Re: oops

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Henna Page Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by asha on July 1, 2003 at 11:27:17:

In reply to: oops posted by Rose on July 1, 2003 at 04:11:49:

Rose, I only wish that was the case. The point here is that eventhough the
Devadasi women had many men, the choice was not made by the women, the men
made the choice. So eventhough in some circles efforts are being made to
glorify it as an erstwhile honoroble tradition, in most Indian languages,if
you referred to a woman using a devadasi equivalent in the language, it is
equivalent to calling her a b*t*h.

One more book here if you want to take a look
http://www.vedamsbooks.com/no9223.htm

Best regards, asha

: Don't know what key I hit this time; gotta type slower.
:
: As Alissa said, I had thought that the devadasi system once had a
: different role in Indian society. At that time marriage was not such
: a great option any way, seeing as women had so little rights and
: child marriage was the norm. In reality marriage was a financial
: transaction and might be considered a type of rape by someone else's
: standards as women became sexual property of a husband they didn't
: choose. The devadasis were bound by ritual duties to "God" in much
: the same way other women were bound by homemaking duties to their
: husbands. But in many ways Devadasis were more liberated because
: they were at least able to control their own money, recieved some
: standard of education when other women had none, and never suffered
: the inauspiciousness of widowhood. Plus they had more freedom of
: movement, and their children were theirs alone. It was my
: understanding, that the system began to be disputed when women's
: roles started to change and several general reforms related to women
: were being enacted, such as ban on child marriage and sati. The
: devadasi was part of the old system but did not fit into the new.
: The devadasi system being practiced today seems to epitomize many of
: the problems faced by poor, rural women in general such as child
: marriage with no choice from the woman, being denied education, the
: stigma of belonging to a low social class, and lack of choices due
: to abject poverty.
:
: The scholar who I best remember talking about these reforms and the
: devadasis system was a certain Meduri. I should look it up in my
: notes...
:
: I'm looking forward to any other thoughts on the subject, or a
: different point of view.
:
: -Rose

Follow Ups

Post Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
: Rose, I only wish that was the case. The point here is that eventhough the : Devadasi women had many men, the choice was not made by the women, the men : made the choice. So eventhough in some circles efforts are being made to : glorify it as an erstwhile honoroble tradition, in most Indian languages,if : you referred to a woman using a devadasi equivalent in the language, it is : equivalent to calling her a bth. : : One more book here if you want to take a look : http://www.vedamsbooks.com/no9223.htm : : Best regards, asha : : : : Don't know what key I hit this time; gotta type slower. : : : : As Alissa said, I had thought that the devadasi system once had a : : different role in Indian society. At that time marriage was not such : : a great option any way, seeing as women had so little rights and : : child marriage was the norm. In reality marriage was a financial : : transaction and might be considered a type of rape by someone else's : : standards as women became sexual property of a husband they didn't : : choose. The devadasis were bound by ritual duties to "God" in much : : the same way other women were bound by homemaking duties to their : : husbands. But in many ways Devadasis were more liberated because : : they were at least able to control their own money, recieved some : : standard of education when other women had none, and never suffered : : the inauspiciousness of widowhood. Plus they had more freedom of : : movement, and their children were theirs alone. It was my : : understanding, that the system began to be disputed when women's : : roles started to change and several general reforms related to women : : were being enacted, such as ban on child marriage and sati. The : : devadasi was part of the old system but did not fit into the new. : : The devadasi system being practiced today seems to epitomize many of : : the problems faced by poor, rural women in general such as child : : marriage with no choice from the woman, being denied education, the : : stigma of belonging to a low social class, and lack of choices due : : to abject poverty. : : : : The scholar who I best remember talking about these reforms and the : : devadasis system was a certain Meduri. I should look it up in my : : notes... : : : : I'm looking forward to any other thoughts on the subject, or a : : different point of view. : : : : -Rose
Optional link URL:
Link title:
Optional image URL:

[Home] [How] [Why] [What] [Where] [FAQ] [Forum] [Journal]