South Asian Mythology and Epics and Their Impact on Gender and Gender Roles

The purpose of this thesis was to analyze the impact South Asian mythology and epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana have on modern gender roles and how modern ideals and gender roles are reshaping or reinterpreting these stories and myths. The primary mode of research for this thesis were interviews, including people of varying ages and gender. The interviews revealed that there are several generational and cultural forces that are reshaping these myths and offering different interpretations of these stories. People from the younger generation, especially those who have grown up in a more westernized culture, tend to be less reverent towards these myths and more critical in their analysis of the characters.