4.3. Women in Agrarian Society

As you may have observed in many different societies, the production process often involves men and women performing certain specified roles. In the contexts that we are exploring, women and men had to work shoulder to shoulder in the fields. Men tilled and ploughed, while women sowed, weeded, threshed and winnowed the harvest.

In agrarian societies, both men and women played vital roles in farming. Men primarily handled the more physically demanding tasks like tilling the soil and ploughing, which required significant strength. On the other hand, women were responsible for tasks such as sowing seeds, weeding the crops, harvesting, and preparing the grains. This division of labor highlights how their roles were complementary, with each contributing to the agricultural cycle.

Imagine a modern family farm where each member contributes differently. The father might handle the tractor and till the land, while the mother manages the vegetable garden and prepares the harvest for sale. Just like in that family, in historical contexts, both men and women had specific jobs necessary for the success of the farm.

With the growth of nucleated villages and expansion in individuated peasant farming, which characterised medieval Indian agriculture, the basis of production was the labour and resources of the entire household. Naturally, a gendered segregation between the home (for women) and the world (for men) was not possible in this context.

The advent of nucleated villages led to a more intense focus on individual households in farming. In these settings, both men and women contributed equally to agricultural output, making it impossible to separate their roles distinctly into 'home' and 'field.' Instead, their teamwork was essential to managing farm operations. This setup is indicative of how structural changes in society can lead to new forms of family dynamics and labor sharing.

Consider how in contemporary cooperative farming, families work together more closely, sharing responsibilities. For example, while one family member might focus on crop management, another might handle sales and marketing. This unity reflects the roles men and women historically played in agriculture, where their work was interdependent.

Nonetheless biases related to women’s biological functions did continue. Menstruating women, for instance, were not allowed to touch the plough or the potter’s wheel in western India, or enter the groves where betel-leaves (paan) were grown in Bengal.

Despite women's active participation in agricultural work, societal norms based on biological functions set limitations on their roles in certain tasks. Certain cultural practices led to restrictions, such as not allowing menstruating women near tools like the plough, which is considered sacred in some regions. Such restrictions underline the complexity of gender roles, as societal expectations often conflicted with women's actual contributions and capabilities.

Think of this as similar to certain workplaces today that have outdated policies about what is 'appropriate' for women, regardless of their expertise. Just like a female mechanic might face challenges based on stereotypes about women and manual labor, women in agrarian societies faced barriers that were deeply rooted in tradition and notions of purity.

Artisanal tasks such as spinning yarn, sifting and kneading clay for pottery, and embroidery were among the many aspects of production dependent on female labour. The more commercialised the product, the greater the demand on women’s labour to produce it.

Women's contributions to agriculture extended beyond farming into artisanal production. Tasks such as spinning yarn for textiles, kneading clay for pottery, and engaging in embroidery not only supported household economies but also, as products became more commercialized, women's work became increasingly essential for local and regional markets. This signifies how women's labor supported both family needs and larger economic activities.

Think of local crafts markets where handmade items are sold; women often play a vital role in production. If you visit such a market, you can see how many women create beautiful handmade goods that support their families. Similarly, in historical contexts, women infused economic dynamism through their artisan skills.

The importance attached to women as a reproductive force also meant that the fear of losing control over them was great. According to established social norms, the household was headed by a male.

In agrarian societies, women were viewed as crucial for reproduction, which contributed to the labor force needed on farms. However, this also led to strict social controls over women. Social norms dictated that men were the heads of households, which often curtailed women's autonomy and reinforced gender hierarchies. This dynamic illustrates the tension between recognizing women's contributions and controlling their roles within society.

Consider how in some cultures today, there are still strong expectations placed on women to conform to traditional roles, even when they are integral contributors. Just like women might juggle responsibilities at work and home while facing societal pressures, historically, women were valued largely for their roles in bearing children while being constrained by patriarchal norms.

Amongst the landed gentry, women had the right to inherit property. Instances from the Punjab show that women, including widows, actively participated in the rural land market as sellers of property inherited by them.

Women's rights to inherit property varied among social classes, with women from landed families having more legal rights compared to those from lower strata. In specific regions like Punjab, widows and other women actively engaged in the property market, which indicates a level of economic agency not typically associated with women in historical agrarian contexts. This points to the varying experiences of women based on their socio-economic status.

Just as today, women in many families can inherit property, these historical examples illustrate a similar pattern where women wielded agency in property transactions. For instance, consider a modern scenario where a daughter inherits a family business or land; this scenario mirrors the historical precedents where women engaged in economic activities through inheritance and ownership.

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