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Manu Smriti as the Protection of Female in Hindu Philosophy: In the Dimension of Structural-Functionalism



Author(s)

Shukra Raj Adhikari

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DOI:10.17265/2159-5313/2020.11.005

Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

In the evolutionary process of socio-cultural structure, various “memories” and codes have been created as a collection of interpretations, rules, and regulations made by various experts in social, cultural, political, and religious leaders including kings, emperors, and sages. In these contexts, this article is focused to analyze the status, power, and authority of females in terms of the explanation of Manu Smriti in the structural-functional perspective. Mostly secondary and qualitative data have been used in this article. The data have been collected through the historical content analysis method. To obtain the objective, the facts have been collected from the verses of Manu Smriti (which are related to female issues) and historical interpretation of ancient society. Collected secondary data have been analyzed through the historical content analysis method. According to the structural-functional point of view, due to the socio-cultural environment of the time in which the laws and regulations related to women have to be made, these issues seem to be more relevant, such as the permission of men for functioning, child marriage, etc. Analyzing the issues from a patriarchal point of view, the law of the time was in favor of women’s inequality and exploitation of women. The theory of patriarchy mentions that women are oppressed, exploited, and subjugated by men in the patriarchal social structure. The facts of Manu Smriti, such as women as the gods, as an indicator of respect, as a symbol of the progress, etc., are not congruent to the explanation of the theory of patriarchy.

Manu Smriti, patriarchy, protection, structural-functionalism, women

Shukra Raj Adhikari. (2020). Manu Smriti as the Protection of Female in Hindu Philosophy: In the Dimension of Structural-Functionalism. Philosophy Study, 10(11), 706-712.