Women in Hinduism
Hinduism’s treatment of women
The story of Ram and Sita, which is told in the Hindu epic Ramayana, is well-known to Hindus and the audience of the film Slumdog Millionaire, which is based on the story. This story serves as the basis for a discussion between Ernie Rea of BBC Radio 4 and guests regarding the role of women in Hinduism (Women in Hinduism, Beyond Belief – BBC Radio 4, 2017). Despite the fact that the stories can be used to teach some practical concepts to the millions of Hindu women who live in England, there are concerns that some of the beliefs are insulting to women. As a result, it is critical to comprehend what Hinduism teaches about how women are expected to conduct themselves in their daily lives.
Whether or not women are mistreated in today’s society is the first topic under debate. Female oppression, according to the BBC guest, is prevalent in Indian society, particularly in rural villages. As a result of these practices, Indians have come to accept the segregation, slavery, and violence against Indian women as normal aspects of everyday life in their community (Women in Hinduism, Beyond Belief – BBC Radio 4 – 2017, 2017). It has been a long time since this negative attitude against women has been prominent in Indian society, and it has even been incorporated into Hindu theology. Furthermore, India, like the majority of global countries, is largely patriarchal, with women seen as inferior to men in virtually every aspect of life, including education.
When it comes to household duties, such as cleaning and washing, Indian women are expected to adhere to a century-old tradition of doing them all alone. In contrast, as embodied by the goddess Lakshmi, women may only play the role of protectors when faced with misfortune, as opposed to other times. Because of this, the goddess creates ten arms to fight off the demons when faced with difficulties.
More parallels are observed between the Ram and Sita story and contemporary Indian women, particularly when the latter personified the roles of an Indian lady. Despite the fact that Sita was an outspoken and indignant figure who fought for her rights, her character is rapidly written out of the story. Ram, on the other hand, takes center stage despite the fact that he commits severe mistakes. In Indian society, there is widespread agreement that women are expected to be passive and submissive, regardless of their contributions to the community.
Women in Hinduism, Beyond Belief – BBC Radio 4, 2017 – The function of the modern Indian woman today is still quite similar to what it was hundreds of years ago (Women in Hinduism, Beyond Belief – BBC Radio 4, 2017). Among other things, women are not expected to hold property in Muslim societies since wealth is considered to be the exclusive domain of Muslim men. Despite the fact that Indian women are becoming increasingly progressive, they are nevertheless expected to perform their traditional responsibilities, regardless of their social level. It is the responsibility of young Hindus to attempt to reform Indian society by rejecting these customs and supporting equality in the society, among other things.
References
Radio broadcast by the BBC in 2017. Women in Hinduism: A Look Beyond Belief – BBC Radio 4. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programes/b01mhxn3 (accessed on March 30th, 2017).
