The power to pollute and the power to preserve: perceptions of female power in a Hindu village.

In traditional Hindu village society, women are seen as having the power to pollute men. Such beliefs denigrate certain aspects of female sexuality. A detailed examination of these beliefs reveals that female sexuality is only associated with pollution and negative forces when women become estranged from men through their biology or other circumstances. When associated with pollution women are perceived as being in danger as well as endangering others. In contrast when women identify their interests with men's they are not in danger and can exercise positively valued powers such as the power to preserve life. The nexus of beliefs connected with female pollution and other mystical powers encourages women to subordinate their interests to men's.