Woman as Portrayed in Women's Folk Songs of North India

This article is based on an empirical study of women's folk songs of North India. Songs concern female deities, ceremonial of birth and weddings, seasons and festivals, and daily chores. It is a critical analysis of the folk songs that deal with women's common wishes, unexpressed emotions, unfulfilled desires, hopes, disappointments, and their reactions to their social environment. The portrait of woman as depicted in these songs is often at variance with the conventional stereotype of an obedient, acquiescent, and conformist woman that is conjured up in one's mind. This article highlights the very important safety-valve function of these folk songs in which women are afforded an opportunity to express their bottled-up feelings and their longings in a socially acceptable form. The data of this article have been collected in India as well as Holland.