More than Bricks and Cement: Building a House and a Good Family Life

Chapter 5, titled ‘More than Bricks and Cement’, highlights women’s ongoing efforts to embody the roles of good wives and mothers within the village. The central argument of this chapter posits that houses in the village are hierarchically positioned based on the perceived quality of family life within each household. As such, these houses serve as symbols of not only women’s endeavours to uphold their own public image but also that of their families. The chapter explores how women, in their quest for status within the village, strive to maintain a reputation for fostering a ‘good family life’. Within this framework, women strategically leverage their homes to address everyday challenges, often attributing blame to the house itself. These efforts often earn public praise for women, earning them the label of ‘courageous women’ (diriya katak). Despite the hardships endured by women in these pursuits, they consider it worthwhile as it allows them to align with societal expectations of womanhood. Furthermore, the chapter argues that women form deep emotional bonds with their homes, viewing them as more than just physical structures but as public representations of their virtue and status as dutiful wives within the community. Ultimately, the house becomes a tangible embodiment of a woman’s identity and her commitment to fulfilling societal roles and expectations.