தமழ பணபடடல பணகள பதவளயல கரததரததல - ஒளவய மனனறதத ஓர உசவல / Expression of Women in Public Space in Tamil Culture - A Study through Auvai

This study seeks to answer the question of whether women are presented as public speakers in Tamil culture. How are those women portrayed? By taking Auvai as an example, the study explains how Auvai has been portrayed regarding her literary expression and the moral ideas in her works. The study revealed that literature and history have portrayed women who dared to present their opinions in public by focusing on their physique. In addition, when it is based on the subject matter, the birth and caste of women are presented before their ideology. It is revealed that Tamil culture has defined what women can and cannot do. The methodology of the study is based on select texts of Auvaiyar and from the Sangam works. The texts such as “Purananooru”, “Kurunthogai”, “Konraiventhan”, “Aathisoodi”, etc. were selected. Through them, the songs sung by Auvai and the manner she expressed herself are explained in the article. Thus, this study questions the portrayal of Auvai as an old woman in Tamil culture. In Tamil culture, there are restrictions for women on what they can or cannot speak in public. If they violate these restrictions, the woman is portrayed against homely norms and as a rude woman or as an elder woman. This is seen in the point of the physical aspect of a woman. In reality, Tamil culture needs to be restructured.