Hidden Identity of Women in Church and Society: A Re-reading of the Book of Esther

Identity formation is a constructive process; and there are often subtle influences that create (or recreate) human identities. Identity is an essential ingredient of human existence. It is both unique and common. However, generalization of identities can play a major role in the suppression of human dignity. It is from this prism, the identity of women both in India and elsewhere is often construed. "Women are weaker vessels;" "they are inferior, subordinate beings existing only for the pleasure and use of men;" etc., are the common notions (created) about women. Now, such entrenched identities are constructed and imposed by a patriarchal mind-set, which is so prevalent in our families, societies and even churches.

The author of the book, Dr. Atula Ao, picks up such a constructed identity of two women in the biblical narrative and tries to analyse it from the prism of women's identity formation, which in this case is a pure patriarchal construction. The story of the book of Esther is: the vamp' - Vashti versus the 'ideal' - Esther. Now, interestingly, these two identities are constructed and propagated by the patriarchal structures of the time. Intriguingly, these identities find a common platform even in the twenty-first century.

**Contents and Sample Pages**