Practicing Success
In the patrilineal system, how were daughters viewed in contrast to sons? |
Daughters were considered more valuable than sons for the continuity of the lineage. Daughters were not considered part of the family's kinship and were often excluded from important rituals. Daughters had no claims to the household resources, unlike sons. Daughters were expected to inherit the throne in the case of kings, while sons were not. |
Daughters had no claims to the household resources, unlike sons. |
In the context of the patrilineal system, daughters held a different status compared to sons. While sons were crucial for maintaining the patrilineage and inheriting household resources, daughters were perceived differently within this structure. They did not have any claims to the resources of their natal household. However, marrying daughters into families outside their own kin was considered desirable. This practice, known as exogamy (meaning marrying outside), resulted in careful regulation of the lives of young girls and women from families of high status, ensuring they were married at the appropriate time and to suitable partners. As a consequence, the notion of kanyadana, wherein a daughter is given away in marriage by her father, was perceived as a significant religious duty. |