Women and Indian Society: Options and Constraints

Women and Indian Society: Options and Constraints is all about the women of India: the way they were perceived during the ancient times, the perceptions of their role in a matriarchal society, and the changes that cropped up in their lives during the freedom struggle. However, not much ground appears to have been covered in analysing the causes for the subordinate status of the Indian women. The author has explained the core causes for their cloistered roles, and their marginalisation, and has put forth some key factors that could empower them with an identity of their own and supply them with a viable escape route out of a state of entrapment. The basic reasons for subjugation of women in India are lack of education, denial of exposure to activities outside the homes, and an unreasonable rationalisation that such education or exposure will not improve their lot anyway. This has led to a self-fulfilling prophesy type of consequence, and left the women unchanged. This work is meant to be used as a reference book by serious researchers in women’s studies, which has been included as an interdisciplinary subject in most of the Indian universities. Both informative and intimidating, the contents of this book are expected to start a progressive thought process in the minds of discerning readers.