Gender and performance in South India: the ambivalent female: from the goddess strength to the women´´ s denial

Abstract

This text aims to discuss the gender issue within the traditional performances of southern India starting with the cult of the Ammans and the complex ritualistic actions that involve “keeping under control” the eruptive energies of these female deities, which includes several types of dramatic performance. An ambiguous set of signs is evidenced, which oscillate between the exaltation of this mythical female power and the suppression of its existence on the social and political level. The starting point for directing this reflection is to understand how this ambiguity is reflected in traditional performances, comprising the Devadasi tradition, the tradition of men who play female roles, the inclusion of transsexual women in this context and, finally, discussing the role of cisgender women in this theater and the importance of theatrical communities as spaces of resistance for all these individuals.