Voices of Resistance: Gender, Power, and Agency in Mising Folktales

Abstract This paper examines the representation of gender, power, and agency in Mising folktales, with a focus on women's roles within a patriarchal society. Drawing on feminist theoretical frameworks, including Simone de Beauvoir's concept of "the Other" and Gayatri Spivak's subaltern agency, the study reveals how these narratives critique traditional gender dynamics and highlight moments of female resilience and resistance. Mising folktales such as KarpunPuli and Misings Migrated to the Plains showcase women as nurturers, strategists, and agents of change, challenging societal constraints and reimagining gender roles. Themes of survival, kinship, and ecological balance interweave with symbols of female empowerment, reflecting the community’s cultural and social ethos. The study situates Mising folktales within global feminist discourse, emphasizing their value as tools for preserving cultural identity and critiquing entrenched power structures. It further advocates for the preservation of these oral traditions as critical cultural artifacts and explores their contemporary relevance in promoting gender equity and environmental sustainability.