Book Readings
Why were Women enslaved?
Upcoming
The reading circle turned to Periyar's Why Were Women Enslaved?, his 1942 case that the subjection of women is built and held in place by chastity, marriage, and religion, and can therefore be dismantled.
- When
- September 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM PDT
- Where
- Human Agenda, San Jose
- Participation
- Join or register
- ISBN
- 9788190357937
The circle began reading Why Were Women Enslaved?. Periyar closes his case with the question, quoted below, that opens the book to discussion:
Will rats be liberated because of cats? Will goats and cocks be liberated because of foxes? Will the wealth of Indians increase because of the British? Will the non-Brahmins attain equality because of the Brahmins? If one thinks over these questions, one can realize the truth.
Even if liberation is somehow attained in these above cases, one firmly believe that women will never attain liberation because of men.
Women shouldn’t forget the fact that the word ‘masculinity’ is itself internationally used in a manner demeaning to women. Women should remember that as long as ‘masculinity’ exists in the world, ‘femininity’ wouldn’t be respected. As long as ‘masculinity’ exists in the world, the enslavement of women will keep increasing. Unless women destroy the concept of ‘masculinity’, it is certain that they will not attain liberation.
— Thanthai Periyar (Page 62)
Topics
- Periyar
- Religion and culture
- Caste discrimination