The Fountainhead, Virginia Woolf, A doll’s house, Manusmriti and gender XY, XX

 

The Fountainhead, Virginia Woolf, A Doll's House, Manusmriti, and Gender Roles (XY, XX)

The Manusmriti states, "A girl should remain under the custody of her father in childhood, under the custody of her husband when married, and under the custody of her son as a widow. Under no circumstances is she allowed to assert herself independently." (Chapter 5, Verse 148 (The Laws of Manu V, n.d.)).

During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, women in England and Russia began to break down rigid gender roles through their revolutionary work. At that time, male writers dominated the literary scene. However, Virginia Woolf emerged as a writer whose thoughts challenged the traditional roles of women. Her literary contributions inspired future generations, and she became a significant figure in the history of feminism, advocating for gender equality. Gradually, women in these regions advanced on issues of gender equality, overcoming wage gaps and workplace challenges.

In South India, particularly Tamil Nadu, during the early 19th century, women poets were recognized and rewarded for their work. However, they often faced domestic violence from their husbands or other male family members. Despite their literary achievements, many women, like Muddupalani and others, had to contend with violence and social oppression at home, facing the same challenges as ordinary women of their time.

The broader society often believed that women should work only if absolutely necessary, questioning the need for women to pursue careers or businesses. Such attitudes led to a perception that working women were mere objects, willing to do anything for money. Men with this mindset believed that women who earned money could be easily persuaded or controlled. They also viewed women who worked without a financial need with suspicion, assuming that such women must have questionable morals. These societal views reinforced the notion that a woman's primary role was within the home, and any deviation from this was met with disdain and violence.

In contrast, Russian writer Ayn Rand portrayed strong female characters in her essays and novels, but she did not consider herself a feminist. Her philosophy transcended traditional gender roles and focused on individualism, believing that people should be judged by their character and abilities rather than their gender. While she acknowledged that women could excel in any field, she also believed that men should take the lead in matters of love and romance.  (Ayn Rand's views on gender roles, which she articulated in various writings and interviews. (The Fountainhead - a Book by Ayn Rand, n.d.)). Ayn Rand teaches that for women’s rights you don’t have to be a feminist.

In early 19th century India, figures like Savitribai Phule and Jyotirao Phule initiated movements to educate women. Many men across different regions of the world joined the cause of women's rights. Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll’s House resonated with many women by depicting the struggles of Nora Helmer, a seemingly happy wife and mother who eventually realizes that her life is far from idyllic. Years ago, Nora secretly took out a loan to save her husband, forging her father's signature to do so. She continued to work secretly to pay off the debt, knowing that her husband would be humiliated by the idea of being helped by a woman. When her husband, Torvald, discovers the forgery, he is more concerned about his reputation than her sacrifice, shattering Nora's illusions about their marriage. She realizes that she has been living in a "doll's house," treated more like a possession or a child than an equal partner.

Society views marriage as an essential part of life, but arranged marriages based on material wealth and financial ownership often lead to serious problems, including gender inequality. Arranged marriages expose the hypocrisy of society pretending to be united and following same cast breeding. Arranged marriages prioritize career and material possessions over an individual's behavior and character, turning them into a means for obtaining sex and security. Such a lifestyle increases the population and creates a social imbalance. It can harm both individuals and society. The rigid system of arranged marriage often subjects women to indirect harm and contributes to a sick society.

Osho, a spiritual teacher, commented on the disrobing of Draupadi in the Mahabharata, stating that it occurred not because she was a woman but because she was considered someone's property. From birth, women are often seen as the goddesses (Laxmi) of the household, divine beings, or figures with supernatural powers. This perception is the first instance of gender inequality. Treating children and adults as divine figures or superpowers invites other social problems.

If you cannot talk to your children about reproduction, the impact of pornography, and women's menstruation, then you have failed in your duty as a parent. Such parents leave their children at the mercy of society. If society informs them properly, it's fortunate. Otherwise, news of women being mistreated is something we see in the papers every day.

When a system operates within a biased framework, raising objections to individual incidents may delay or prevent change. When injustice (action) occurs against a woman, the resulting criticism or protest (reaction) often divides society into two opposing sides, each justifying their stance. When justice favors one side, the other feels disappointed. In a flawed system, true change cannot occur until the system itself is reformed.

In a flawed system, when justice favors one side, social inequality will inevitably arise. This is because people with differing opinions believe their side is right, yet they feel they have been wronged. This mindset will widen the gap between men and women. Severely punishing the offender, such as shooting or castrating them or imagining extreme punishments in anger, will not resolve the differences between both sides. Real change will not occur until the system itself is reformed.

You can light candles and offer prayers in sympathy, and you can try to explain empathy to women who experience such events. However, changing someone's mindset is a personal choice, and emotions alone will not change people's beliefs when faced with logical arguments. As long as people continue to base their ideals on an outdated system, cases of violence and oppression will not decrease.

—KirtiDev

References:

The Laws of Manu v. (n.d.). https://sacred-texts.com/hin/manu/manu05.htm

The Fountainhead - a book by Ayn Rand. (n.d.). AynRand.org. https://aynrand.org/novels/the-fountainhead/

The Project Gutenberg eBook of a Doll’s House, by Henrik Ibsen. (n.d.). https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2542/2542-h/2542-h.htm