Bodies Called Women-Some Thoughts On Gender, Ethnicity and Nation

A notion of a defined, unalterable, definite essence operates strongly in constructing women's lives and in women constructing themselves. Attempts are made to write this notion of unbroken tradition on the body of the woman so as to perceive women as carriers of authentic cultural or national identity and guarantors of its purity. This article, with particular reference to participation of women in the national politics and the Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu, elaborates on how women's functioning in the outside world of politics is justified as a continuation of her historical and cultural role at home.