Girls have to be kept home, as they grow older for safety, help at home and for marriage preparedness (p. 185). She also describes the situation of conflict as it is emerging amongst the women in these areas, especially those in the New Town. Women see the significance of 'economic independence as one of the incentives for a higher education for girls' (p. 193). However, importance and centrality of the patrifocal ideology remains strong (p.219). Although patterns of residence have changed to suit the employment pattern, women are normally expected to adjust to their husbands' family. They are expected to reside with their in-laws during some periods of time. The overall focus of the social relations, however, has stayed within the limits of a patrifocal system. The transition from one role to another for women [from daughter to wife] is still largely within these boundaries. A patrifocal joint family, as Seymour puts it, provides a support network as well as a clear sphere of responsibilities and therefore, should not be considered as subservient and oppressive (p.101). We have to, however, accept that these networks and as well as specific responsibilities for women are within extremely rigid patrifocal boundaries. Any deviations lead to ostracisation and marginalisation of such women. The experience of single and divorced women as well as widows shows that the joint family system has been anything other than oppressive and exploitative. A study of property rights in such arrangement shows further how women were always kept away from economic power and the system has always been inegalitarian and undemocratic. The poor and the low caste are more focussed with the survival issues rather than following the husbands' patriline. As Seymour puts it [cjaste, class and gender are inextricably interlinked... Only prosperous, middle and high caste families could afford to restrict their women. Poor low status families, which constitute both the agricultural labour, and urban disorganised labour. Such women's low status is, therefore, continually reinforced by their presence in the public realm.' [p. 174] Toor women must work hard in both the domestic and public realms... [T]hey experience a high rate of miscarriage and infant mortality... but from an early age girls are expected to assume women's domestic roles'. During the interviews, she was told by the middle - and upper-caste women that they found the greatest satisfaction in being 'a wife and a mother' whereas the lower status and poor women 'surviving' was the most satisfying and significant aspect of their lives (p.145). Seymour's descriptions as well as photographs bring out the