Gender Relations in Early India

includes index and biblioraphy

Introduction Meaning of Dharma Sources of Dharma Origin and Evolution of the Dharmasastras Dharmasastras: Number and Dates The Socio-political and Economic Life Religion Social Conditions Gender Dynamics within the Household The Ideology of the Grha in the Dharmasastras Birth Marriage Forms of Marriage Choice Regarding the Decision to Get Married Dowry Bride Price Remarriage Death Upbringing of Children Conjugal Relations Duties of the Husband/Householder Polygamy Menstrual Taboos Women as the Daughter-in-Law Motherhood Other Women as Relatives Exclusion from the Household Adultery vs Varna Identity Adultery and Gender Identity Rape Husband`s Death: Widowhood, Niyoga and Sati Desertion Opting-out of the Household 3 Property and Legal Rights Rights Ownership and Property in Ancient India Concept of Law in Ancient India Property Rights Inheritance and Partition of Immovable Property Women`s Right to Movable Property: Stridhana (Women`s Property) Succession to Stridhana Women`s Dominion over Stridhana Legal Rights 4 The Ideal and the Reality Women in the Epics Characters in the Valmiki Ramdyana Characters in the Mahabharata Women in the Sangarn Society Women in the Epigraphic Records Deviations from the Norm of Ideal Wifehood Deviation from the Norm Regarding the Name of Women Deviations from the Norms Regarding Exogamy Deviations from the Norm: Use of Metronymics Deviation from the Prohibition upon Performance of Religious Penances, or Sacrifices by Women Within the Sphere of Influence: The Cases of Identity Construction in Accordance with the Norms