Suggest reasons why women in the 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?

(a) : The women in the nineteenth century India continued wearing traditional Indian dress because they were conservative Some people among the upper-classes opposed it C. Kesavan’s autobiography Jeevita Samaram recalls his mother-in-law’s first encounter with a blouse gifted by her sister-in-law in the late nineteenth century. In the encounter, she was told, “Take it off…. you want to walk around an unlike Muslim women?”
(ii) The women were confined to within the four walls of the house. They did not go out to work in offices. Their dress particularly sarees were comfortable. Attempts at devising a pan. Indian style also did not fully succed. Women of Gujarat Kodagu Kerala and Assam continued to wear different types of sari.
(iii) The caste system too restricted them to wear traditional dresses. It defined what subordinate and dominant caste Hindis should wear and eat. Changes in clothing styles, particularly among women, that threatened the norms often created violent social reactions as in the case of Shanar caste.
(b) status of women was low in the solely. There was gender inequality in India. Their sphere of duty was their home and lock after their children and other members of the Family. They were symbol of sacrifice and suffering who did everything for the welfare all the family. Their condition was miserable.