Kashmiri Women through the History

Abstract

The prosperity and growth of a family, community, ethnic group or nation largely depend upon the status of females in the respective society, the respect given to them, and the liberty they enjoy in playing their roles in developmental processes. It is not only that women constitute about half of the total world population but they alsomould the habits, attitudes of males and determine the finer values and cultural ethos of the people in which they live. Thus women are the cardinal stone on which the main structure of the society rests. Kashmir is a developing region with enormous biotic and abiotic resources. Unfortunately, the utilization of these resources is more of an exploitative nature. The natural endowment in general and human resources in particular have not been used judiciously for the welfare of the people. In the tradition-bound society of Kashmir, women are denied their due and are not considered equals still. Female subordination is an essential feature of human life in all contemporary societies, although the degree and expression of male domination vary. The structural subordination of women to men becomes more manifested when the phenomenon is considered in the context of rural women. Similarly, Kashmiri rural women do not enjoy the same position as compared to their urban counterparts. They work in scorching heat, pouring rain and snowfall.