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The document discusses the role of religion and socio-cultural norms like patriarchy in influencing gender roles and the status of women. Several religions are described as upholding male superiority and the subordination of women. Patriarchy is discussed as having emerged with pastoralism, agriculture and private property, influencing inheritance and marriage customs to maintain control over property, sexuality and labor.

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Vatsal Modi
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16 views

Demo 5

The document discusses the role of religion and socio-cultural norms like patriarchy in influencing gender roles and the status of women. Several religions are described as upholding male superiority and the subordination of women. Patriarchy is discussed as having emerged with pastoralism, agriculture and private property, influencing inheritance and marriage customs to maintain control over property, sexuality and labor.

Uploaded by

Vatsal Modi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Role of Religion

• Generally all religions tend to uphold the superiority of males

• Hinduism:

- Male is strong and pure

- Women is inferior and sinful to be controlled (Manu Smriti)

• Christianity :

- Female is secondary(emerged from man) and dependent on man

• Islam:

- Men are created to rule; women are impure

• Yet religions have tried to revere women because of the power of

motherhood crucial for sustaining human race

• Despite the godly symbolic status to women; the hierarchy is

maintained

Ardhnarishwara:

Symbol of male & female togetherness)

Socio-Cultural Norms: Role of Patriarchy

• Patriarchy is a prominent historical social norm & structure which has a

major influence on gender

• Under patriarchy there is male domination in the family & society;

• The lineage is traced to male (father) and property inherited as per

male lineage (agnate); Encourages male-preference

• Patriarchy emerged with Pastrolisim, agriculture & Private property

• Patriarchy has evolved due to reasons to maintain control over

property, sexuality and labour

• Before patriarchy, the status of women was better;


• Property inheritance needed clean lineage with clarity about paternity;

Hence the need for ‘pair-bonding’ & patrilocal marriages (wife going to

husband’s place)

Patriarchy in Indian Context

• In Indian Context patriarchy worked with the caste system

• Endogamy (marriage within a caste group) was enforced to maintain caste purity

and family lineage

• Hence there was a need for control of sexuality of women (of upper caste)

through arranged marriages

• Scriptures and Mythologies sanctified endogamous marriages & wife‘s virtues.

• Women cannot deviate; Have to be dutiful to the husband (pativrata) • Otherwise they will be
disciplined and punished; no widow remarriage

• Defiance by women would lead to ‘Kaliyug’ • Patriarchy thus ensured subordination of women to
maintain caste purity,

property and obedience.

Laws of Manu (Manusmriti)

‘Though destitute of virtue, or seeking pleasure elsewhere, or devoid of good

qualities, a husband must be constantly worshipped as a god by a faithful wife. If

a wife obeys her husband, she will for that reason alone be exalted in heaven’

‘The production of children, the nurture of those born, and the daily life of men,

of these matters woman is visibly the cause

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