Includes bibliographical references (p. [203]-206) and index.

Foreward; Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Childhood and Adolescence; 3. Marriage; 4. Later Years and Old Age; 5. Conclusions; 6. Afterword; Appendix; Notes; References; Index.

Drawing on personal experiences and interviews with others, Roy explores the frustrations and rewards in the lives of Hindu Bengali women in upper and upper-middle class families in India. Roy traces the psychological dimensions of these women as they play their specific roles, including daughter, wife, mother, and sister-in-law. In a new Afterword, Roy discusses changes in Bengali society and culture over the last two decades which have direct bearings on women's lives: divorce and the breakup of the joint family, education, increasing Westernization via television and women's magazines, and.

Description based on print version record.