Conclusion

The women of rural South Asia are by no means helpless pawns of an oppressive society and culture: the discussion in this book helps us to understand the various domains in which these women manifest their power (shakti) even when they face daunting challenges from inhibiting traditions, exploitation by males (and in some cases by other women) in their society, and the actions of corrupt officials of governments legally and constitutionally dedicated to removing exploitative and oppressive policies and behavior based on distinctions of caste, ethnicity, and gender. The women in this study have been shown to be strategic actors who identify and use opportunities to create changes for their self-advancement and to empower others. These rural women have taken initiatives to enhance their autonomy, create alliances, and challenge restrictive social hierarchies in order to increase the visibility of women in public and private spaces. Rural South Asian women have been engaged in complex negotiations about their status, have enhanced their self-esteem, and have increased their capacity to effect more changes than previously, when they looked up to men to bring about such changes.