Hinduism

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Is the Women's Rights movement in the U.S. setting a good standard for other countries' women's rights moments?
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In Hinduism a woman’s role is clearly defined. A woman should never do anything independently. In childhood she is subject to her father. As an adult she is subject to her husband. In widowhood she is subject to her oldest son. A woman must always be cheerful, clever in the management of her household, economical, self-effacing, and self-sacrificing. She must control her thoughts, words, and deeds. A woman does have her own dignity, especially when she becomes a mother. It is even said that a mother is worth ten fathers.

In a married state a woman is wholly subject to her husband. She must revere her husband and treat him as a God. She should get up before him in the morning and go to bed after him at night. She should begin to eat only after her husband has finished. A faithful wife must never do anything to displease her husband, whether he be alive or dead. A woman is expected to be modest and have decorum. If she commits adultery she should be thrown to the dogs in a public place. If she is not a good wife to her husband after death she will enter the womb of a jackal and will be tormented by diseases.

After a woman's husband dies she is expected to be in constant mourning and never do anything to disgrace his name. She may never remarry. If she would prefer to join her husband as opposed to going through life a widow, she may throw herself onto her husband’s funeral pyre. This self-sacrifice is regarded as the highest virtue. If a man becomes a widower he is not forbidden to remarry. If a man’s wife cannot produce a son, it is his duty to marry another woman so he can continue his line. A son is a father’s second self. A husband should be tender and give kindly consideration to his wife.

In the Hindu faith there are different parts of God that manifest themselves in multiple Gods and Goddesses. These Goddesses symbolize the power of a woman. The goddess Durga was created to conquer demons. Kali is the destroyer. Lakshmi is the goddess of prosperity. Nag Kanya is the snake goddess. And Sarasvati is the goddess of arts and sciences. A woman should be kind and gentle; this does not make her weak. It takes strength to be this kind of woman. Hinduism does put a woman beneath a man, but it also reveres her as a deity.