Bodies Called Women
Some Thoughts On Gender, Ethnicity and Nation
CS Laken
Anoiion ofa defined, unalterable, definite essence operates strongly in consiracting women's lives ard in women
constructing themselves. Attempts are made to rie this notion of unbroken tradition on the Bady ofthe woman
se as to perceive women as carriers of authentic cultural or national ideruty and guarantors of te purty. Tht
Aartce, with particular reference 0 paicipation af women i the national politics ad the Sel)-Respect Movement
{nTamil Nadu, elaborates on how womn’sfetioning inthe ouiside world polises 8 fuatified asa continuation
of her hissorical and cular role at home
no mat Pe
pcan core
seomaiaectn
cmeerman itera
Sate
isto
Suara
agancemem nesses
Reet,
paces
ween
Bars
Ses
So a we
ects,
ieee
a:
ESE ete
Time panganape me
epenmeisee
semaietiene, heats
Nigunmraigtaaye
SS
Sosy
Spas sa
Bien atrame
adie wipe tei ow
ohare
yas
ThtcwSer ak ee
Skew
Sioa
Pisin Taye
Likes:
Eakin enacts
atta ot
ears aes
Ee
ferteer she
Saat ome
satan TaS aay
‘higs io pespeive, Te ore a te son
Shotts anata wort
the meta soanry eve op prey
‘encore he es tat we ped o>
evra Ths stan following et
ne on edusen very egress. Tet
Ss ge teat heeds worn
TatSoate wooly and eda
‘ough domestic work which needed
pry sang Tha s wry the ele
tesepancelcana end weThe
ste stay fot tet thd
te of pola! intaves, bt by
‘poet women. Te advice an fw
‘ese intbemartal ooreointe
‘wife ws. The natn afte non
lr has to idan by bing pret
Hennes ate cose scl htt
“That ne song 2 efletion ofthe tines
isto sete abo. What the son abo
Keka caer of cna amon mae
fhe he yeas aut worn The sng
‘Stearman cinucne
Sleeves. For exam. he soe as
Stop going to scot Reterng to
seine ora, aca
‘Shucasonwasgute naeipreadby tise.
‘imer witht menor of he fg lor
femaleeduexlonshihtbenca referer
‘he nana bas taken op. 8 8
‘sung about ‘sadiesfirsthangsnthe morning
fdthen ni tel thee in hone
Ferlaiegnis Esucaontormorer ase
‘mating or le aliens ane.
‘te Taeu-seaingenon ou for
Semaig spn Wh hin of even
‘hey wanted omenfohavetsenthermate!
apse
‘The song lo reer oe cule of be
lca Thecalureciths te
ounry as 9 concep fo be examined
‘Spacey adgwedinwemersiesony
Inte few Ses Along ene
Pesenaton vas conser 2 Woman's
‘poral aye ete is ke
ati ac tzmes ae othe ques
food wom, Kona nota woman
‘ulcer Aron ts iensoanor
‘fetone ihe lentosme Sine wes
tos conere talent feo wean
{Tew decades age. Only 8 pea
ony voce devda ang
‘Pe dos Tne sng clade tent
fing at oe of the tne. que
$j mpogititheeentonng l onge
"Foe one wes to say hte o te
species Tae specs appr Wo
stoma whatever rae Tt hy he
Sone an cover he peri fom pi
‘ewe age anon hu ha hat nox beon
Touched yume ost. The song make
ilar tat whe satan Functon eso
ingle sncing toe ines hee
tenders to ok pom cata ing se
Dos ingireeresto as ora
Whe wor crstice can charge
‘Seren pero hres every faring
(dat nteneeryiing ic eve fee
form wth The esees tr conn he
“ral woman ssid soma?
hou wom Te aon of defied,
‘rateable dei bse (ab) 0peruas
Soap ncaa owas and
{nwomenconsnatinghemeles Incr
‘hanging and contains within Weems
‘madtadee formed ute ‘ace’ oan
‘Sihkeniadonigconttt Andatcoes
ema rhs ato fatten on
fe boay of the womae to dictate He
movements, ae, apts and
{eres onstence even whe the ba
moving login spac istry. These
‘chs a bum of teed (0 paceve
ra panal erty andes artes of
{he puny of heey: Whether is
Suge mtontoador acid,
howawomagentasif how sedrese
doesyenher ody ecomethe material
fees of debae*
2053‘he cfr domarn int fete the
Feproserting the home and the hein
Fexarie 108 1101 But wot more
isestng ond armsely mare cceplex
Shale hoe its at he evo ts
‘everr hive dene consul
Imex htie beth hore Bi
‘eet Te come an descr
The activin by otters and hy hen
Ieeveryihing veined. oer woh
Ss Dag the he ARs =
{commode im era ogo”
‘Stead femme ok Sse ea
catimton herons at elt
‘ot foraspee purse and hen OnE
toa’ fo where ty Teall elnges
Sichinepsismitions mace ao
tne pole ie oie werk ake place
Ine he outside wren este he
Filia and anal spac wih power
elmore fen melo ami tem
feaorsvp wit male leaders becoming
{ahem er hthar nd yeu bt
a morn spat the polis
‘eit se parca terms een,
Nears apy lof the se pets
st armovemen or sragae the eo
malcbondng oft ean kind whereas in
‘he cae othe female artipanin wt mokes
th partenparon beset infers of tha
254 Danza or some pode us othr
‘rAmmctadraGunshivisan hate
"no hs aie tne
proces of hargis, segotns, Seats
Sx pans wich frm nos arn
STremry and wtbcesea peste aed
Secapance nd comply um sae
Suivesate won spostoninespeaie
(shes amlnarpeoton
The method ti deledningg what is
pnt taney toe a cl
fine fe one. Woat emp one cat
{empower nite: Aad wast empoer
5 avon post of Wty can empower
aluerpono, At, sfodtcmnes wha
Hos fee hy bse
Franoweh Hae Ones 1B)
Norse the see ohn, Wl
rescsary ad poebies tape
{it peran that consamly Hae ke
Wie help
‘Teun Won
Wha is Tam sei nt sameing
tate ied Any tentang
‘esti clamees eugene
Gratamouttopesitseton Ofer
Tarn depose tend haeboguni wonder
shes beng velo te whee ose
lis sre when eoereed Tam
tte can epi o dubs Same san
i ane han ttl a cat we
row elie ariaie waco Grek
(ui [Wales 199413824 Toga eet
ani weaning tration Bai sl
the weaver om Soa ural
at any Se eas at
Shoe Rant Seaman P49
ini (ORES So wh net of Ta
ci nate tay ang ome
igen eis erate Tren
‘omit. however we ae tual talking
shout the pitino bce of lest
the police of pcking an chong ox
[erclemg wre cement the cali
tin element ne eu mo st
dunt plene ecing hetoter aod
Perea of lemon ahah ape
fer rdenipton sed on sein
oeralne tvs hi.
"Women embody aucun pica
‘the pa Tyce ty
lige sapien pontentecaabsthe mae
tig ey le gh
{RNa wis grou. The pote they
hose 1 paripte nea ary esp
them apt sven 1 thir one of what
“tie wom ad wha nots oe
‘Ste foc women are sar Bi we shall
‘Some suo aes Rave par inthe
‘anil emsyremting women The pt
Scinnaitiboctngeniswebenoperaee
slimes The pti tha hea
erm mide marry of a ale. Sore
hmisan images xi ts obsere
renin eter maps ker specs
poe ba whe seen long se
mane oul mden theese svngre