An Analysis of the Changing Roles of Women in Hindu Philosophy

This essay provides an overview of the changing roles of women in Hinduism, exploring the historical and contemporary perspectives on their status within the Indian culture. It examines the influence of religious beliefs, societal norms, and philosophical interpretations on women's experiences. The essay highlights the duality of women being compared to goddesses while also facing societal constraints and discrimination. It discusses the evolution of women's roles, from ancient times to the modern day, including their increasing independence and access to education and employment. The essay also touches upon the challenges women still face, such as limited access to education and social restrictions in certain regions, and emphasizes the importance of challenging age-old norms to empower women. The provided references include scholarly works that support the arguments and provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Introduction to philosophy
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:
Student number:
Course code:

2INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
Hinduism is one of the oldest cultures in India. India is said to be a land of many different
cultures and traditions. There are a large number of gods and goddesses worshipped in the Indian
culture. The position of women has been subjected to many changes from the ancient time till the
modern days. It must be noted that men and women are considered to be same in the eyes of
Hinduism. However it is the society that often differentiates between men and women. Right
from the ancient days, women have been considered inferior to men. They are always subjected
to huge pressure and shame from the upper layers of society1.
It is argued that the state of women have been worsened a lot in the modern day scenario
in comparison to the pre Independence era. However it must be noted that women have been
given a large inclusion different sectors in the modern day scenario. It must be noted that in
Hindu religious context women are often compared to Goddesses. Women are said to be Shakti
and is often compared to Goddess Durga as a symbol of power and eternal strength. However
one cannot overlook the same Hindu society that bars women from entering into the temples due
to their biological conditions.
Going back to the ancient day’s one can see how women were lays kept confined within
the four walls of their houses. Just as people had a great devotion and believed in their religious
deities they treated their family women in the same manner. The ancient Hindu family context
thought that women are vulnerable and must be kept preserved and protected. Thus there were
many strict laws imposed on women and they were not allowed to step outside their homes or
mingle with people in any of the social gatherings. Women were considered chase and they were
only directed to stay in their houses and carry on with their family duties2. These efforts were
taken to safeguard the morality of women but at the same time this social norms curbed the
freedom, independence of women as well. There are both Gods and Goddesses in the Hindu
1 Shepherd, Kancha Ilaiah. Why I am not a Hindu: A Sudra critique of Hindutva
philosophy, culture and political economy. SAGE Publications India, 2019.
2 Smith, David. "Hinduism." In Religions in the Modern World, pp. 57-88. Routledge,
2016.

3INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
mythology3. However, worshipping the Goddesses is seen as a source of inspiration for women.
Though Goddess Durga is seen as the fight goddess, but she is also portrayed under a patriarchal
structure.
The Hindu women were mainly taught to witness the family devotion that these powerful
Goddesses have towards their husband and their family. Durga is always seen surrounded by her
children and her husband. Thus she was worshipped as a symbol of family love and devotion
rather than feminine strength and power. Thus the ancient Hindu people were mainly concerned
about asking their female figures to develop themselves as good family figures taking care of
their husband and children4. One must also note about Goddess Kali. She is the symbol of
aggression, destruction and power. Goddess kali is depicted in a very violent figure when she
was in a bad mood and was running wildly killing anyone that came in her way5. Her husband
Shiva had to come to stop her. Goddess Kali was so made in anger that she overlooked Lord
Shiva and was about to kill him as well. Just then she realized and got over her aggression. The
moral as depicted by Hindu religious contexts Purusa defeated Prakriti which means the normal
order was establish and everyone could live in harmony , However this example is used by
Hindu society to say that women must adhere to her man or to her husband. Only then the world
can stay in peace and this is the rule or the law of nature. Women must not be left free and must
always be controlled by men. However this concept was used by society in order to dominate
women. Right from the ancient days the evil social practices like Sati is evident of the fact that
women were never given a choice to lead their lives as per their choice6.
3 Ghosh, Rajashi, and Aindrila Chatterjee. "Indian Women in Leadership: An
Introduction." In Indian Women in Leadership, pp. 1-9. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham,
2018.
4 Holden, Livia. Hindu divorce: A legal anthropology. Routledge, 2016.
5 Patel, R., 2018. Hindu women's property rights in rural India: law, labour and culture in
action. Routledge.
6 Bhasin, Shubhi. "Plight of Indian Women as Sketched in the Poetry of Kamala Das."
Print Version, Volume 4, Issue 12 (2016).

4INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
Men on the other hand were always considered to be very powerful and the controlling
figure. The male deities like lord Shiva has always been compared to the power and personality
of the men. This must be noted that just as Lord Shiva is the creator and the preserver of nature,
men in the ancient Hindu families were also given this similar status. Thus, man was the bread
earner of the family and was also the main decision maker. He could go put to get an education,
grow up to join a job and marry as per his choice. On contrary all these rights and freedom were
denied to women.
However in the modern day scenario these social constraints have undergone several changes.
Females have now becomes independent. They are also being supported by the society to take up
different challenging roles. In the modern Indian context Hindu women are the freedom of
attending schools, colleges and also choosing their partners as per their choice.
It is also seen that Hindu women have the capability of wearing dresses as per their
choice but this is different in case of Muslim women. Even in India, the Muslim women are
asked to stay in pardahs7. Women are also economical advanced. In the modern day scenario
people have undergone changes in their mindset8. They are allowing the females to have a proper
earning source of their own. In the modern day scenario, it is seen that women are also free to do
inter religious and inter-caste marriages. Many NGOs and other female groups are trying their
level best to support the females. Earlier the cultural influence taught females to develop family
binding skills. Even if girls were allowed to go to school or colleges, they were only asked to
study home science so that they can manage the household affairs after their marriages. They
were never given the chance to stay alone or single9. It was a known fact that all the girls have to
get married and bear children. However women are still fighting for their cause as they have not
7 Hussein, Nazia, and Saba Hussein. "Interrogating practices of gender, religion and
nationalism in the representation of Muslim women in Bollywood: contexts of change,
sites of continuity." Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal 2, no. 2 (2015):
284-304.
8 Roy, Kumkum. "The History of Hindu India: From Ancient to Modern Times, Social
Studies: A Textbook for All Ages." (2017): 91-97.
9 Hussain, Yasmin. Writing diaspora: South Asian women, culture and ethnicity.
Routledge, 2017.

5INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
got a proper inclusion or freedom. This is evident from the domination seen on women in many
of the remote and undeveloped regions of India. In some or the remote village areas of Gujarat
and Rajasthan it is seen that women are still uneducated and confined10. The caste system is so
strict in those areas that the families members even try to kill their own daughters if they are
found entering into inter caste romantic relationships.
Family values and the teachings serve as the major aspects of shaping the mentality of
people. Hindu families are always seen as a unifying factor that helps in the binding all the
people together. In the ancient context females were taught to act as the controller of all
household affairs. The male figures were the sole decision maker and the guardian figure of the
family. However in the modern context the families have realized that daughters are not to be
treated as burden rather they are equally important as sons. Thus they have to be given a teaching
of growing up and establishing a proper identity of their own. They have to make sure that there
is no disparity between men and women. It is his collective responsibility of the Government and
the community to challenge the age old norms and work for women empowerment.
10 Gangoli, Geetanjali. Indian feminisms: Law, patriarchies and violence in India.
Routledge, 2016.

6INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
References
Bhasin, Shubhi. "Plight of Indian Women as Sketched in the Poetry of Kamala Das." Print
Version, Volume 4, Issue 12 (2016).
Gangoli, Geetanjali. Indian feminisms: Law, patriarchies and violence in India. Routledge, 2016.
Ghosh, Rajashi, and Aindrila Chatterjee. "Indian Women in Leadership: An Introduction." In
Indian Women in Leadership, pp. 1-9. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2018.
Holden, Livia. Hindu divorce: A legal anthropology. Routledge, 2016.
Hussain, Yasmin. Writing diaspora: South Asian women, culture and ethnicity. Routledge, 2017.
Hussein, Nazia, and Saba Hussein. "Interrogating practices of gender, religion and nationalism in
the representation of Muslim women in Bollywood: contexts of change, sites of continuity."
Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal 2, no. 2 (2015): 284-304.
Patel, R., 2018. Hindu women's property rights in rural India: law, labour and culture in action.
Routledge.
Roy, Kumkum. "The History of Hindu India: From Ancient to Modern Times, Social Studies: A
Textbook for All Ages." (2017): 91-97.
Shepherd, Kancha Ilaiah. Why I am not a Hindu: A Sudra critique of Hindutva philosophy,
culture and political economy. SAGE Publications India, 2019.
Smith, David. "Hinduism." In Religions in the Modern World, pp. 57-88. Routledge, 2016.