ABSTRACT
Folk songs are repositories of cultural heritage and social structures. In the field of Gender studies and sociology, many feminist studies have been done on folk songs. In the case of Magahi Folk Songs, there is a dearth of much research. Sohar songs are mostly about the women, by the women and for the women. There are underlying patriarchal frameworks in these songs that lead to the subordination of women. Yet, the Sohar songs also serve as an agency of subtle resistance. This is studied with the help of Deniz Kandiyoti's theory of Patriarchal Bargain, which conceptualises women's strategies to negotiate with patriarchy to better their position within the household. So, the women also try to bargain with men and other women to play the role of patriarch. The study shows that the gender norms and roles are propagated through Magahi Sohar songs. The patriarchal principles in these songs and patriarchal negotiations enable women be resilient and speak up. It concludes with the potential for further research in Magahi folk literature and other regions to better understand embedded cultural values and how we can sustainably improve women's lives.
