Chhungkuaa Hmeichhiate Mawhphurhna leh Pawimawhna: Mizo Rochun Thawnthu Aṭanga Thlirna (Role And Status Of Women In Mizo Folktales)

Abstract

This paper examines the role, responsibilities, and status of women in traditional Mizo society through an analysis of Mizo folktales. As a reflection of social norms, moral values, and gender expectations, Mizo folktales reveal a patriarchal society in which men dominated public affairs while women occupied a central position within the domestic sphere. Folktales portray the ideal woman as hardworking, loyal, and self-sacrificing, whose responsibilities include household management, weaving, cooking, child-rearing, and the transmission of cultural values. Women function as both moral guides and economic contributors, although their labour often remains unrecognized. Despite their importance within the family, women’s participation in public decision-making is limited, with authority largely vested in men. Tales such as Tualvungi and Zawlpala reflect these constraints, while narratives of Mauruangi, Kungawrhi, and Rimenhawihi reveal women’s resilience, wisdom, and agency within patriarchal structures. The study concludes that Mizo folktales depict women as indispensable to family and cultural continuity, yet largely confined to domestic roles, making folklore an important source for understanding traditional gender relations in Mizo society.