All Hindus, but not equally

All Hindus, but not equally

by Cole Myers -
Number of replies: 1

think it's easiest to say that Hindu men benefit from this story. That's blatant. But also Hindu men benefit the most. Despite women having not a central role in the story, ahem Sita going away for a while, they do see a glimpse of the spotlight, although only occasionally. I will say though, that if my significant lover loved me only half as much as I loved them, that wouldn't exactly be a good relationship in my eyes. I can say with confidence that the main people the Ramayana was made for was a male audience. In English classes, they talk about considering your audience. Women in the story are very dry, relegated to loving, lusting, and chastity. Men in the story are strong, powerful, and deep. Women benefit from moments of lucidity in women's actions in the story. Men benefit from the whole story. I also feel that this story benefits the views of high caste Hindus. So I would say there is a hierarchy of beneficence. The story of the Ramayana and its characters can be viewed through the intersectionality of two things: gender and caste. 

Caste: High caste>low caste
Gender: Men>women

So there are four possibilities here. A high caste man benefits the most, a high caste woman benefits about as much as a low caste man, and a low caste woman finds little benefit. Ultimately  what benefits the most, which is completely understandable and not bad at all, is the cementing of Hindu belief into culture. 

The moralities of the people in question also come into question here. A woman who is sexual does not really benefit, as Rama kills the rakshasa who Shurpanakha for trying to entice him. (page 216)

So this comes to the question, who benefits the most? Dharma following, Hindu men of the brahmin and kshatriya castes.

In reply to Cole Myers

Re: All Hindus, but not equally

by Deleted user -
Very well put, I think you did a good job using evidence from other subjects and sources proving your point very wisely. It does seem as though that women are almost somewhat "disposable" similar to the low caste individuals. Which shows yet another reason the caste system is broken. If caste is mostly determined by financial and societal status, why are high caste women treated so poorly?