The Bhāgavata Speaks of Woman

Author(s):  
Gopal K. Gupta

Indic texts have played a crucial role in constructing, and greatly influencing, gender roles and social norms in Indian society. Scholarship on these texts has identified problems of identity and hegemony that are thoroughly discussed in such fields as subaltern studies, gender studies, cultural studies, and the like. Because of cultural practices such as satῑ‎ and religious laws for widows, Hinduism and some of its associated texts tend to have a reputation for patriarchal misogyny. In her Encyclopedia of Feminism, Lisa Tuttle advises scholars to ask “new questions of old texts;” following her lead, this chapter intends to examine the gender discourse contained in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, focusing on the text’s characterization of women as māyā, which we have here defined as God’s deluding or covering potency. The analysis should make it plain that while the Bhāgavata does support patriarchal institutions and practices, on a deeper level it portrays women in a far more positive light, holding them in a more esteemed position than one may assume.

Author(s):  
Marina Yu. Milovanova ◽  

The article analyzes results of the international scientific and practical conference “Gender Studies. Theory, Scientific schools, Practice” (Moscow, March 4–5, 2021). The geography of the representation of the conference participants showed the relevance of the stated topic in Russian and foreign humanities, and the range of researchers in the humanities – sociologists, historians, cultural scientists, political scientists, psychologists, anthropologists – expressed multi-disciplinarity in the study of gender issues. It presents an analysis of current trends in the gender relations and gender discourse in the political, social, economic and cultural spheres in the context of the formation of a new gender order. Moreover it accumulates the scientific ideas, approaches and new research technologies and adduces the practice of implementing their results. The conference was timed to coincide with the 110th anniversary of the celebration of International Women’s Day–March 8 as a day of solidarity of women in the struggle for their rights.


Author(s):  
Chhavi ◽  
◽  
Rajiv Bhushan ◽  

Abstract Mahesh Dattani is one of the leading Indian dramatists who responded to the problems of sexuality on the canvass of Indian theatre. He examined various facets of subjugation and marginalization rampant in Indian society. His plays focus on the sub-urban Hindu family and its trifle with gender and alternate sexuality. His plots revolve around the damaging implications of patriarchal constructs and his characters strive for liberty and self-satisfaction beneath hegemonic masculinity, compulsive heteronormativity and prejudiced cultural domain. Regarding his famous play Dance Like a Man, this paper critically examines the existing socio-cultural domain which practices politics of exclusion of androgynous identities behind the façade of peacefully cohabiting heterosexual Indian family and shows how Dattani, has remarkably countered the presentation of the polarized association of gender roles with conventional practice through performance of his protagonist. Set against the backdrop of patriarchal mindset, this paper delineates that the victim of patriarchal norms is not a woman but a man, who has traits of androgyny. It gives a brief account to highlight the significance of androgyny and portrays how androgyny is directly proportional to creativity. It elucidates how androgynous men undergo searing experiences of stigma and social untouchability in a traditional setup and how patriarchal norms reinforce dominant powers of society to stunt the growth of their personality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 4479-4484
Author(s):  
Mousoomi Aslam. A , Dr. V.S. Bindhu

This paper attempts to study the psychological degeneration of characters and the presence of mythical elements in the play Yayati. Karnad traverses through unfathomable depths of old Indian mythology to make the social and cultural problems that reflects the traditional Indian society. He portrays a modern context of characters by the amalgamation of symbols. His plays are usually found very close to common people with a very realistic approach towards the issues of humans. He used not only myths to frame the plot but also to pinpoint the human psyche and cultural practices in the society. He took mythical elements from the Mahabharatha with an intention to examine the ludicrousness of life with all its fundamental passions and crisis. The play focuses on man’s eternal struggle to achieve perfection, dreams and desires.


2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 295
Author(s):  
Aniendya Christianna

Damar Kurung is one of the typical cultural products of Gresik that has recorded Gresik’s civilization. Damar Kurung is a bamboo-framed paper lantern that has existed since Hindu-Buddhist times. This research is a qualitative research with a descriptive approach. The purpose of this research is to understand the meaning of the symbol in Damar Kurung’s decorative that are painted by Masmundari. At the same time to identify the gender roles of Javanese women. The results of this study are (1) Javanese women do not reject face makeup, because using makeup is a manifestation of women’s respect and acceptance in dealing with social norms; (2) Javanese women formulate their identity through a procession of traditional ceremonial preparations that are mostly carried out ‘behind’ (in the kitchen).Damar Kurung merupakan salah satu produk budaya khas Gresik yang telah merekam peradaban masyarakat Gresik. Damar Kurung adalah lampion kertas berangka bambu ini sudah ada sejak zaman Hindu-Budha. Penelitian ini adalah penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk memahami makna simbol di damar kurung yang dilukis oleh Masmundari. Sekaligus untuk mengidentifikasi peran gender perempuan Jawa. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah (1) perempuan Jawa tidak menolak riasan wajah, karena menggunakan riasan adalah perwujudan penghormatan dan penerimaan perempuan dalam menghadapi norma sosial;(2) perempuan Jawa merumuskan identitasnya melalui prosesi persiapan upacara adat yang banyak dilakukan ‘dibelakang’ (di dapur).


Pragmatics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Nahar Al-Ali ◽  
Hanan A. Shatat

Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences and similarities between Arabic and English parents’ role in Arabic and English parenting website texts and the linguistic exponents used to address parents and signal their roles, and to find out the socio-cultural ideologies that have given rise to variations in gender roles. To this end, a corpus of 40 articles targeting gender-neutral titles and father related ones were selected equally from English and Arabic websites. Drawing on Van Leeuwen’s (2008) framework on critical discourse analysis (CDA) and Sunderland’s (2000, 2006) framework of analysis, the data were analysed and contrasted. The English texts reflected the prevalence of ‘shared parenting’ discourse, whereas the Arabic ones revealed a ‘very traditional parenthood’ discourse. These differences can be attributed to variation in the socio-cultural practices dominant in Arab and Western societies. Such findings will hopefully provide some useful insights for family life educators and parents who resort to such websites.


Author(s):  
Christopher Dunn

Chapter Five explores social and cultural practices that challenged traditional conventions of gender and sexuality in Brazilian society. In the late 1970s, emergent feminist and gay movements succeeded in expanding the range of leftist political debates to include discussions around gender roles, sexual desire, corporal pleasure, and other issues previously regarded as personal or private and therefore outside the realm of the political. These activists sought to link political repression to diverse forms of sexual repression such as the maintenance of male dominated gender relations, the policing of female sexuality, or the violent suppression of homosexuality. Here the author draws on the alternative press, especially the largest gay journal Lampião da Esquina. He examines here the influential work by performers who subverted gender norms, like former tropicalists Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, the gender-bending troupe Dzi Croquettes, and gay icon Ney Matogrosso. The author also discusses left-wing intellectuals, including former guerillas such as Fernando Gabeira, who sought to redefine notions of masculinity during the final phase of military rule.


2018 ◽  
pp. 1230-1247
Author(s):  
Nemu Joshi

Focusing on the influence of media, this chapter explores a variety of gender practices in the era of globalisation. This chapter explores how urban Nepali women constantly negotiate between global flows and local context and the effects of this negotiation on their gender roles, and on their familial and intimate relationships. The chapter analyses the ways media, especially Indian visual media, which is a common source of discussion among urban women, is affecting them and their daily lives. Examining the importance of visual media, films and television in directing new identities and implications of gender roles and intimate relationships, this chapter explores ways urban women of Nepal are negotiating their gender relations and intimate lives in relation to the binary of ‘cultural practices' and ‘modernity' through watching Indian visual media.


Author(s):  
Robert Stern

This chapter covers Chapters 3 and 4 of The Ethical Demand. In these chapters, Løgstrup adds to his characterization of the demand by claiming that it is ‘radical’. He explains this radicality in terms of various further key features, including the way it may intrude on our lives and pick us out as individuals, while even the enemy is included in the requirement on us to care. At the same time, Løgstrup argues that we do not have the right to make the demand, while also denying that it is ‘limitless’. The features of the demand that make it radical distinguish it from the social norms, while the unconditional and absolute nature of the demand contrasts with the variable character of such norms, a contrast which he uses to respond to the challenge of relativism.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S354) ◽  
pp. 461-466
Author(s):  
Raissa Estrela ◽  
Adriana Valio ◽  
Sourav Palit

AbstractStellar magnetic field is the driver of activity in stars and can trigger spots, energetic flares, coronal plasma ejections and ionized winds. These phenomena play a crucial role in understanding the internal mechanisms of the star, but can also have potential effects in orbiting planets. During the transit of a planet, spots can be occulted producing features imprinted in the transit light curve. Here, we modelled these features to characterize the physical properties of the spots (radius, intensity, and location). In addition, we monitor spots signatures on multiple transits to estimate magnetic cycles length of Kepler stars. Flares have also been observed during transits in active stars. We derive the properties of the flares and analyse their UV impact on possible living organisms in planets orbiting in the habitable zone.


2019 ◽  
Vol 158 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Niamir ◽  
Gregor Kiesewetter ◽  
Fabian Wagner ◽  
Wolfgang Schöpp ◽  
Tatiana Filatova ◽  
...  

Abstract In the last decade, instigated by the Paris agreement and United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP22 and COP23), the efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels are expanding. The required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions imply a massive decarbonization worldwide with much involvement of regions, cities, businesses, and individuals in addition to the commitments at the national levels. Improving end-use efficiency is emphasized in previous IPCC reports (IPCC 2014). Serving as the primary ‘agents of change’ in the transformative process towards green economies, households have a key role in global emission reduction. Individual actions, especially when amplified through social dynamics, shape green energy demand and affect investments in new energy technologies that collectively can curb regional and national emissions. However, most energy-economics models—usually based on equilibrium and optimization assumptions—have a very limited representation of household heterogeneity and treat households as purely rational economic actors. This paper illustrates how computational social science models can complement traditional models by addressing this limitation. We demonstrate the usefulness of behaviorally rich agent-based computational models by simulating various behavioral and climate scenarios for residential electricity demand and compare them with the business as usual (SSP2) scenario. Our results show that residential energy demand is strongly linked to personal and social norms. Empirical evidence from surveys reveals that social norms have an essential role in shaping personal norms. When assessing the cumulative impacts of these behavioral processes, we quantify individual and combined effects of social dynamics and of carbon pricing on individual energy efficiency and on the aggregated regional energy demand and emissions. The intensity of social interactions and learning plays an equally important role for the uptake of green technologies as economic considerations, and therefore in addition to carbon-price policies (top-down approach), implementing policies on education, social and cultural practices can significantly reduce residential carbon emissions.


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