தமிழக மாதரின் மறுமலர்ச்சி: சங்க காலம் முதல் சமகாலம் வரையிலான ஒரு வரலாற்று மற்றும் சமூகப் பொருளாதார ஆய்வு

The Renaissance of Tamil Women: A Historical and Socio-Economic Study from the Sangam Era to the Contemporary Period

Abstract

Feminism is not an ideology against men; rather, it is considered a revolutionary social change against the negative attitudes of men and society toward women. It is a logical truth that for a society to achieve holistic development, women—the fundamental pillars of that society—must be treated with equal rights and self-respect. As per Simone de Beauvoir’s statement, "One is not born, but rather becomes a woman," the primary objective of feminism is to break the shackles of domesticity and subjugation imposed on women since ancient times. This article provides a detailed exploration of the status of Tamil women from the Sangam era to the modern period. It describes how women, who were characterized by intellect and bravery during the Sangam period, faced social decline during the medieval era, and later experienced a renaissance through the struggles of 20th-century reformers like Thanthai Periyar. Furthermore, it provides a statistical analysis of the impact of contemporary Tamil Nadu government schemes such as 'Pudhumai Penn' and the 'Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai' (Women's Basic Income Scheme), which were implemented for women's higher education, employment, and socio-economic security. The primary objective of this paper is to explain, with evidence, the evolutionary growth in women's education, property rights, and political empowerment.