Gender Roles In Hinduism And Hinduism

We are all like clay pots composed of clay (the infinite) declares a Sruti text defining the overall principle of understanding atman or self (Rambachan 101). “In the image of God He created them; male and female” Genesis [1:27]. Whether in Hinduism or Christianity scripture clearly implies males and females are created from identical matter and that liberation emanates through equivalent means. Advaita teacher, Ramana Maharshi summarized the Bhagavadagita 5:18-19 teaching by stating “knowledge and deliverance do not differ between sexes” (Rambachan 103). While Christians believe salvation comes to everyone who accepts Jesus as their savior. These doctrinal premises allow religious leaders to advocate for spiritual equality, yet gender inequality embodied as prescribed …show more content…
In Christianity, scriptural text “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands” Ephesians [5:22] justifies patriarchal gender roles. Furthermore, these gender roles are still enforced by church authorities today in the traditional Christian weddings vows. Likewise, Hindu Smriti texts are often cited to validate justifications for prescribed gender roles. One aspect of the Law of Manu emphasizes that virtue in a woman is being a subservient wife (Rambachan 93). This belief is paralleled in epic stories Mahabharata and Ramayana where characters Sita, Draupadi, and Gandhari are superficially represented as submissive wives and mothers (Das 123). Specifically, women are held in the highest esteem when portrayed as wives and mothers. This traditional role of treating her husband as “Lord” to enable a wife to fulfill dharma and achieve liberation was endorsed by spiritual leaders, which further entrenched these gender roles. Ma stated, “Do as I say not as I do” concerning a wife’s duty to serve her husband (Hallstrom181). In addition, Gandhi vividly described the spheres of male and female work (Rambachan