Book

The gift of a virgin: women, marriage, and ritual in a Bengali society

Rutgers University PressNew Brunswick, N.J. • Published In 1982 • Pages:

By: Fruzzetti, Lina..

Abstract
This is a rich study of Bengali marriage from the women's point of view. Fruzzetti makes a complex argument regarding the importance of marriage in Bengali social system. According to Fruzzetti, women, marriage and its associated rituals are the pivot on which caste and lineage systems turn. She discusses a core set of rituals (STRIACAR) performed by women during marriage ceremony and afterwards in the home on a regular basis. She argues that the symbolism of these rituals is a key to understanding the role and status of women in Bengali society and Bengali kinship and caste system.
Subjects
Marriage
Household
Gender roles and issues
culture
Bengali
HRAF PubDate
2002
Region
Asia
Sub Region
South Asia
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnographer
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 2000
Field Date
1967-1973
Coverage Date
1967-1973
Coverage Place
Vishnupur, West Bengal, India
Notes
Lina M. Fruzzetti
Includes bibliographical references (p. 163-169) and index
LCCN
81015337
LCSH
Bengalis