Abstract
Women have an indispensable role in any family as a mother, daughter, wife, sister, grandmother, and aunt. Be it a small or big family, women in all ages had a role defined by their own societies which was different for regions throughout the world. This paper tries to find out the influence of changing role of women in Kerala in the colonial context and its impact on the family system. The article discusses how women had started evolving into new roles and responsibilities in consequence to the developments and circumstances in the colonial context and leading to transformation of family.
Keywords
Redefining
Roles
Women
Transformation
Kerala
References
1. Sankarasmrithi: Laghudharmaprakashika, Part I, Bharatvilasam, Thrissur, 1906, p.63.
2. Ibid., p. 134.
3. K K N Kurup, Modern Kerala-Studies in social and agrarian relations. Mittal Publications, Delhi, 1988,p.113.
4. Jane Haggis, “ironies of Emancipation: Changing Configurations of Women’s Work in the Mission of Sisterhood to Indian Women”, No.65,Summer ,2000,pp.108-126. Downloaded from https://www.jstor.org/stable/395852. 117.204.100.207, p.112.
5. Ibid.,p.114
6. Robin. Jeffrey, “Legacies of Matriliny: The Place of Women and the "Kerala Model" Pacific Affairs, Winter, 2004/2005, Vol. 77, No. 4, pp. 647-664. This content downloaded from 43.229.89.136 on Tue, 15 Apr 2025.
7. MacLean,C D. Standing information regarding the Official Administration of the Madras Presidency, Govt. Press, Madras, 1877,p.52..
8. Travancore Government, Report on the Administration of Travancore, 1927, Govt. Press, Trivandrum, 1928, p.154.
9. Ibid., p.156.
10. Ibid., p.161.
11. Jeffrey, p.655.
12. Ibid.
13. T C Kalyani Ama was the founder of Sarada, women’s magazine started in 1904.
T Ammukutty Amma was one of the editor of Sarada, women’s magazine started in 1904
B Kalyani Amma was one of the editor of Sarada, women’s magazine started in 1904
T K Kalyanikutty Amma was the founder of Sarada magazine started in 1913.
K Chinnamma (1882-1930) held the post of Assistant Inspectress of Travancore Education Department. She also ran a school to train poor girls.
Tharavath Ammalu Amma was the first woman dramatist in Kerala.
Muthukulam Parvathi Amma (1904-1971) was a famous Malayalam poet, writer, teacher and social reformer.
Anna Chandy (1905-1996) was a writer and became the first woman judge in Kerala and first woman judge in High Court.
Haleema Beevi (1918-2000) started the magazine, Muslim Vanitha in 1938.She formed Akhila Travancore Muslim Women Conference ,
14. Parvathy Eyyakutty was the first woman to make a public speech and she was the wife of Sahodaran Ayyappan, a social reformer.
Parvathy Manazhi was the first Namboodiri woman to protest agaist purdah system among their community.
Parvathy Nenmenimangalam protested against the restriction imposed on them. She was the epresentative for Namboodiri Bill.
Arya Pallam was engaged in the activities of Yogaskshema Sabha which was a popular social reform movement protesting against the social evils among the Namboodiri community.
Gouri Antharjanam in reform activities among Namboodiri women.
15. P K K Menon,. (1972) The History of Freedom Movement in Kerala 1885-1938. Trivandrum: Govt. of Kerala, pp. 543-544
16. Mannathu Padmanahbhan, Reminiscences of my Life, Cultural Publications Department, Thiruvananthapuram, 2003, pp.69-72.
17. Kuttimalu Amma and Ammu Swaminathan belonged to Anakkara Vadakkath family, a rich family with many landed properties and members educated and employed under the British.
18. Gracy Aron, was educated and her husband who was a socially conscious man, participated in Congress related activities.
19. Kamala Prabhu, wife of freedom fighter LSS Prabhu and daughter of scholar Seshagiri Prabhu.
20. Swarnakumari Menon was daughter of U Gopala Menon, a Congress activist. She was influenced by her parents.
21. Akkamma Cherian was educated and was born in a family devoted to national movement.
22. Anne Mascarene was educated and her father was employed under the Diwan of Travancore.
23. Koothattukulam Mary was educated and belonged to a family that was nationally conscious.
24. PC Karthiyani Amma was influenced by her father and husband.
25. Meera Velayudhan, “Growth of Political Consciousness among Women in Modern Kerala”, Perspectives on Kerala History. Kerala, Gazetteer, Thiruvananthapuram,2024, p.368.
26. Ibid.,, p.506.,
27. “ Sthree Swathanthriyam”, Sarada ,no.4,Feb. 1906 , pp. 57-59..
28. Ammukutty Amma,T. “Nammude Sthreekalum English Vidyabhyasavum”, Sarada, pp. 50-52.sssss
29. Jeffrey, p.651.
30. Sheeba, K.M. “Modernity In Social Reform Discourse: The Women Question In Colonial
31. Kerala”, Proceedings of the Indian History Congress , 2002, Vol. 63 (2002), pp. 931-938
https://www.jstor.org/stable/44158163
2. Ibid., p. 134.
3. K K N Kurup, Modern Kerala-Studies in social and agrarian relations. Mittal Publications, Delhi, 1988,p.113.
4. Jane Haggis, “ironies of Emancipation: Changing Configurations of Women’s Work in the Mission of Sisterhood to Indian Women”, No.65,Summer ,2000,pp.108-126. Downloaded from https://www.jstor.org/stable/395852. 117.204.100.207, p.112.
5. Ibid.,p.114
6. Robin. Jeffrey, “Legacies of Matriliny: The Place of Women and the "Kerala Model" Pacific Affairs, Winter, 2004/2005, Vol. 77, No. 4, pp. 647-664. This content downloaded from 43.229.89.136 on Tue, 15 Apr 2025.
7. MacLean,C D. Standing information regarding the Official Administration of the Madras Presidency, Govt. Press, Madras, 1877,p.52..
8. Travancore Government, Report on the Administration of Travancore, 1927, Govt. Press, Trivandrum, 1928, p.154.
9. Ibid., p.156.
10. Ibid., p.161.
11. Jeffrey, p.655.
12. Ibid.
13. T C Kalyani Ama was the founder of Sarada, women’s magazine started in 1904.
T Ammukutty Amma was one of the editor of Sarada, women’s magazine started in 1904
B Kalyani Amma was one of the editor of Sarada, women’s magazine started in 1904
T K Kalyanikutty Amma was the founder of Sarada magazine started in 1913.
K Chinnamma (1882-1930) held the post of Assistant Inspectress of Travancore Education Department. She also ran a school to train poor girls.
Tharavath Ammalu Amma was the first woman dramatist in Kerala.
Muthukulam Parvathi Amma (1904-1971) was a famous Malayalam poet, writer, teacher and social reformer.
Anna Chandy (1905-1996) was a writer and became the first woman judge in Kerala and first woman judge in High Court.
Haleema Beevi (1918-2000) started the magazine, Muslim Vanitha in 1938.She formed Akhila Travancore Muslim Women Conference ,
14. Parvathy Eyyakutty was the first woman to make a public speech and she was the wife of Sahodaran Ayyappan, a social reformer.
Parvathy Manazhi was the first Namboodiri woman to protest agaist purdah system among their community.
Parvathy Nenmenimangalam protested against the restriction imposed on them. She was the epresentative for Namboodiri Bill.
Arya Pallam was engaged in the activities of Yogaskshema Sabha which was a popular social reform movement protesting against the social evils among the Namboodiri community.
Gouri Antharjanam in reform activities among Namboodiri women.
15. P K K Menon,. (1972) The History of Freedom Movement in Kerala 1885-1938. Trivandrum: Govt. of Kerala, pp. 543-544
16. Mannathu Padmanahbhan, Reminiscences of my Life, Cultural Publications Department, Thiruvananthapuram, 2003, pp.69-72.
17. Kuttimalu Amma and Ammu Swaminathan belonged to Anakkara Vadakkath family, a rich family with many landed properties and members educated and employed under the British.
18. Gracy Aron, was educated and her husband who was a socially conscious man, participated in Congress related activities.
19. Kamala Prabhu, wife of freedom fighter LSS Prabhu and daughter of scholar Seshagiri Prabhu.
20. Swarnakumari Menon was daughter of U Gopala Menon, a Congress activist. She was influenced by her parents.
21. Akkamma Cherian was educated and was born in a family devoted to national movement.
22. Anne Mascarene was educated and her father was employed under the Diwan of Travancore.
23. Koothattukulam Mary was educated and belonged to a family that was nationally conscious.
24. PC Karthiyani Amma was influenced by her father and husband.
25. Meera Velayudhan, “Growth of Political Consciousness among Women in Modern Kerala”, Perspectives on Kerala History. Kerala, Gazetteer, Thiruvananthapuram,2024, p.368.
26. Ibid.,, p.506.,
27. “ Sthree Swathanthriyam”, Sarada ,no.4,Feb. 1906 , pp. 57-59..
28. Ammukutty Amma,T. “Nammude Sthreekalum English Vidyabhyasavum”, Sarada, pp. 50-52.sssss
29. Jeffrey, p.651.
30. Sheeba, K.M. “Modernity In Social Reform Discourse: The Women Question In Colonial
31. Kerala”, Proceedings of the Indian History Congress , 2002, Vol. 63 (2002), pp. 931-938
https://www.jstor.org/stable/44158163
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Dr. Whyni Gopi
(2026).
Redefining Roles: Women And Transformation Of Family In Kerala.
Kerala History and Studies Journal,
1
(1)
, 137-146
.
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Dr. Whyni Gopi. "Redefining Roles: Women And Transformation Of Family In Kerala." Kerala History and Studies Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 2026, pp. 137-146.
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MLA 9th edition
Dr. Whyni Gopi. "Redefining Roles: Women And Transformation Of Family In Kerala." Kerala History and Studies Journal 1, no. 1 (2026): 137-146.
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