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Clothing : A Social History
Question
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Suggest reasons why women in nineteenth century India were obliged to continue wearing traditional Indian dress even when men switched over to the more convenient Western clothing. What does this show about the position of women in society?

Answer

It was the fact that women in the 19th century continued wearing Indian dress whereas men switched over to convenient western clothing. This happened only in the upper echelons of society. Some of the reasons for this are the following:


(i) In the 19th century, Indian women were confined to the four walls as the purdah system was prevalent. They were required to put on traditional dresses.

(ii) The position of women in the society was very low. Most of them were uneducated and did not attend schools or colleges. Therefore, no need was felt to change their style of clothing.

(iii) On the other hand, upper-class Indians were western educated and picked up western habits like western style of clothing. Those who were businessmen or officials imitated the British style of clothing for the sake of comfort, modernity and progress.

(iv) The Parsis were the first Indians to adopt western style of clothing as it as a mark of modernity, liberalism and progress. Some people had two sets of clothes. They put on western clothes for offices and business work and Indian clothes for social functions.

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