Gender Neutrality of Traditional Thamizh Clothing

Did you know that Thamizh men and women dressed alike than different for most part of the clothing history? In association with Vitamin Stree, I illustrated three examples of gender fluid costume culture that was prevalent in ancient and medieval Thamizhagam. Read up for insights into the gender neutral history of traditional Thamizh clothing.

 

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The oldest surviving Thamizh texts composed almost 2500 years ago feature several women poets. Socio-cultural pursuits weren’t just limited to men. Much like the social roles, the costumes of Thamizh men and women didn’t vary much even up to late medieval period. Sandal wood paste was among the earliest cosmetic used by every sex in ancient Thamizh society. Men and women would also decorate their hair with flowers and use natural fragrance. Stretched earlobe piercing was a major gender neutral fashion trend especially in the kingdoms of Cholas and Pandyas. Pearl necklaces were another hot fashion trend for several centuries, worn by Thamizh people regardless of gender identities.

 

 

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In traditional Thamizh clothing, the norms of nudity itself didn’t vary between sexes. While elite women started covering their upper body with sari-drape in Northern India by late ancient period, it was an acceptable norm to leave the upper-body uncovered regardless of sex even up till the early modern history of Thamizh Nadu. Men and women dressed alike and they shared a mutual love for jewellery. Although jewellery was largely worn by every sex throughout the history of Indian subcontinent, anklets were a unique gender neutral trend in Thamizh Nadu. From the Mauryan sculptures of Sanchi and Barhut to the Satvahana arts of Amaravati and Ajanta, it is only women who are decked with anklets. However Thamizh arts depict even men wearing leg ornaments.

 

 

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Gender-neutral clothing wasn’t just a norm for royals in Thamizh history but applied even to the oppressed caste sections. Even up till the late medieval era, people covered themselves in modest animal skins, leaves, and jewellery made of sea shells and clay – however, nothing was exclusively “menswear” or “womenswear”. Men and women shared similar clothing norms and worked together in paddy fields and other social spheres.

 

Links à la Mode, November 8th, 2018

With the temperature rapidly cooling down, who’s finding themselves more prone to pressing “snooze” on their alarm clock morning after morning? Same! We can relate, which is why we are thankful for this week’s posts focusing on productivity, good habits and of course, good fashion. Take a look!

 

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13 responses to “Gender Neutrality of Traditional Thamizh Clothing”

  1. 3te 3 tarih başvuru avatar
    3te 3 tarih başvuru

    thanks for the post

  2. bollywood gyanni avatar
    bollywood gyanni

    hey, the article was really nice. I have not read something like this before. thank you.

  3. Rananjay Parmar avatar
    Rananjay Parmar

    Gгeat post. I used to be checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed!

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  4. priyanka avatar
    priyanka

    Hello,
    Very informative post.
    Thanks for sharing this post with us.

    Have a great day.
    Priyanka

  5. Nina avatar
    Nina

    Great post. Loved your work.

  6. Vicky Joseph avatar
    Vicky Joseph

    Hi,
    Thank you for sharing this informative article. I learned new things from you. It helped me a lot and I hope that it will also help others. I appreciate your efforts.
    Have a good day ahead.

  7. Sharon Rausch avatar
    Sharon Rausch

    I found your blog by chance. It’s amazing great effort. Thank you so much.

  8. James avatar
    James

    Thamizh people really seem interesting to me.. their clothes look gender neutral and you have done a great job depicting how they dressed in those Instagram pictures.

  9. Jakir avatar
    Jakir

    Thanks for information. Its really hard to collect information like this about thamizh

  10. Abir kanjilal avatar
    Abir kanjilal

    Very nicely written. Thamizh people are quite an eye-opener for us.

  11. asim shah avatar
    asim shah

    For generations, fashion has been confined within the realms of gender, focusing on accentuating and embellishing specific gender attributes, to create a ‘desirable’ statement.

  12. Da-pa-checker avatar
    Da-pa-checker

    You wrote a very amazing article I love to read this one.

  13. al maruf avatar
    al maruf

    very traditional and neutral dresses article

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