Position of Women

There is a plenty of information in the Sangam literature to

trace the position of women during the Sangam age. Women poets
like Avvaiyar, Nachchellaiyar, and Kakkaipadiniyar flourished in this
period and contributed to Tamil literature. The courage of women
was also appreciated in many poems. Karpu or Chaste life was
considered the highest virtue of women. Love marriage was a
common practice. Women were allowed to choose their life partners.
However, the life of widows was miserable. The practice of Sati
was also prevalent in the higher strata of society. The class of dancers
was patronized by the kings and nobles.