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Politics of Dominance in Meitei Society
The play of domination and subordination between men and women in segregated spaces conveys a “flexible” patriarchal social structure, which does not impose complete male dominance or complete subordination of women but permits cross-gender role play by women in select spheres.
In traditional, patriarchal societies, the culturally constructed role for women places them in the domestic sphere and prevents them from undertaking social, economic, and political activities designated for men. The inegalitarian socio-economic structures of patriarchy do not permit cross-gender role play. The conception of women’s role as the duty to marry, bear children, and be devoted to their husbands, remains the traditional ideal of a patriarchal society. Across all traditional societies, gender roles assigned to women are more or less similar with prevalent social beliefs and mores dictating the dos and don’ts for men and women and allocating gender roles. However, in some traditional societies, such as the Japanese and Slovenian among others, women have started undertaking non-traditional roles lately (Welter et al 2006; Sugimoto 2010). Today, there is increased participation by women in social, economic, and political activities and workplaces in male-dominated society while continuing to perform traditional roles at home and this changing position can no longer be ignored.
Gender Roles among the Meiteis
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