“Did Indian Women in Ancient India Enjoy Equal Freedom and Status in Every Aspect Compared to Men?”

Author(s)	Dr. Shubhra Aich
Country	India
Abstract	This paper critically investigates the social, political, religious, economic, and legal dimensions of women’s lives in ancient India to determine whether they enjoyed equal status and freedom compared to men. Drawing from primary sources like the Vedas, Manusmriti, Arthashastra, and Buddhist texts and engaging with contemporary scholarship, this research highlights the paradox of veneration and subordination. It argues that while idealized representations of women as goddesses and mothers existed, actual rights, choices, and agency were constrained by patriarchy, caste, and religious doctrine. The paper concludes that women in ancient India did not enjoy equal status or freedom as men in most spheres, although the degree of subordination varied across time periods and communities.
Keywords	Ancient India, women, gender roles, patriarchy, freedom, equality, Manusmriti, Vedas, status
Field	Sociology > Archaeology / History
Published In	Volume 16, Issue 3, July-September 2025
Published On	2025-07-06

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