Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

History

Chapter

Ancient India: Kinship, Caste and Class

Question:

Which is NOT correct in respect of women's economic rights as per Manusmriti?

Options:

Women could claim any share in the property of father after the death of the latter only if her brother (s) agreed to sharing.

Women were allowed to retain the gifts they received on the occasion of their marriage as stridhana. This could be inherited by their children but with the permission of husband.

The Manusmriti warned women against hoarding family property, or even their own valuables, without the husband's permission.

Both 1 and 2

Correct Answer:

Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option 4 - Both 1 and 2

1- Women could claim any share in the property of father after the death of the latter only if her brother (s) agreed to sharing.

2- Women were allowed to retain the gifts they received on the occasion of their marriage as stridhana. This could be inherited by their children but with the permission of husband.

 

According to the Manusmriti, the paternal estate was to be divided equally amongst sons after the death of the parents, with a special share for the eldest. Women could not claim a share of these resources  (Correct version of Option 1). However, women were allowed to retain the gifts they received on the occasion of their marriage as stridhana (literally, a woman’s wealth). This could be inherited by their children, without the husband having any claim on it (Correct version of Option 2) .

At the same time, the Manusmriti warned women against hoarding family property, or even their own valuables, without the husband’s permission. However, cumulative evidence – both epigraphic and textual – suggests that while upper-class women may have had access to resources, land, cattle and money were generally controlled by men. In other words, social differences between men and women were sharpened because of the differences in access to resources.