Gender relations in early India/ Vinita Chandra

Contents
1 Introduction

* Meaning of Dharma
* Sources of Dharma
* Origin and Evolution of the Dharmasastras
* Dharmasdstras: Number and Dates
* The Socio-political and Economic Life
* Religion
* Social Conditions


2 Gender Dynamics within the Household
* The Ideology of the Grha in the Dharmasastras
* Birth
* Marriage
* Forms of Marriage
* Choice Regarding the Decision to Get Married
* Dowry
* Bride Price
* Remarriage
* Death.
* Upbringing of Children
* Conjugal Relations
* Duties of the Husband/Householder
* Polygamy
* Menstrual Taboos
* Women as the Daughter-in-Law
* Motherhood 99
* Other Women as Relatives 10!
* Exclusion from the Household 102
* Adultery vs Varna Identity 104
* Adultery and Gender Identity 106
* Rape 1 14
* Husband's Death; Widowhood, Niyoga and Sati 1 15
* Desertion 123
* Opting-out of the Household 124


3. Property and Legal Rights 151
Rights 151
Ownership and Property in Ancient India 152
Concept of Law in Ancient India 154
Property Rights 154
Inheritance and Partition of Immovable Property j 55
Women's Right to Movable Property: Stnclhana (Women's Property) ^ 159
Succession to Stridhana 167
Women's Domiijion over Stridhana 171
Legal Rights 174


4. The Ideal and the Reality 186
Women in the Epics 187
Characters in the ValmJki Rdmayana 190
Characters in the Mahdhhdrata 209
Women in the Sangarn Society 233
Women in the Epigraphic Records 243
Deviations from the Norm of Ideal Wifehood 244
Deviation from the Norm Regarding the Name of Women 247
Deviations from the Norms Regarding Exogamy 248
Deviations from the Norm: Use of Metronymics 250
Deviation from the Prohibition upon Performance of Religious
Penances, or Sacrifices by Women 251
Within the Sphere of Influence: The Cases of Identity
Construction in Accordance with the Norms 252