What conclusion can be made about the change in gender structures in early India from the early Vedic Period to the late Vedic Period?

Question

A. Woman were allowed to marry after they reached puberty
B. Woman lost all rights and became second-class citizens
C. Women became socially isolated through purdah but retained rights to own property
D. Women gained higher status as they gained greater responsibilities in performing religious rituals

Answer 1

The most accurate conclusion regarding the change in gender structures in early India from the early Vedic Period to the late Vedic Period is:

C. Women became socially isolated through purdah but retained rights to own property.

During the early Vedic Period, women enjoyed relatively more freedom and were involved in various aspects of social and religious life. However, as the society transitioned into the late Vedic Period, the advent of more patriarchal norms began to restrict women's roles, leading to practices such as purdah (social seclusion). Despite these restrictions, women were still recognized as having rights to own property, reflecting a nuanced change in their status.