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© Kamla-Raj 2004 J. Hum. Ecol., 15(4): 237-249 (2004)
Ecology and Status of Women Among Tribals of India
Veena Bhasin
Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
KEYWORDS Ecology. Society. Position of Women. Himalaya. Plains
ABSTRACT The present study corroborates the premise that women status is high when they contribute substantially to primary subsistence activities. Although they lack control of material and social resources, their contribution to subsistence economy give them important and irreversible position. It may be concluded as it is observed that ecology and environmental factors existing in tribal areas under study have given these women a special economic power, and an elevated status. However, there are certain domains in which men continue to dominate, as is culturally required. Moreover, community still is in the hands of men. There is kind of duality observable here. Men dominate in public, in social and religious affairs, and continue to play the role of the head of the family and breadwinner, women enjoy a greater say in their family life, they have a greater deal of social freedom and several of their actions are condoned/tolerated. Here one may say that the public/domestic dichotomy is not the only criterion for determining women’s status in society.
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