their own.

There is also the weight that comes with people that you care about lashing out at and abusing you (verbally, emotionally, and/or digitally). If we cannot talk honestly about the issues, then we cannot make progress.

If you answer yes to any of these questions below, you are, unfortunately dealing with Savarna fragility.

And yes, you feel the need to defend yourself for answering yes to any question....You are definitely dealing with Savarna fragility

And if you are suffering from Savarna fragility, don't worry, you have come to the right place. Please stay and take time to reflect with us. Please feel free to send this to other friends, invite them over, ask questions in comments or DMs.

Savarna Fragility Test:

1. Do I feel defensive when a person says “Savarnas", or "Brahmins" (if you are a Brahmin)?
2. Do I feel angry when people tell me that I benefit from Savarna privilege?
3. When a person talks about caste, do I feel defensive because they’re describing things that I do or think based on my caste biases?
4. Do I feel angry or annoyed when some talks about caste, and feel that person is a casteist?
5. Do I have a history of growing up in a casteist environment that I feel ashamed of but afraid to admit?
6. Does saying “Not all Savarnas” or "Not all brahmins", or similar phrases make me feel better when someone calls Savarnas/ Brahmins out for something?
7. Do I expect an apology when I feel like I’ve been unfairly accused of casteism?
8. Do I feel better when I say, hear, or read, “It’s okay to be a Savarna/ Brahmin?”
9. Do I try to convince people that they’re wrong about casteism by giving anecdotal example for things e.g.- why reservations aren't beneficial?
10. Do I feel the need to talk about how hard my family had it or explain my own hardships when a person talks about caste discrimination or oppression?
11. Do I think that casteism would go away if people stopped talking about it?
12. Does being told that something I say, think, do, or otherwise value is casteist make me want to shut down, leave, or express my discomfort/displeasure in some way?
13. Do I feel the need to state that I have friends/family who are from lower castes when someone accuses me of casteism?
14. Are most of my social interactions as an equal only/ mostly with Savarnas/ Brahmins?
15. Do I feel that my opinions and perspectives about caste should be given equal or more weight to that of a bahujan, that I have something unique and important to contribute to the caste conversation, and/or that it is unfair to be told to listen more than I speak?