Widowed women have many disadvantages and are mistreated and overlooked by South Asian society. There are about 40 million widows in india. Widows are seen to be a burden and are seen to threaten marriages in indian society. Many are ignored and mistreated by their families because they are thought to have bad luck.
Widows in india are referred to by using harsh names such as “husband eater”, “prostitute” and “it” instead of “she”. According to Mohini Giri, a veteran activist for women’s rights, Becoming a widow is a social death, including women who are in higher castes. She says that women are seen as responsible for their husbands death. Widows are expected to mourn their husbands for the rest of their lives. In more traditional practices of Hinduism, widows are expected to shave their hair, get rid of their colorful saris, and no longer wear a bindi. Widowed women struggle to have a voice in society. |