Women in Hinduism, contemporary women in Hinduism - Essay Example

?9 November, Women in Hinduism, Contemporary Women in Hinduism Hinduism is by far one of the oldest surviving religions on Earth, its roots laiddown in an era of Mesopotamians and Egyptians. It is the major religion in certain South Asian countries. Hinduism’s main features are idol worship, specific castes for specific social purposes, belief in karma and spiritualism. However, Hinduism is an old religion and like everything that has survived through the ages, Hinduism suffers from rots of unacceptable orthodox practices. One of them, amongst superstition and elaborate ceremonies, is blatant inconsideration of women in the Hindu society. Hinduism seems to have little respect for women compared to men1. Women suffer from many orthodox malpractices. Hinduism opposes the role of women and does not recognize their role in society. So deep is this inconsideration that people misinterpret the scriptures those govern Hinduism and Hindus. Even so, the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures “Vedas” according to many prominent “pundits” negates women’s importance and role in society2. Hindu religion is plagued with practices that undermine the respect that a woman reserves the rights to receive not just from her near and dear ones, but the society as well. Many of these practices still exist in the Indian Hindu society today. In as much Hindu women were despised in the traditional society, they are slowly participating in economic, political and social process in the modern society. In ancient times, Hindus were conservative people who observed many malpractices that degraded the image and role of women in the society. One of these malpractices included the purdah or the veil system. Married women were not allowed to show their faces to the outside world, only their husbands or children. The purdah system works even today. Another malpractice that was followed by conservative Hindus in ancient times was “sati.” The practice of sati placed women below men and denied them access to any privileges including education3. In addition to the lowered prestige of women, the Sati system demanded that the widow of man should be burnt in the holy pyre that burnt her husband’s corpse. Child marriage was rampant in ancient India and incidences of child marriage still occur at many places in India. Widows were treated as lesser than animals. Through the pages of history, it is evident the status and respect for women was disregarded in all societies, especially all the ancient ones. Women faced a lot of discrimination at the hands of men in the name of tradition or religion. Women rulers would find opposition from male members of the ruling class on the basis of gender pride, even if the ruler proved herself as a capable one. There are numerous examples like the burning of Joan of Arc at the stakes that speak volumes of sheer disregard for female ingenuity and talent. Nonetheless, Hindu women suffered a lot due to their own Holy Scriptures, religion and traditions. Hindu women were dehumanized more in comparison to traditional Muslim, African and Christian women. Muslim female rulers and influential women find larger number in history than Hindus. An example of female rule from the African culture is the story of Cleopatra who rose to absolute power in Egypt while the Romans fought their wars for power. Hinduism as a religion does not recognize the fundamental rights for women. The interpretation of the “Vedas” the ancient scriptures of Hindus paints a hostile attitude towards women in all spheres. The Scripture claims that women are inhuman and have no civil rights4. These interpretations placed women in subordination to men and mandated that women should serve them. The “pati-parmeshwar” dictum, also a part of the Sati practice, followed widely in the Hindu culture is a direct example of glorification of the husband as a “God”. This practice dictated the subordination of the wife to the husband and the husband’s full rights over his wife, from physical to psychological aspects. Dowry practices, sending away gifts along with the bride as she relocated from her parent’s house to her husband’s, was very prevalent in ancient Hindu families. The practice turned into malpractice as the groom’s families began demanding for gifts worth huge amounts, failing which the bride would face the ire of her in-laws. In certain extreme cases, the bride would be subject to such torture that she would be forced to take her own life. Sending away gifts with grooms was a practice in the ancient world but none of these practices were known to have surmounted to such fanaticism as was the case in Hindu culture. In fact the fanaticism grew to such extent that other malpractices took birth. Child marriage and female infanticide were common throughout India and cases of both are reported even today. Sadly, most of these incidents happen in the Hindu family. The Hindu woman was considered to be an object in the society rules. The Hindu woman is not allowed to mix with society beyond her relations, neither is she allowed to interact openly with males. The Hindu woman is expected to remain home, cook meals for the family, help her husband in his occupation if need arises, and most importantly give birth to a son who would create a new generation. A son would be preferred by the family because a daughter would be married off to some other family; hence a daughter would be a “paraya-dhan” which means someone else’s property. A mother who would give birth to a girl child would receive ill-treatment and the infant itself in extreme cases would be killed by elaborate methods. In short a girl child birth was considered dishonorable by many Hindu families. If a girl child would survive birth, she would then have to face continuous preaching of how she would be married off one day to some other family, and how she must prepare for that. Hindu families of the lower order would prefer their daughters to remain uneducated as they would find it unnecessary and a waste of effort for someone who does not, in their logic, belong to them. These beliefs and practices churned into a vicious cycle through the ages, which degraded women in the Hindu society to what has been discussed in the previous paragraphs. The modern day story seems to have changed a little. Many Hindu women have escaped the clutches of superstition and illiteracy in the present day. Due to globalization, a wave of change is taking place among the Indians and Hindus in particular. Today, women have earned liberty5. They are fighting for equal rights; they find representation in the legislative as well as judicial offices. Hindu women have opted liberal professions, from pilots in air liners to doctors. Women have exceled in education and left their male counterparts receiving same level of education. Educated women are escaping the practices and beliefs of ancient Hinduism and moving towards a liberal way of life, where they are self-sufficient and independent. Currently, Indian women have gained economic, social, political and professional freedom. This has improved their status in society. In fact, some women have exceled at places where Indian Hindu men have failed. However, a lot needs yet to be done. Malpractices like sati and child marriage found an end through the efforts of social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy. The Indian Hindu society is still plagued with problems like selective abortion, honor killings and dowry. The fight for equality of the genders will rage on for many years to come. There is hope as the society becomes more liberal. There is a need to reinterpret the Hindu scriptures and redefine the Hindu logic of privileges of the sexes. There is also a need to redefine the Hindu social structure to allow for more liberal approach to practices that have been instated rigidly into the Hindu life. The Hindu way is one of enlightenment and the original scriptures written in glory of the feminine form. Women should be given all the rights entitled to a human being and women must strive to achieve them as well. Bibliography Bowen, Paul. 1997. Themes and issues in Hinduism. London: Continuum. Ghadially, Rehana. 2007. Urban women in contemporary India: a reader. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications. Pintchman, Tracy. 2007. Women's lives, women's rituals in the Hindu tradition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Leslie, Julia. 1992. Roles and rituals for Hindu women. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. Puniyani, Ram. 2006. Contours of Hindu Rashtra Hindutva, Sangh Parivar, and contemporary politics. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. Patel, Reena. 2008. Hindu women's property rights in rural India: law, labour and culture in action. Aldershot: Ashgate. Read More