Arbeitsblatt 28

Johanna Vögeli (2005):

"Ohne śakti ist śiva nichts."

Tamilische Geschlechterbeziehungen in der Schweiz

Abstract

Tamil gender relations in Switzerland: The situation of Swiss exile favours on the one hand a change of gender-roles on the other hand it reinforces the traditional ideal of the Tamil women as virtuous and faithful wives. The need to go for work due to economical reasons changes the household-structure and gives the Tamil women a potential independence which influences the traditional power-relationships in the family. At the same time, in the dominant discourse of the first generation, which differs strongly from the hidden practices of the second generation, the traditional ideals concerning gender relations and women's roles are emphasised. Especially in the domains of religion, family and marriage, Tamil women are seen as keepers of Tamil culture, the loss of which many Tamils fear. Traditional concepts such as faithfulness towards the husband and Shakti are still important, but Tamils also question, criticise or newly define them. While some Tamil women suffer because of domestic violence, others do not only see themselves as victims of a difficult exile-situation, but are able to handle the challenges of their lives adequately. Thus tradition and change, adjustment and resistance operate simultaneously.

Keywords

Gender relations, social change, tamil women, migration, exile, Switzerland, women’s roles, household, work, religion, chastity, puberty, marriage, divorce, widow, dowry

Geschlechterbeziehungen, sozialer Wandel, tamilische Frauen, Migration, Exil, Frauen-Rollen, Haushalt, Arbeit, Religion, Keuschheit, Pubertät, Heirat, Scheidung, Witwe, Mitgift

relations de genre, transformation sociale, tamouls, diaspora, exil, Suisse, femmes, rôles de femmes, structures domestiques, travail, religion,chasteté, puberté, marriage, divorce, veuve, biens dotaux

shakti, karpu, tali, pottu, sithanam, pattini, ardhanishvara

86 Seiten.
ISBN 3-906465-28-4