The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c15.s2.21

c15.s2.21

We have now finished our general survey of the dress and ornaments of Hindu women. To some extent it will be also helpful in understanding the general position of women in society. Nature has endowed women with a more artistic and aesthetic temparament than men. All over the world they therefore generally take immense interest in personal decoration by wearing attractive dress and fine ornaments. Hindu society had recognised this fact and given full lattitude to women in this respect. Hindu women had never any ground to complain that their natural tastes and inclinations in the sphere of dress and ornaments were thwarted by an insufficient provision in the family budget. The atmosphere in society was such that the Hindu wife could generally carry out most of her plans about the purchase of ornaments and jewelry, even if her husband were somewhat lukewarm in the matter. The theory of her perpetual tutelage, which we shall discuss in detail in the next chapter, did not stand in her way in this matter.