142. SOCIAL SCIENTIST 78). However, in India polygyny wfcs generally practised by the rich whose women remained secluded fibm production processes; and the desire to raise 'a new generation of labourers' through the birth of sons v/ould have been hazardous, as there was equal chance of daughters being born, which would have been unfortunate and a drain on the wealth of the family. The craving, for sons is more convincingly explained by the ritual need of perpetuating one's lineage and patriarchal world-view. Similarly, the assumption that endogamy was practised to limit the transmission of property through women (p. 30) is implausible. This could be an explanation for cross-cousin marriage or polyandry but caste endogamy involved a much wider marriage-circle. However, Shah's analysis of bride-wealth, dowry and stri-dhana has much to commend. She interprets stri-dhana not as woman's wealth but the wealth which goes with the woman. The last chapter entitled 'Moulding Her Will' is full of discerning remarks and discusses the circumstances as well as the manner in which women internalised the patriarchal attitudes and the ideology of pativrata, which negated their very individuality. The Making of Womanhood is indeed a thought-provoking, scholarly attempt at'conscientisation'of women. SUVIRA JAISWAL Centre for Historical Studies Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi