Women, Folk-Culture and Environment

Women were the common repositories of these oral folk narratives. It is possible that the female narrators too internalized the patriarchal ideology and paid a major role in enforcing taboos against women. Within the body of folklore there is a strong current of subversion of patriarchal values. Within the heart of a patriarchal society the folklore often carries a register of femino-centric attitudes, approaches, even protests. The ambivalence in the perception of the society regarding women are particularly borne out by the schism in the imagination about mother-deities and the preponderance of angry or fearsome deities who have to be propitiated, though not loved. In feminist folklore the behavior pattern that is seen to be natural and proper for both men and women are studied. These roles are not only seen at home but also within the limits of work, religion, society, performance and recreation and government. According to this study an individual's behavior, relationships, attitudes are strongly influenced by culture. Women can help in keeping the village environment clean and pollution-free.