Liminal Situation and Normlessness
A liminal situation refers to a state of transition or in-betweenness, where established norms and structures are suspended. In sociology and anthropology, this phase is marked by ambiguity and lack of clear rules.
Normlessness, or anomie, is a condition where social norms break down, leading to confusion, disorientation, and a sense of instability. In liminal stages, individuals often experience normlessness because traditional values no longer apply, and new ones are not yet established.
For Dalits, liminality can be seen in their historical and social transitions — as they move from oppressed identities to self-assertion. This phase may bring normlessness, but also opens space for new identities, roles, and social orders to emerge.