Question

State two indicators of the declining status of women during the Later Vedic period.

Answer 1

Medieval Period is from c. 650 CE – c. 1500 CE.

1. The status of women deteriorated further in Medieval India.
2. Invasions from the Central Asian region along with zealous Brahmanical iron laws were the main cause for this degradation.
3. Freedom of women was curtailed; knowledge of the scriptures and literacy was denied to them and their status was reduced to being dependent on men throughout their lifetime.
4. Only women from upper castes and aristocracy were given education in private.
5. Widow remarriage which was permitted in the Vedic period, came to be considered taboo.
6. Women continued to be excluded from family inheritances.
7. Practices of child marriage, sati, purdah system and Devadasi system made women the objects of exploitation.
8. The patriarchal joint family, the customs of polygamy and early marriage etc. all contributed to smothering the free development and growth of women.