Lectures on Indian women

* Every woman a warrior

In Tamil Nadu the Goddess is know as Mariyamman, protector of families and villages, embodied in snakes, trees, and every woman. She is also the loving spouse of Siva. The lecture outlines the history of the Goddess, who is viewed not as a mother figure but as a warrior queen, along with the rituals of Her worship. It also explains the significance of the Goddess to female identity and the impact of Her worship on social status.

* Women of India: from the oppressed to the empowered

The destinies of Indian women can be extremely diverse. Some have freedom and power, enjoying the respect of their menfolk and high status in society, while others only survive. What Indian women have in common, however, is an awakening sense of their potential political influence. Recent political gains have encouraged the development of Indian-style feminism independent of the Western model, with an emphasis on gaining self-respect and the respect of men within the traditional family structures.
The lecture discusses the social and political position of women in India today by examining the lives of several individuals very different in their social status, ranging from the oppressed to the empowered. It also outlines the specificity of Indian feminism, its strengths and successes.

 

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I strongly recommend this great site about women from South Asia countries:

SAWNET: South Asian Women's NETwork.