Chapter 4 - Gender, Religion And Caste
Sexual division of labour:- A system in which all work inside the home is either done by the women of the family, or organized by them through the labour of domestic workers.
Feminist:- A woman or a man who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men.
Patriarchy:- Literally, rule by father, this concept is used to refer to a system that values men more, and gives them power over women.
Family Law:- Those laws that deal with family related matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, etc. In our country, different family laws apply to followers of different religions.
Urbanization:- Shift of population from rural areas to urban areas.
Occupational mobility:- Shift from one occupation to another, usually when a new generation takes up occupations other than those practiced by their ancestors.
Sex ratio:- Number of girl children per thousand boys.
Gender division:- It is a form of hierarchical social division based on social expectations and stereotypes.
Secular State:- A state which has no official religion of its own is known as the secular state. The secular state provides religious equality and equal status to all religions.
Secularism:- Secularism is an ideology which deals with the equal status to all religions and prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion. It implies religious freedom. People enjoy the right to preach, practice or profess a religion of their choice.
Untouchability:- A state of affairs in which some backward and lower caste people are treated as outcaste people, untouchables. They are not allowed to mingle with so-called upper caste.
Social changes:- Social changes signifies the modification which takes place in the lifestyle of people. i.e., the mode of living, the social status, and cultural changes.
Q. 1 Mention any four steps which can be undertaken to improve the women’s representation in politics.
Ans.
1. To make it legally binding to have a fair proportion of women in the elected bodies.
2. By reserving some seats in the Lok Sabha and the State assemblies for women.
3. Political parties should also give due representation to women members.
4. By raising the literacy rate.
Q. 2. How have feminist movements helped in improving women’s condition?
Ans.
1.
Political expression of gender division and political mobilization on this question helped to improve the women’s role in public life.
2. Now women are working in occupations such as scientists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, managers, and college and university teachers which were earlier not considered suitable for women.
3. In some parts of the world, for example, in the Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Norway and Finland, the participation of women in public life is very high.
Q. 3. Mention any positive role of caste politics.
Ans.
1.Caste politics helped people from the Dalits and the OBC castes to gain better access to decision making.
2. Several political and non-political organizations have been demanding and agitating for the end of discrimination against particular castes, for more dignity and more access to land, resources and opportunities.
Q. 4 Discuss the sexual division of labour.
Ans.
1. The sexual division of labour is not a new phenomenon. It has been under practice for time, immemorial.
2. The result of this division of labour is that women have been confined to a private domain of family, while the public domain has been monopolized by the men.
3. Although women constitute half of the population of the world, their role in public life especially politics is minimum in most of the societies.
4. Though the role of women in world politics is increasing but still, it is male dominating.
