The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c6.7

c6.7

In ancient times almost in all patriarchal societies the birth of a girl was an unwelcome event. Almost everywhere the son was valued more than the daughter. He was a permanent economic asset of the family. He lived with his aged parents and did not migrate like the daughter to another family after the marriage. He perpetuated the name of his father's family. As he grew into adolescence and youth, he could offer valuable co-operation to his family, when it had either to defend itself or to attack an enemy. The daughter, on the other hand, had no fighting value whatever. It is no doubt true that women have potential military value: by giving birth to sons they contribute indirectly to the fighting strength and efficiency of their community. The primitive man, however, could not take a long view of the situation. He therefore hardly ever welcomed the advent of a daughter. In actual fighting, he found the woman a handicap rather than a help. Sometimes he abandoned her after her birth ; sometimes he even killed her. Details of these unfortunate practices can be gathered from standard works on sociology like Westermarck's *History of Human Marriage*.