Hindu Women

Throughout history, there have been many different aspects that have been looked at in all culture ways . Many researcher's have studied the history and the lifestyle of the different societies and particular cultural norms. This information is gathered from media, weather be it through internet, newspaper, television or simply history books as educational informers. Although these are the most common bases for societal general knowledge, in the inner truth occurs within the inner realms of particular societal. We as Americans sometimes fund the ways in which many of these cultures do things different, weird, or crazy. They are for us to look forage deeper into these different aspects but sometimes many of us choose to just believe the contrary, the truth that is tainted and not rooted within history. One of these mistakenly miscnceived cultures is the Hindu Culture. Americans may not see things in our cullture the way others do in their own private communities. In our society, women are beginning to get respect for the things they do and they are being looked at in the same way that men are, in various occupations. In the Hindu culture this is quiet the opposite, their society views women the same way a any other society would view those in the lower social aspects. This suppressing and inferorating view has had a large impact on their society, economically, as well as politically.

The women in this culturl are looked upon as being something great, according to their cultural and religious believes. This aspect of Hindu society is the only that has had credit to the respect and value of women, where if compared to the status of women in other societies. Though the women are vied very highly by the gods, they are viewed from a society with a caste system. India like any other society is divided into different classes. The classes are division is marked by wealth and production industries. The adjoining part of the society is ruled by higher authority. Women are a large of this particular society. They are subjected to agricultural and exploitation by the men who rule them. The women in these particular communities have many duties that come with being a part of that society. " The chief duty of a women is to maintain her Pativrata Dharma. To a women there is no higher duty than service of her husband. She should worship him daily" (Shivanada, 1963). Women, who goes by these customs are honored by their communities. Their expectations in life are to honor and please their spouses and to make their significant other the most important persons. This does not usually reflect on the husbands correspondence, or his status. Domestic problems are not always judged by fault or negative conduct. There is no crime in a man abusing his wife. Women do not engage in therapueutic dialogues with their spouses to solve domestic issues neither are they allowed reaching beyond the household and including family members and friends. This type is always of emotional out reach would be considered non-devotion to ones husband. This is always a tormenting experience especially to those with infidlity. Marriage clearly is separated from its fundamental pillars of love and mutual respect. The Hindus believe that marriage can only sustain its existence if love if outlawed, "This difficult but gradually she will gain strength of mind and power of endurance through the grace of the Lord." (Shivanada, 1962). A woman is expected to constantly think of the benefits of being married not the negatives that may be occurring within the home.

The value of marriage is adjusted to fit that of a manly agreement. Men become the middle man in the class initiation process, upon marriage they decide to what class their respective wives are to belong to, and the responsibilities she would be exposed to. Women in the Hindu culture are not allowed to own or sell any property. Even in the case of a deceased spouse. They are not entitled to any inheritance nor are possessions of any items left after death. Women are stripped of all property rights, (basu, 1999). This is nothing new to many people in different countries, as well as cultures. One would think that for a woman to be so respected by the gods, her rights and responsibilities would sour way above service to her husband. To obtain more accurate pricing of the rural and urban areas India calculates property ownership and wealth according to the numbers of settlement of middle class people. These are the people that accrue their income from inheritance. Even though the women live with their husbands, they do not hold any value with property's meaning that they do not handle any of the property business, nor do they got part ownership. Women in there particular societies, are considered to be property themselves, so for them to own property or to even share property ownership with their husband would seem ludicrous to the men in these economies. Women become property as soon they married, this is because of dowry. Dowry becomes a big part of the marriage arrangement, as it is the bridal head count of currency or livestock. Because the groom has to pay a certain amount to get the brides hand in marriage, dowry represents ownership and property. Women used as property ownership in a marriage, have no authirity over the marriage or what or what arrangements are made, or even who they marry, (Eames, 1996). Even though women may not have much to do with a marriage or even property, they are merging into politics in their respective areas. In the urbanized areas of the country there are middle class women who work, and provide for them selves. This gives good insight to the misconcved nation that women can not handle work and lead independent lives. Some communities are more liberal, and do not present women with this opportunity, but there are those that do. Even though this would seem like a ray of hope for the Hindu women, there are still those in rural areas that suffer social and economics oppression. These middle class women that have no experienced the social block that the other women have are making many efforts to help these women to break free or stay from this particular lifestyle. These women are holding parades, as well as anti- Hindu practices, in hopes of exposing there other women to the world and all the things it can offer.

The voice that have been heard as well as made contributions to the social change are those of women like Prime Minister Indira Ghandhi, the strength of this woman is beyond reasonable doubt. In the 1970's Ghandhi began to devise some significant measures, she resorted to strong measures in maintaining her power. Proclamation of Emergency, centralization of the polity and firm establishment of her personal leadership over the congress, she also transformed the democratic and federal character of the polity of Nehru period into a centralized

...