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Gender and sex

Stereotypes

Gender inequality

Causes of gender inequality

Changing trends – women’s movement

Government efforts to eradicate gender inequality

Let’s Learn

Gender and SexGender and sex are two terms that are often confused and used interchangeably. Sex refers to the biological differences between men and women whereas gender is socially acquired characteristics, roles and attributes connected to the individual’s sex; that a society considers appropriate for an individual. The different roles given to boys and girls as deemed fi t by the society they live in are known as gender. One’s understanding of gender depends on the society we live in. The roles of men and women differ throughout the world.

StereotypesStereotyping of boys and girls begins at a very young age. Buying cars as toys for boys and dolls for girls is the most common example. We assume that boys do not play with dolls and

Ria was eagerly waiting outside the operation theatre with her father and her grandparents. Her mother was due to deliver a baby very soon. The nurse came and announced that Ria’s mother had delivered a baby girl. Ria and her father were elated but she saw that her grandparents were not happy. Ria asked her grandmother “What is the matter, Grandma? Aren’t you happy that I got a baby sister?”

“I was hoping for a boy. It is important for every family to have one breadwinner in the house,” replied Ria’s grandmother.

Ria was a little sad and wondered why her grandmother said such a thing.

What is your opinion on Grandma’s reaction? Discuss in class.

Tune In

16. Gender and Women Empowerment

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girls are not happy with cars. Boys are taught to be tough whereas girls are taught to be soft and subservient to others. Most societies are of the belief that men should work and women should stay at home. Further, even if women work, they are expected to fulfi ll their roles as a home maker with no help from their male counterparts. Jobs are also stereotyped for men and women. For example, a nurse will be a woman and an engine driver a man.

Gender InequalityDiscrimination amongst men and women resulting in their unequal treatment on the basis of the gender of the individual is known as gender inequality. As we saw from the example in the beginning of the chapter, gender inequality in India begins at birth itself. A boy is believed to be good for the family as he earns for them whereas a girl is considered a burden. Gender inequality is not something that has arisen in the recent past. It has been prevalent since ages, although it has lessened since the 19th century. Earlier, man was believed to be the breadwinner whereas the woman’s role was that of a caretaker. Women were not educated, not allowed to work or voice their opinions. Child marriage was a common feature and widows were not allowed to remarry.

Many social reformers of the 19th century introduced reforms that helped to uplift the position of women in the society. Raja Rammohan Roy played a major role in the abolition of sati, a practice in which a woman burnt herself in her dead husband’s pyre. Ishwarchand Vidyasagar was instrumental in the passing of the Hindu Widows Remarriage Act in 1856. Swami Dayanand Saraswati opened many schools and colleges for women. Although steps have been taken through the years to eradicate gender inequality, it still exists in many forms in rural and urban areas. Some sections of the society are not educated enough to understand this inequality and indulge in female foeticide, that is the sex of the baby is determined in the mother’s womb and if it is detected to be a girl child the pregnancy is terminated.

Female infanticide or killing of the girl child is also prevalent in many parts of India. People in rural India pay less attention to the health of the girl child, which, in turn, results in the death of the girl child. Women who work are sometimes not given the same wages as men, although they perform the same duties. People also believe that women cannot hold high positions in society or in an organization. Let us read about some women who have broken this stereotype.

State whether the following statements are true or false.

1. Role of men and women are same throughout the world.

2. Swami Dayanand Saraswati opened many schools for women.

Rapid Round

Fig. 16.1: Gender Inequality

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Case Study – Irawati Karve Irawati Karve is a famous Indian anthropologist born in Mynjan in Burma. She was sent to a boarding school at Pune at the tender age of seven. It was at her classmate Shakuntala Paranjapye’s household where she was introduced to books in an intellectually stimulating atmosphere. She graduated in Philosophy from Fergusson College in Pune and completed her Masters in Sociology from Mumbai University.

Irawati married Dinkar Dhondo Karve, son of Maharshi Karve, the pioneer of women’s education and widow remarriage in Maharashtra. Irawati Karve went to Kaiser Wilhem Institute for Anthropology, Eugenics and Human Heredity to do her Ph.D. and

became India’s fi rst anthropologist. She taught Sociology at the Deccan College, Pune and went on to become the Head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Apart from anthropology and archaeology, she conducted research on kinship, art, folk songs and oral traditions as well.

Irawati Karve wrote many books, of which, Yuganta, a book on the main characters of Mahabharata won her the Sahitya Academy Award in 1967. Kinship Organisation in India, Hindu Society – An Interpretation are some of her other famous books. Her work made her famous in India and abroad. She was elected President of the Anthropology department of the Indian Science Congress in 1947. She was also offered a lectureship in the School of Oriental and African Studies at London University. Irawati Karve passed away on 11 August 1970 but changed the way people looked at women’s learning in modern India.

Case Study – Mahashweta DeviMahashweta Devi is a famous Indian writer and socialist. She was born in Dhaka, in present-day Bangladesh. Mahashweta Devi completed her graduation from Vishwabharati University in Santiniketan and her MA from Kolkata University. Born to literary parents, she had close connections with cultural and political organizations of Bengal. Initially, she worked as a school teacher and wrote for a journal. Nati, Hajar Churashir Ma, Rudali, Chatti Munda Evan Tar Tir and Bioscoper Baksho are some of her popular works. Her book, Jhansir Rani or the The Rani of Jhansi is the biography of the Queen of Jhansi, Rani Laxmi Bai who bravely fought against the British in 1857. Mahashweta Devi wrote about the common man, untouchables and tribal people. Mahashweta Devi has won the Padmashree

Fig. 16.3: Mahashweta Devi

Fig. 16.2: Irawati Karve

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Award, the gyanpith Award, the Sahitya Academy Award, the Padma Vibhushan and the Magsaysay Award, the Asian equivalent of a Nobel Prize, for her excellent work. Mahashweta Devi has written over a 100 books which include novels, children’s stories and plays. She is also associated with tribal organizations.

Case Study – Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain

Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain is a famous writer who opened a girls’ school in Kolkata in 1910. Although Rokeya learnt to read and write Urdu as she was from a rich family, she was not allowed to study English and Bengali. She struggled her way to learn these languages and published her famous book, Sultana’s Dream in 1905.

Sarojini Naidu, Indira Gandhi, P.T. Usha, etc. are some of the names amongst many Indian women who have broken stereotypes to become great achievers in their respective fi elds.

Did You Know

Fig. 16.5: Laxmi Lakra

Laxmi Lakra, a woman from a tribal village in Jharkhand is the fi rst woman engine driver for Northern Railways in India at the age of 27. Although from a government school, she went to get a degree in electronics though she faced many hardships in life.

Causes of Gender Inequality

Many factors are responsible for gender inequality in India. During the Rig Vedic period in ancient India, women were respected and given equal status as men. They were allowed to participate in meetings and religious ceremonies. Women were educated and some composed hymns too. Widows were allowed to remarry and had an equal share in their husband’s and father’s property.

The Later Vedic period witnessed the deterioration of women’s status in society. Women were considered inferior to men. They were not granted any share in their husband’s or father’s property. Women were denied education and many restrictions were imposed on them. This tradition and belief has been handed down for generations. As studied earlier, girls are believed to be a burden as they go to their in-laws house whereas a boy is welcomed as he is believed to be the breadwinner of the house. These factors have led to other issues such as neglect of female health and education. Illiteracy and attitude towards women is a major cause of gender inequality.

Fig. 16.4: Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain

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Schools in rural India are not located near the villages which restrict the number of girls that attend the school. Girls belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes drop out of schools because of the ill treatment meted out to them by others. People in general, as well as the mass media reinforce stereotypes which makes it diffi cult for people to change their views. Women are not portrayed as an individual; they are always shown as ideal daughters, wives, sisters and mothers.

1. Name a famous writer who opened a school in Kolkata in 1910.

2. How do schools located far from the villages reduce the number of girls that attend school?

Rapid Round

Changing Trends – Women’s MovementGone are the days when the work of women at home was considered unproductive. Men and people in general have realized the value of women not only as a homemaker, but also their progress in all walks of life. Women’s education has been given top priority. Women themselves are eager to participate in all spheres of life and fi nd new ways to maintain a good balance between home and work.

Provision of equal opportunities to women in social, economic and political fi elds is termed as women empowerment. Educated men themselves have supported the cause of women empowerment. This change in the attitude of women and men has not taken place overnight. As read earlier, this changing trend started way back in the 19th century when social reformers such as Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwarchand Vidyasagar, Swami Dayanand saraswati, etc. appeared on the national scene. These social reformers were supported by women such as

Fig. 16.6: Women participate in all spheres of life and strike a good balance between home and work Fig. 16.7: Women Demanding Justice

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Annie Besant, Pandita Ramabai and Sarojini Naidu over the years. This struggle to bring about these changes is known as women’s movement.

Women have opposed gender discrimination and violence against them through rallies, campaigns, protests and through showing solidarity for women’s causes. Women in rural India have also participated in women’s movements and have shown remarkable progress. They work hand to hand with men in the fi elds, factories, handicrafts, etc.

Government Efforts to Eradicate Gender Inequality

The Government has upheld the cause of women empowerment and women’s movement in many ways. It has passed many laws that abolish social evils such as sati, dowry, child marriage, female foeticide, female infanticide, etc.

The Government has passed laws raising the minimum age of marriage to 18 years and legalising widow remarriage.

The Government has taken steps to promote education which is one of the major causes of gender inequality in India.

The Girl Child Protection Scheme was launched by the Government to protect the girl child.

Laws have been passed that grant equal share to women in their husband’s and father’s property.

Programmes have also been launched to increase economic opportunities for women.

Tickle Your BrainThe Government has launched many schemes for eradication of gender inequality. Could you give two reasons as to why is gender inequality still prevalent in our society?

Word Galaxy

foeticide – the crime of killing a baby that has not yet been born infanticide – the crime of killing a child stereotype – a set idea that people have about what someone or something is like, especially an idea that is wrong subservient – willing to do what other people want, or considering your wishes as less important than those of other people

Fig. 16.8: ‘Save the Girl Child’ is one of the initiatives started by the Government of India to improve the

status of Girl Child.

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Concept Map

Let’s Exercise

1. Choose the appropriate option.

a) are the two terms that are often used interchangeably.

i) Sex and equality ii) Gender and sexiii) Sex and inequality iv) Gender and inequality

b) The Hindu Widows Remarriage Act was passed in .

i) 1826 ii) 1836iii) 1846 iv) 1856

c) Women have protested against gender discrimination through .

i) rallies ii) protests iii) campaigns iv) all of the above

2. Fill in the blanks.

a) Boys were believed to be the of the house during earlier times.

b) , and are some Indian women who broke stereotypes to become great achievers.

c) is one of the major causes of gender discrimination in India.

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3. Match the columns.

Column A Column B

a) Raja Rammohan Roy i) Upheld the cause of widow remarriage

b) Irawati Karve ii) Winner of Magsaysay Award

c) Mahashweta Devi iii) India’s fi rst woman anthropologist

d) Ishwarchand Vidyasagar iv) Abolition of sati

4. Answer the following questions in 10 to 20 words.

a) How does gender differ from sex?

b) What do you understand by the term ‘widow remarriage’?

c) Explain the term ‘stereotype’.

5. Answer the following questions in 50 to 70 words.a) Write a brief note on gender inequality and its causes.

b) How is gender inequality connected to the other forms of social inequality?

c) What are the different steps taken by the government to eradicate gender inequality?

d) Write about the Women’s Movement.

6. Picture Study

What do you think the women in this picture are protesting against? Why?

7. We have studied that men and women have obstructed the path of women’s empowerment. Can you think of three reasons why women themselves have opposed women’s empowerment?

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8. Life Skills

Do you think housework is only meant for women? Give reasons to support your answer.

Do it to know it!

9. Creative Writing: Write an article for a newspaper, emphasising the importance of education in every sphere of life.

10. Make a Pamphlet: Find out about any two schemes launched by the government in the last fi ve years to promote women’s empowerment and make a pamphlet on the same.

11. Art Frenzy: On a chart paper, make a banner promoting any one of the women’s causes that you think is important today.

WEBLINKS

http://nari.nic.in/types-violence-against-women

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/mbErel.aspx?relid=116872

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P_A_51VTCk As on 30/04/2019