Publisher's Synopsis
Women in Early Indian Societies is an anthology of excerpts from the works of authors who have shaped our understanding of gender relations in early India. Also included are papers which provide fresh insights or explore alternative paradigms and possibilities. The first section focuses on the diverse issues and perspectives in women's history so as to give the reader an overview of the implicit and explicit debates are methodological strategies and problems. The second section highlights some aspects of the material context and content of gender relations, especially in terms of property, labour, and the impact of processes such as urbanization. The third section provides samples of the socio-sexual definitions of womanhood through investigations in polyandry and prostitution, and also draws attention to the possibility of regional variations.
