<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The aim of this paper is to make a comparison between two female figures from two different religions. Vashti is one of the unsung heroines in the <italic>Book of Esther</italic> in the Hebrew Bible, while Sita in the <italic>Book of Ramayana</italic> is a revered female figure among Hindus. The tales of these women seem to display similarities in the ideals they embody and hence we endeavour to read them together. We wish to explore the extent to which Vashti and Sita’s tales of female courage and daring could inspire women today who continue to suffocate under oppressive patriarchal contexts. This is relevant to the context of Botswana, where despite global efforts to bend gender-based inequality, women continue to be victimised.</p></abstract>

The aim of this paper is to make a comparison between two female figures from two different religions. Vashti is one of the unsung heroines in the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible, while Sita in the Book of Ramayana is a revered female figure among Hindus. The tales of these women seem to display similarities in the ideals they embody and hence we endeavour to read them together. We wish to explore the extent to which Vashti and Sita’s tales of female courage and daring could inspire women today who continue to suffocate under oppressive patriarchal contexts. This is relevant to the context of Botswana, where despite global efforts to bend gender-based inequality, women continue to be victimised.

Vashti and Sita: The Daring Sisters We Could Trust

University of Botswana, Boitshoko Extension 10, Gaborone, Botswana

Gender Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Vashti and Sita: The Daring Sisters We Could Trust"}

The aim of this paper is to make a comparison between two female figures from two different religions. Vashti is one of the unsung heroines in the Book of...

Vashti and Sita: The Daring Sisters We Could Trust

Published Online: Feb 29, 2016

Page range: 83 - 94

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/genst-2016-0006

Keywords
Agni pariksha, gender-based violence Rama Sita, Vashti, Xerxes

© 2015 Mmapula D. Kebaneilwe et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Vashti and Sita: The Daring Sisters We Could Trust

Published Online: Feb 29, 2016

Page range: 83 - 94

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/genst-2016-0006

KeywordsAgni pariksha, gender-based violence Rama Sita, Vashti, Xerxes

© 2015 Mmapula D. Kebaneilwe et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Agni pariksha, gender-based violence Rama Sita, Vashti, Xerxes