The psychological war of sexual freedom: (Re)considering the Kamasutra to overcome the hierarchy of patriarchy

“The Kamasutra is a psychological war of independence towards erotic pleasure
that took place two thousand years ago in India” (Doniger & Kakar, 2002).

The Kamasutra was the first book to discuss gender equality in terms of sexual freedom (Anand, 2019). However, patriarchy establishes a subordinate status for women, especially in India. Indian society is highly complex, characterised by a continuously evolving hierarchical social order based on class, caste, and gender. Male authority manifests through control over women’s production, reproduction and sexuality (Manimekalai & Veeramani, 2018). Patriarchy encompasses more than merely the desire to regulate female sexuality; such control remains a fundamental ideological pillar. Therefore, women are deprived of autonomy over their bodies, as they are regarded as property and objects under male dominance (Cusmono, 2018).

Vatsyayana (author of the Kamasutra) was the first to articulate ideas fostering women’s confidence in the mid-third century, and he portrayed women as fully receptive and unafraid to live their lives independently (Nasreen, 2013). This paper looks at his writing with the support of the 2002 translation and discovers that the author challenged traditional patriarchal views that prescribed cruel punishment for women when a woman raises her voice for her own rights, and he exposed women’s education and sexual freedom (Doniger, 2016). This paper examines how the intersection of nature and culture might diminish restrictions on women’s sexual behaviour. It also explores possible reasons for the neglect of sexual liberty. Furthermore, it will analyse theoretical narratives of the Kamasutra with the aim of overcoming social patriarchal hierarchies.