The Dishonour of the Disrobed: Politics of the Female Body in the Mahabharata

Abstract

In the Mahahharata, which is a cornerstone text in the Hindu religion, female characters have traditionally been objectified by men, with little autonomy of their own. Although they are exalted for !their virtues these female characters are mostly valued for their physicality and are almost always exploited in the narratives, either through the misogyny of the male characters or the purposeful subjugation by the male author, Vyasa. [Peer Assessment Review]