2009/06/01 by Coralynn V. Davis · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Anthropological Studies and Insights #Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies #Philippine History and Culture
paper · doi:10.1353/jaf.0.0101
openalex publication_date 2009/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
What can we learn about the way that folk storytelling operates for tellers and audience members by examining the telling of stories by characters within such narratives? I examine Maithil women's folktales in which stories of women's suffering at the hands of other women are first suppressed and later overheard by men who have the power to alleviate such suffering. Maithil women are pitted against one another in their pursuit of security and resources in the context of patrilineal formations. The solidarities such women nonetheless form—in part through sharing stories and keeping each other's secrets—serve to mitigate their suffering and maintain a counter-system of ideational patterns and practices.