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 womens 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 womens condition? Ans. 1. Political expression of gender division and political mobilization on this question helped to improve the womens 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. Q.5 What are Feminist movements? What were their major demands? Ans. These are the movements which are organized by various women organizations to create equality for women in personal and family law. 1. These feminist movements demand equal rights for women in all spheres of life. 2. There were agitations in different countries for the extension of voting rights to women. 3. The agitations demanded enhancing the political and legal status of women. 4. The movements also demanded in improving the educational and career opportunities for the women. Q. 6. How can religion influence politics? Explain. Ans. 1. Gandhiji believed that politics must be guided by ethics drawn from all religions. 2. Ideas, ideals and values drawn from different religions can and perhaps should play a role in politics. 3. People should be able to express in politics, their needs, interests and demands as a member of a religious community. 4. Those who hold political power should sometimes be able to regulate the practice of religion

so as to prevent discrimination and oppression. 5. These political acts are not wrong as long as they treat every religion equal. Q. 7. When does the communalism problem become acute? Or What is communal politics? Explain. Ans. Religion is used in politics in exclusive and partisan terms. This manner of using religion in politics is communal politics. 1. Religion is seen as the basis of the nation. 2. When one religion and its followers are discriminated against by another. 3. When people start believing that beliefs of one religion are superior to those of other. 4. When the demands of one religious group are formed in opposition to another. 5. When the state power is used to establish the domination of one religious group over the rest. Q. 8. State any four provisions of the Indian constitution which makes it a secular state. Ans. 1. No official religion:- There is not official religion of the Indian state. Out constitution does not give a special status to any religion. 2. Fundamental Rights:- Under the Right to Freedom of Religion, our Constitution provides to all citizens freedom to profess, practice and propagate any religion, or not to follow any. 3. Equality:- The Constitution allows the state to intervene in the matters of religion in order to ensure equality within religious communities. To ensure equality, untouchability has been banned. 4. Intervention of the state within religious communities:- The Constitution allows the state to intervene in the matter of religion in order to ensure equality within religious communities. Q. 9 Explain the different aspects of life in which women are discriminated or disadvantages in India. Ans. 1. Literacy rate:- The literacy rate among women is only 54 % as compared to 76% among men. A smaller proportion of girl students go for higher studies because parents prefer to spend their resources for their boys education than spending equally on their daughter. 2. Unpaid work:- The proportion of women among the highly paid and valued jobs is still very small. Though on an average, the Indian woman works one hour more than an average man every day, but most of them are not paid equally, and therefore, their work is often not valued. 3. Sex ratio:- In many parts of India, parents prefer to have sons, and find ways to have the girl child aborted before she is born. This led to a decline in the child sex ratio. 4. Domestic violence:- There are reports of various kinds of harassment exploitations and

violence against women. Both urban as well as rural areas have become unsafe for women. They a Q. 10. Politics too influences the caste system. Explain. Ans. 1. Wide base:- Each caste tries to widen its base to gain majority. Each caste group tries to become bigger by incorporating within it, the neighbouring caste or sub-castes which were earlier excluded from it. 2. Coalition:- Various caste groups are required to enter into a coalition with other castes or communities, and thus enter into a dialogue and negotiation. This strengthens the basic structure of democracy. 3. New groups:- New kinds of caste groups have come up in the political arena like backward and forward caste groups. Q. 11. The rigid caste system is disappearing in India. Explain the major factors responsible for this. Suggest any two ways through which this can further be reduced. Ans. 1. Social reformers: Social reformers like Jotiba Phule, Gandhiji, B.R.Ambedkar, etc. advocated and worked to establish a society in which caste inequalities are absent. 2. Economic factors: With economic development, large scale urbanization, growth of literacy and education, occupational mobility and the weakening the position of landlords in the villages, the old notions of caste hierarchy are breaking down. Now, most of the time in urban areas, it does not matter much who is walking along next to us on a street or eating at the next table in a restaurant. 3. Constitution: The constitution of India prohibits discrimination of any type. It provides equal opportunities to all. 4. Fundamental Rights: Provision of fundamental rights has played a major role because these rights are provided to all the citizens without any discrimination. Q. 12. What forms can caste take in politics? Ans. 1. While choosing candidates: When parties choose candidates in elections, they keep in mind the caste composition of the electorate, and nominate candidates from different castes so as to get necessary support to win elections. 2. While forming a government: When the governments are formed, political parties usually takecare that representatives of different castes and tribes find a place in it. 3. While campaigning: Political parties and candidates in elections make appeals to people to give them their votes on the basis of caste. Some political parties are known to favor some caste, and are seen as their representatives. 4. Universal adult franchise and the principle of one-person-one-vote, has compelled the political leaders to raise the caste based issues during elections.

Q.13. Give the measures to remove the inequality of women. Ans. 1. Women should struggle for their equal rights through movements like Feminist movement. 2. Political participation should be improved by reservation of seats in the legislatures like 33 percent seats should be reserved in all Legislative Assemblies. Q.14. What are the reasons for the great change in the caste system? Ans. 1. With the economic development, large scale urbanization, growth of literacy and education, occupational mobility and the weakening of the position of the landlords in the villages, the old notions of caste hierarchy are breaking down. 2. Now, most of the times, in urban areas it does not matter much who is walking along next to us on a street or eating at the next table in a restaurant. 3. The constitution of India also prohibits any caste based discrimination and lays down the foundation of politics to reverse the injustice of the caste system. Q. 15 Examine the causes of communalism in India. Ans. 1. Historical background:- A major factor which led to the growth of communalism in India was British Imperialism. In keeping with their colon ial designs they encouraged the policy of divide and rule. The British encourage communal politics and encouraged communal politics and introduced separate electorates. 2. Socio Economic Causes:- On gaining independence India was an imbalance, stagnant and underdeveloped country. There emerged competition for the limited resources of the country. Due to poverty it is easy to mobilize people on caste, communal and religious basis to demand a better share. 3. Role of political parties:- many political parties are based on religion and use religion as a vote bank. They keep religious identity and allegiances alive. Q . 16. Caste system and politics in India cannot be separated. Justify. Ans. 1. There are many caste pressure groups which influences those who are in power by different methods to get their demands met. 2. Caste also plays an important role when candidates are nominated by political parties for a particular constituency. 3. Political parties like the DMK, AIADK and BSP have come up to protect the interests of the backward classes. Even while ministeries are formed, different castes are kept in mind. 4. The SC and ST are given reservations in educations institutions, legislatures and government

jobs. This is to remove their historically accumulated backwardness. But it has led to Strengthening the casteism and caste identity and reservation conflicts.