Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion, but what makes it extremely special is that some argue that the it can not be considered a religion at all due to the vast amounts of beliefs within the religion. It has hundreds of different traditions, rituals, and practices that make up the entire Hindu community. This essay will try to break down the complicated religion by looking at its popular gender roles. First, I will summarize the religion and explain a basis that fits within each segment of the Hindu culture. Second, I will describe their position on gender roles. Third, I will go into greater detail about gender roles by describing the marriage process. I will argue why this process needs to change in order to protect women and their …show more content…
It started in India, and now has spread across the world. It currently has around nine hundred million followers. (Hinduism p. 122) Because of the many different regions that the religion has spread and the huge amount of time it has had to change, many different forms of the religion have been created. “Considering the large number of religions and types of religion, Hinduism as a whole can scarcely be termed a ‘religion.’ It is more of a ‘civilization’- and indeed an extraordinary tolerant civilization, in which it was possible for number of religions to coexists in peace for hundreds of years.” (Hinduism p. 125) It would take weeks to describe all of the many different segments of the religion. However, there are “popular” beliefs that can help describe what is …show more content…
One central believe that the followers of Hinduism believe in is Dharma. They think that they are given their duty from birth and it is up to them to do what the gods have given them. The duty of women is to get married, have babies, teach religion, and please their husbands. “It was commended that the woman must never be independent; she must be subjected to the control of her father, husband, and sons or a brother if necessary. She, in turn, must not leave them, must be clever both in the management of household affairs and in cleaning her utensils.” (Rahim p. 197) This duty suppresses women and treats them as a weaker sex. Women should have the right to do what they want with their bodies and with their minds. If the Hindu society wants to flourish, then they need to give equal opportunities to both sexes. A huge step that the community can make is to get rid of the dowry custom. This tradition discourages families from wanting daughters. It gives men wealth and power, while crippling women and their families. Getting rid of the dowry can be the first huge step in making women and men equal. There is a romantic quality to the Hindu belief that men and women are married together over each lifetime that they have. It is a belief that expresses that love lasts forever, and it is one that is pure and beautiful. This idea can become pure and beautiful again if the Hindu society
Indian society was patriarchal, centered on villages and extended families dominated by males (Connections, Pg. 4). The villages, in which most people lived, were admini...
Unlike most religions, Hinduism has no specific founder, scripture or set of teachings. Hinduism has over nine hundred million followers today. The history of Hinduism is that it was found in the Indus Valley and it is an oral religion. Hindu’s believe in the three gods named Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Brahma is believed to be the creator of the world and creatures.
Gender roles and ideals in Hinduism and Buddhism are diverse. A number of texts regarding household gender roles exist in Hindu traditions, and little to none are appear to exist in Buddhist traditions. The gendering of abstract concepts in both Hinduism and Buddhism may also occur. The cases sited indicate that male dominance is significantly more common than female dominance in ancient and Classical Hindu texts while regional variations may continue to exist. Buddhists appear to internalize the gender norms of diverse regions. Mention of other gender roles are rear.
The wife 's desires for a girl also can be unselfish in their eyes by saying they are protecting them from a life of poverty since they had not yet had a son who could provide their prosperity. “Dowry deaths” are also an age old tradition that is a custom for the religion. But with the heavy problem of gendercide, the government outlawed the use of a dowry. But since tradition is so heavy and rich it still happens. The families want to live up to expectations and even if it is not “required” it still looks good for a family to compensate the other in a social standing. The problem with this is that they still see females as burdens even though there is no requirement to provide a dowry. It is the age-old tradition to give a dowry that is hurting the females. The old ways need to be adapted, and the culture itself needs to understand that it is okay not to provide a dowry. This is the only way change for females can come and ensure them a success and longevity in their
One of the most important elements in history is religions. The Hindu religion arguably began around 2,500 years before the Common Era (B.C.E.) in India. It was geographically based along the Indus River, which was called “Hindu” which the Persians named when they migrated to India. They also called the land Hindustan and its residents, Hindus. After that, the religion that had followed was called Hinduism. Today, almost around 800 million people practice the Hindu religion around the world.
In the Hindu tradition, women are to be respected and should not be mistreated since they are considered a gift from gods under a pledge. Women are also considered aspects of Nature or the embodiment of Universal Mother in her aspect of pure energy. The tradition prohibits harassment and negligence towards women and states that it is the man’s duty to protect and take care of his wife until the end. Women in the Hindu tradition play a secondary role since Hinduism is a predominantly male dominated religion. It is their duty to help their husband perform obligatory duties and enable him to continue his family tradition. It is also the wife’s duty to give birth to children and to take care of
Hinduism, also known by the name Sanatana-Dharma, is often referred to as the “oldest religion” in the world, is generally considered to be an ethnic religion and is fundamentally based on the religion of the original Aryan settlers. “Hinduism, from the Persian Hindi (Sanskrit sindhu), literally "river." Means "of the Indus Valley" or simply "Indian." Hindus call their religion sanatama dharma,"eternal religion" or "eternal truth” (“Facts on Hinduism”). It was founded around 3000 BCE, and is now considered to be the third largest religion in the world. Followers of Hinduism, which is estimated to be anywhere around 900 million, are especially concentrated in India, Nepal, and other countries throughout Asia. The broader world contact that has occurred since World War II allowed various forms of Hinduism to become more widely known and accepted. The multiple Hindu sects, including the Krishna Consciousness, have been particularly successful among young American and Europeans and claims to be adherent around the world. Hinduism is dissimilar compared to other religions, in the fact that it has no founders. This religion is considered to be permissive in creed or code as it is not necessarily coordinated in any way, even though various sects and cults are formulated. This religion is especially known for its tolerance because it is willing to accommodate those who are exceptionally religious; whether it be a Jew, Christian, or Muslim as a part of their religion. Hinduism is very transformable and accepts elements of different religion. Overtime it has even developed different aspects of both Christianity and Buddhism and incorporated them into the religion of Hinduism. Hinduism worships a multiplicity of gods; the most important in...
One of the most important elements of these religions is their history. The Hindu religion disputably began around 2500 years before the Common Era (B.C.E.) in India. It was geographically based along the Indus River, which was called “Hindu” by the Persians who had migrated there. They also called the land Hindustan and it’s inhabitants, Hindus. After that, the religion that followed was called Hinduism. Today, almost 800 million people practice the Hindu religion (Spodek, 261)
The vast majority of the population is Hindu religion and its organization and its operation is based on the centuries-old tradition and intangible principles. Among these traditions and rules, marriage is central because it is the cornerstone of the harmonious development of the Hindu society. Marriage is primarily a union between two same-class families to sustain the economic continuity and maintain the Hindu Society 's balance.
Hinduism is possibly one of the oldest religions in the world. It was founded by Aryans and has become one of the largest religions in the world, but is mostly practiced in India. This religion is unique, for there is no creator or exact date of when it began. Hinduism was simply founded by the people of India (brittanica.com). The Aryans are said to have founded the Hindu religion around 1800 B.C. Some of the platforms of Hinduism such as the Sanskrit language are said to be attributed by the Aryan people.
Hinduism is a very complicated religion from an outsiders prospective. When I think about it I never have really given any thought to what Hinduism is, so what is this religion, what do they believe in, what are the social and cultural influences and what is the desire for liberation from earthly existence?
While most traditional religions are easy to define and comprehend, Hinduism is not. It cannot be spoken about as one single entity but rather a label for many different traditions within itself that originated in India. It is the world’s third largest religion with a following of a billion people. Hinduism, at its most basic definition, is the belief in either several gods or goddess, or the belief in one God with many faces. It is a way of life that relies heavily on the ideas of cause and effect. They believe in reincarnation with a desire to be liberated from the cycle of birth and death. They believe it is the key to a lifetime of happiness, prosperity and love. While it is considered to be the oldest
Hinduism Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, after Christianity and Islam. It is a complex system of belief that claims over 900 million adherents worldwide. It is also one of the most influential religions of the world. Hinduism consists of a variety of beliefs and religious traditions that have gradually developed over thousands of years. The research discusses significant aspects of Hinduism, such as the origin, its history, and belief system.
Hindu mythology has been around for ages; it is the world’s oldest surviving religion. Hinduism was formed through diverse traditions in the year 2,000 B.C.E. There is no single person that gets the credit of developing Hindu Mythology because one person did not create it. Hinduism was originated in India, where it is the most practiced now. Hinduism has over a billion followers and about two-thirds of those people are in India. There are many temples open to worship gods and goddesses. “The needs of the gods would be met by the worshipers who have to prepare themselves through purification rites to draw near to their god” (Organ,193) Hinduism is not only the oldest religion but one of the biggest, with Islam then Christianity being above it.
Female foeticide has become a disgraceful and shocking reality of this nation. For centuries, families across many parts of India have look upon the male child as the superlative of the two sexes. A male child is seen as a blessing in the Indian society and since years people have made lavish offerings and numerous prayers in hopes for getting a son. These beliefs continue to remain even though times have changed and now much of the inequality is reducing. The Indian society recognizes a insightful faith in every individual’s right to life and dignity but this rights are dishonored when it comes to women and children in this society. A difference in a society’s ideal values and its reality is defined as a social