Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Women in indigenous way of life

Amidst the ups and down of the Vedic community overpowering clergy and it s oppression of women,-silently and steadfastedly the ethnic people maintained the culture of equality without intellectualizing the issue.
Toughened by the life they lead these women though illiterate and uneducated have poetry handed from generation to generation through the oral tradition. Widow Remarriage is an acceptable norm. Infidelity is a non-existent concept as need for multiple partners is also accepted. A married woman need not have a clandestine affair is open and accepted.
Woman power was recognized and honoured. The women did not have become masculine for this (I mean wear pants)
Decline in feminine power
The revival of woman power took a reversal due to Muslim invasion. Major changes occurred in the political and social lives to the invader women were objects and Bart arable, chastity and virginity became very important social restrictions were established with a vengeance. Child marriage, sati and dowry were also revived. Child marriages resulted in increased widowhood. Emergence of devadasi cult and their relegation to prostitution is also seen
Over emphasis on monogamy and chastity leady to the practise of sati – the glorification and adulation brought about by it to families ensured that the system stayed.
Advent of the invaders also saw the emergence of the parda.