February 26, 2007...7:20 pm
Feminism And Mythology
Recently I discovered that you can see the same things differently, depending on which side you are. Let me make it clear. As a feminist, I always thought that all religions because they are headed mostly by men, favour men. The ‘KARVA CHAUTH ‘ fast which is kept for the well being of husbands was one such example. I always said there are so many fasts that Indian women keep for their husbands, not one for the women, women need to be cared for also. Karan Johar has although made the fasting look very glamorous through his Films. Women all dressed up in fineries and husbands pampering them looks so nice all the celluloid but women have to remain hungry all day and thus I thought it was discriminatory. Now see the other side of the coin-
In one of the comedy shows I heard this poet making fun of this fast and I realised that this could be the fun way of looking at it. He said that it so unfair to men that all the controls of the well being of men have been given to the wife. The moment she breaks her fast is the end of a man’s life. The wife can blackmail a man to accept her just and unjust demands because your life depends on her fasting. Women control your life and you can’t even give them flu, so much of injustice.
The other joke was -Why are Indian women so powerful and dominating? The reason was all our powers lie with Goddesses-
Wealth-Laxmi ji
Power-Durga ji
Knowledge -Saraswati ji
The two main Gods -Vishnu ji resides at the bottom of the ocean and Shiv ji resides on the top of the Mount Kailash. Poor men can’t even complain because they are so far away from each other. Good humour, women can feel empowered.
On a serious note a friend of mine was talking about our mythology being seen through men’s eyes.
Savitri won back her husband’s life from the YAMA not just because of her chastity and purity but because of her reasoning , logic and intellect. Nobody ever talks about that.
Sita did not find refuge in Mother Earth’s womb as is projected, but commited suicide because she felt humiliated that she had to prove her chastity again and again even after making so many sacrifices for Ram.
It is high time we have a relook at Mythology and see it through a woman’s eye. It won’t sound so discriminatory, intrepretations have to be different. I am sure if women are the given the responsibilities of intrepreting religion and Scriptures there would be more justice because as family makers they have to keep the interests of the whole family in mind.
9 Comments
February 27, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I think you are right that God has designed the man and the woman as equal critical contributors. I haven’t researched deeply into mythology. Yet, the Bible I have researched.
What fascinates me is that God has not only chosen the wise amazing women of the times but also the shameful outcasts of our society, like a prostitute.
Get this, in the book of the Bible called Joshua a prostitute, Rahab, risked all to protect a couple of men of God.
Not only that, our amazing and holy God chose to come to earth and save humanity through Rahab’s bloodline, Jesus. The prostitute honoring God in faith ended up being heir to the King. And, the historically known King David was also came through her offspring. I’ll include all scriptures so you can find all references easily at the end.
Now that is an incredible God. Not only that, this is recorded in the New Testament, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28 In a time where women were esteemed less then a man, Christ brings honor. And, not only to women but to the lower casts as well.
“The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent.” Joshua 6:17 (events start in chapter 2.
Thanks for your post. I love reading posts of deep thinkers who reflect on the realities and issues of the world around us.
Matthew 1
1A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
4Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab (the geneology continues on in the first chapter of Matthew in the New Testament)
February 27, 2007 at 7:18 pm
doesn’t Mythology refer to what is known to be false?
February 27, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I appreciated the comment at the end of the post “intrepreting religion and Scriptures” and was thinking from that component of this post. Whether talking about mythology or religion & scriptures, it is a good subject to interact with.
February 28, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Thanks Sharla for taking interest in the post.I have always had the impression that because most religious heads are males all religious scriptures have been intrepreted in favour of men.I accept I am not very knowledgeable as far as religion is concerned but I have tried to use whatever commonsense I have.
February 28, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I think Christianity has long been associated with keeping women down, which is sad. I posted about this a little while ago which you may have seen (http://joniruhs.wordpress.com/2007/01/30/the-things-we-do-to-women/#comments) about how Jesus treated women–contrary to the popular culture. The bible gives honor and mention to many women who influenced the faith-Deborah, a Judge over Israel and a wise strategist, Esther, a beautiful woman who used her influence with a king to save the Jews, several women in the New Testament who assisted in the training up of leaders and teachers of the faith. Its funny that the fall of mankind is attributed to Eve who ate the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. But rarely do people mention the part in scripture that says “she also gave some to her husband, who was with her”(Genesis 3:6). In Christianity, husbands are given responsibility for protecting their wives but Adam did not step in and object at all. So Eve takes the rap most of the time.
February 28, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Hi Joni,
I am amazed to know that two people living so far away, born and brought up in a totally different environment and of a different faith can think so much alike.Gender discrimination in religions, I am sure is due to intrepretation.
March 1, 2007 at 10:52 am
I think its a great idea for you to read the scriptures and interpret them for yourself as a woman. Thats why the scriptures are available to us so we can see for ourselves. You may read something you dont like though, because god has given men and women different roles to play. That has its good points and its bad points, because for example it is only women who can have children and hence make a family as you mention, with men doing their part in that too of course.So there will always be differences.
What is shiv doing on the mountain and vishnu on the bottom of the ocean? They must be bored by now.
True religion is not what you see people anywhere practicing, because people are not perfect. If you want to know what it is really about then read god’s word which god provided for us.
and Joni yep it was Adams job to stop eve from taking the fruit he is just as guilty as her.
Paul
March 2, 2007 at 7:18 am
pr3rna,
the world is a lot smaller than we think. I visited Russia and Ukraine in 1994. It was funny that the Russian husbands and wives argued about the same issues as the American husbands and wives. And the Russian single mom of a 13 year old was just as frustrated as the American moms trying to raise their teenagers. The hearts are the same.
October 29, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Hi all! Well i appreciate u all for your views but nonetheless i would like to highlight a point that please Take all the stories and epics in symbolic terms. they are meant to be understood in psychological and symbolic manner.
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