The Primal Land Analysis

In relation to such gendered economic roles, responsibilities and subordinate status of women, it is interesting to study the economic status of women in Bonda and Paraja tribes. The novel The Primal Land, depicts indigenous customs and traditions of the Bonda people before the influence of the outside world through the narration of the local folktales and myths but the indigenous unadulterated culture of the Paraja tribe is less evident in the novel due to their assimilation with the mainstream society, unlike the Bondas. Nonetheless, the tribes share proximity spatially as well as in terms of local customs. Both the texts, help in understanding the change caused by the influence of the outside society to the indigenous culture and the resultant deteriorating status of women.
In Paraja, the status of women is visibly subordinate to men. Their work is limited within the household to serve as caretakers. Sometimes women also go outdoors to gather …show more content…
Despite living in a patriarchal society, the Bonda women enjoy a higher status in the community due to their economic roles and status. The Bondas have has a unique division of labour which lays the responsibility of providing for the family over the shoulders of the women. It understands the nature of women as natural nurtures and caretakers differently. Bondas believes that the early purus (man) and selani (woman) lived separately but come together only for union and parted when they were hungry. However, the responsibility of taking care of the awn awn (child) gave more obligations for the selani to provide for it and protect it. When the selani found it difficult to protect the child from wild beasts, she and the purus began to live together. Hence the Bondas believe it was the responsibilities of women to do productive labour and provide for the family while the man enjoys his life in freedom and without family