Religious Visions of the Feminine: An Examination of Mainstream Hindu Ideologies

Author (Your Name)

Ann W. Levy, Colby College

Date of Award

2001

Document Type

Honors Thesis (Colby Access Only)

Department

Colby College. Religious Studies Dept.

Advisor(s)

Nikky-Guninder K. Singh

Abstract

Under the rickety fans and mosquito nets, the three of us would talk about work, the dog, my future, and before falling asleep I would always reflect on how amazing it was that I could live with these women, not just visit and impose myself, but become a part of their family and a part of their lives. Sadly, the connection in the dark was just that, it never carried on past sunrise, during the day, outside in the light. We are from two contrary cultures, one in which I clearly see intolerable injustices all around me. This is the same culture in which Indian women find a way of life that has existed for centuries that has aged into tradition. There exist two separate female identities; one is the powerful goddess whose Images pervade every crevice of society. The other identity is the reality, found in most every Indian woman's current situation. As I found myself connecting with the women in my Indian family, I also identified with their oppression. However, I was experiencing the oppression from a vastly different perspective, a temporary outsider's perspective, but one that has allowed me to question the sexual stratosphere and explore its origin and its slow transformation.

Comments

Full-text download restricted to Colby College campus only.

Keywords

Feminine, Hindu, Religion, Film, Devi, Manu, Brahmanic Tradition

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