BODIES CALLED WOMEN - SOME THOUGHTS ON GENDER, ETHNICITY AND NATION

A notion of a defined, unalterable, definite essence operates strongly in constructing women's lives and in women constructing themselves. A ttempts are made to write this notion of unbroken tradition on the bod y of the woman so as to perceive women as carriers of authentic cultur al or national identity and guarantors of its purity. This article, wi th particular reference to participation of women in the national poli tics and the Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu, elaborates on how wo men's functioning in the outside world of politics is justified as a c ontinuation of her historical and cultural role at home.