Status of Women in Manipur
THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN MANIPUR
By: Ngangom Joyshree Devi
Guest Lecturer, The Imphal College, Manipur, India.
Introduction:
The Meities (Manipuris dwelling in the valley region) are patrilineal and both patrilicol and virilocal. The society is governed by a highly organised administrative system existing from very ancient times. The history of Manipur is a revealing role of the people’s love for independence. In such a society, women not only brought a human element into the masculine world of justice and law, but they also wield considerable political power which influences state politics. Esteem for women is patent in traditional judicial system where women controlled their legal affairs and women were exempt from capital punishment. To this day, solidarity based on the market centre acts politically to influence affairs of the state. While men hold political authority through competition and a rigid hierarchy, the unassigned power of women works in a formal manner rather than in an egalitarian base. The two Nupi Lans (women’s war) and several other political activities in the recent years developed in the market centres of Manipur valley and perhaps increasing strength of this political action has led to the recent incidents in Manipur which saw a new trend in the social life of women involving young unmarried girls.
Socio-Economic and Political Status of Women:
In socio-economic and political areas, women of Manipur have important roles and have high status not only in the subsistence economy but also in politics, marketing and trade. Women belong to a wider extra-domestic world, exerting political power that arises out of their socio-economic network in the market associations. Meitei women co-operate with men in public rituals almost on an equal footing and they are ordained as religious specialists and priests in traditional religious organisation. The traditional roles of women are too deep rooted in society as well as they also have a considerable voice in
By: Ngangom Joyshree Devi
Guest Lecturer, The Imphal College, Manipur, India.
Introduction:
The Meities (Manipuris dwelling in the valley region) are patrilineal and both patrilicol and virilocal. The society is governed by a highly organised administrative system existing from very ancient times. The history of Manipur is a revealing role of the people’s love for independence. In such a society, women not only brought a human element into the masculine world of justice and law, but they also wield considerable political power which influences state politics. Esteem for women is patent in traditional judicial system where women controlled their legal affairs and women were exempt from capital punishment. To this day, solidarity based on the market centre acts politically to influence affairs of the state. While men hold political authority through competition and a rigid hierarchy, the unassigned power of women works in a formal manner rather than in an egalitarian base. The two Nupi Lans (women’s war) and several other political activities in the recent years developed in the market centres of Manipur valley and perhaps increasing strength of this political action has led to the recent incidents in Manipur which saw a new trend in the social life of women involving young unmarried girls.
Socio-Economic and Political Status of Women:
In socio-economic and political areas, women of Manipur have important roles and have high status not only in the subsistence economy but also in politics, marketing and trade. Women belong to a wider extra-domestic world, exerting political power that arises out of their socio-economic network in the market associations. Meitei women co-operate with men in public rituals almost on an equal footing and they are ordained as religious specialists and priests in traditional religious organisation. The traditional roles of women are too deep rooted in society as well as they also have a considerable voice in