Question

Status of women in India during Later Vedic Period.

Answer 1

1. The Later Vedic period witnessed a decline in the status of women in society.
2. Women became doubly oppressed as the caste system became entrenched and the varna system turned into an oppressive Jati (caste) system. 
3. The education for girls was stopped, so was the sacrament of upanayana (thread ceremony) which initiated them into the Gurukul.
4. It was replaced with marriage (vivaha) and more so, child marriage. Marriage now became the only sacrament (samskar) permissible for women. 
5. Women were now restricted to household duties and were barred from attending social assemblies. They were reduced to a subordinate status in the household.
6. The family system continued to be patriarchal and descent was patrilineal. Women were more rigidly subjected to the three obedience, viz. father (before marriage), husband (after marriage) and son (after the husband’s death).
7. The birth of a daughter began to be looked down upon and there is evidence to suggest the beginning of the practice of dowry.
8. The Gautam-Dharma Sutra advocated that girls should be married off before attaining puberty so as to ensure purity and chastity.