Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class Sociology Book Solutions Chapter 6 Gender Inequalities Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
PSEB Solutions for Class 12 Sociology Chapter 6 Gender Inequalities
Sociology Guide for Class 12 PSEB Gender Inequalities Textbook Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Gender relations refer to:
(a) Inequality between men and women.
(b) Between male power and female power.
(c) Dominance of male power and female power.
(d) All of the above.
Answer:
(b) Between male power and female power.
2. Transgender means:
(a) Male
(b) Female
(c) Third Gender
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(c) Third Gender
3. The Sociologist Theory of feminism was given by:
(a) Karl Marx
(b) Auguste Comte
(c) Weber
(d) Emile Durkheim
Answer:
(a) Karl Marx
4. Gender discrimination is:
(a) Behaviour subordination
(b) Exclusion
(c) Non-Participation
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(d) All of the above
5. Sex ratio means:
(а) Number of females per 1000 males
(b) Number of males per 1000 males
(c) Number of children per 1000 females
(d) Number of females and males.
Answer:
(a) Number of females per 1000 males
Fill in the Blanks:
1. …………….. means the rule of the father in a male-dominated family.
Answer:
Patriarch
2. The basic issue associated with …………………. is women subordination.
Answer:
Feminism
3. ……………….. feminism focuses on the universal nature of patriarchy.
Answer:
Marxist
4. The …………………. family is patriarchal.
Answer:
male-dominated
5. The census of India of 2011 reveals that there are …………………… females against 1000 males.
Answer:
943
True/False:
1. Gender socialisation institutionalised women’s subordination.
Answer:
True
2. Sex ratio refers to male per 1000 females.
Answer:
False
3. Transgender refers to the category of persons who have attributes of both male and female.
Answer:
True
4. Liberal feminism believes that all individuals are important and equal.
Answer:
True
Match the Columns:
| Column A | Column B |
| Sex | Rule of father |
| Patriarchy | Expected attitudes and behaviour |
| Simone de Beauvoir | Biological category |
| Gender role | Vindication of the rights of women |
| Wollstonecraft | The second sex |
Answer:
| Column A | Column B |
| Sex | Biological category |
| Patriarchy | Rule of father |
| Simone de Beauvoir | The second sex |
| Gender role | Expected attitudes and behavior |
| Wollstonecraft | Vindication of the rights of women |
Very Short Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
Which is a socially and culturally constructed process?
Answer:
Gender is a socially and culturally constructed process.
Question 2.
Give the term for a male-dominated family.
Answer:
Patriarchal family.
Question 3.
A number of female children (0-6 years) per 1000 male children is known as?
Answer:
Child sex ratio.
Question 4.
Define the term which refers to the number of females per 1000 males.
Answer:
Sex ratio.
Question 5.
Define Sex.
Answer:
Sex is a biological word that clearly defines the difference between males and females.
Question 6.
Define Gender.
Answer:
Word Gender is made by society. It means that behaviour is made with social customs.
Question 7.
What do you mean by gender relations?
Answer:
Gender relations are the relations between men and women based on ideological, cultural, political and economic issues.
Question 8.
What is patriarchy?
Answer:
It is the social system ruled by the father. His order is followed by all and family runs on his name.
Short Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
What is the difference between the term sex and gender?
Answer:
Word sex is a biological term used to show difference between man and woman. Gender is a concept made by society which means that behaviour made with the help of social customs.
Question 2.
What do you mean by gender inequality?
Answer:
In our society, discrimination takes place between man and woman on the basis of sex. Males are given all the rights but females are not given all the rights although they are provided by the Constitution. This is known as gender inequality.
Question 3.
Is gender socialisation a symbol of discrimination?
Answer:
Yes, gender socialisation is actually a symbol of discrimination because right from their childhood, children are taught according to their sex. They are expected to behave according to the rules made for their sex and it clearly shows discrimination.
Question 4.
Is violence against women a consequence of patriarchy?
Answer:
Our social system is patriarchal in nature in which males dominate and take all important decisions of family. Girls are taught that they are weaker than boys and they take advantage of this. Consequently, they commit violence against girls.
Long Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
What is the theory of feminism?
Answer:
Feminism is a collection of movements and ideologies whose aim was to define, establish and protect political, economic and social rights of women. This also includes the demand of establishing equal chances for them in the educational and employment sector. Major objective of feminist theories was to understand nature and reasons of gender inequality and to explain its effects on the politics of gender discrimination and theories of power equilibrium.
Question 2.
Give examples of gender discrimination in public sphere.
Or
Write some features of gender discrimination in India.
Answer:
There is no denying the fact that there exists gender discrimination in public sphere. The meaning of public sphere is politics. If we look at the percentage of female participation in country’s politics then we can easily say that it is quite less. In the Indian Parliament, the number of elected women M.P.’s never exceed 15% of the total membership. This number was less than 12% in first 15 Lok Sabhas. It clearly shows us an example of gender discrimination. A bill to give 33% reservation was introduced in the Parliament long long ago but is yet to get the nod. It also shows us about gender discrimination. One third of the total seats are reserved for women in local self bodies but the actual work is done by their husbands which clearly explains about gender discrimination.
Question 3.
What is the role of caste in gender discrimination?
Answer:
If we look at the histroy of Indian history, we can clearly observe that the major reason of gender discrimination is caste system. When there was no caste system, women had many rights and they enjoyed high status in society. But with the advent of caste system, their social status started declining. In caste system, they were considered impure and many disabilities were attached with them. Their condition further deteriorated with child marriage, caste system etc. During medieval period, caste system imposed many restrictions on females to save them from Muslims. This further deteriorated their condition. Sati pratha and polygamy continued with the work. In this way we can say that caste system played a very important role in increasing gender discrimination.
Question 4.
What is the role of religion in gender discrimination?
Answer:
We cannot deny the role of religion in gender discrimination. Religion played a great role in increasing gender discrimination in society. Due to religion and caste, females were designated as impure. During few days of a month, they were restricted to enter temples or to do religious functions. Such customs are practised even in present age. Even today, there are few temples in which female entry is still banned because of the disabilities attached with them. When foreign invaders attacked India, many religions imposed many restrictions on females and such restrictions are continued till today. Yet, with education, the impact of religion is decreasing but still people do not prefer to work against religion and it becomes one of the reasons of gender discrimination.
Question 5.
Write a note on gender socialisation in Rural India and in Urban India.
Or
Discuss the concept of Gender Socialisation.
Answer:
In gender socialisation, children are told to behave according to their sex. Girls are told to wear proper dress, to have girls as friends and to remain within their limits and are told to maintain family prestige. This becomes one reason of gender discrimination. Gender discrimination lies within the sphere of gender socialisation. This happens a great deal in rural areas because people are less educated and attached with the traditional customs. Yet, the literacy rate in urban areas has moyed upwards, even then girls are told to behave in a specific way so that they must remain within their limits. All this helps in increasing gender discrimination.
Very Long Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
Describe important theories of Feminism.
Or
Describe in detail the Marxist theory of Feminism.
Or
Discuss Marxist Feminism.
Or
Discuss Liberal theory of Feminism.
Or
Write note on Radical and Liberal Feminism.
Or
Explain Marxist Feminism Theory.
Answer:
Feminism is a collection of movements and ideologies whose aim was to define, establish and protect political, economic and social rights of women. This also includes the demand of establishing equal chances for them in the educational and employment sector. Major objective of feminist theories was to understand nature and reasons of gender inequality and to explain its effects on the politics of gender discrimination and theories of power equilibrium.
Feminism is an ideology in which we can include many views such as Marxist Feminism, Radical Feminism, Liberal Feminism etc. These theories actually stress on patriarchy and form the logic of women’s movement. Major issue of feminism is attached with the subordination of women. Major feminist theories are given below:
1. Marxist Feminism. This theory is derived out of Karl Marx’s socialist theory. This theory tells us that how the female exploitation has been built systematically into the structure of society. He concentrated on the relations between patriarchy and capitalism. According to Marx, women oppression is the consequence of ideological domination which comes out of economic activities. According to Friedrich Engels, great changes came in the status of women development of capitalism and advent of individual property. He believed that female activities were confined only within the family but bourgeoisie .family was patriarchal and based on exploitation since men tried to ensure that property must be passed only to their sons.
2. Liberal Feminism. The followers of radical feminism believed that all the humans are equal. So, they should be equally treated. Mary Wallstonecraft wrote a book called “Vindication of the Rights of Women’ in 1972 and this was the first book of modern feminism which supported the women’s right to vote. Wallstonecraft wrote that if women gained education according to their natural rights, thre will be no importance of gender in political and social sectors.
3. Radical Feminism: This theory concentrates on the universal nature of patriarchy and tells that males play a very important role in oppressing women. Simone de Beauvior wrote a book called “The Second Sex’ in which she wrote that “Women are made, not born.” She believed that with the existence of abortion rights, control on birth rate and end of monogamy will give them more right over their body. Supporters of this theory believed that the basis of women exploitation is their reproductive capacity which is controlled by men. They also believed that patriarchy is not natural or necessary but its roots are attached with biology. Females can get liberation if gender differences could be removed.
Question 2.
Women are not born, they are made.’ Comment.
Answer:
Existentialists have the view that humans are not born but they are the results of our alternatives because we make ourselves with our own means and the means available in society. Simone de Beauvior wrote a book ‘The Second Sex’ in which she gave an unclear picture of human independence that with what disabilities females live due to their body. In this book, she also wrote that how female looks at the changes coming in her body. Here she looks at woman’s body as a facility and disability and female as an independent and a suppressed person. Actually, it depends upon a female that how does she look at herself, as an independent thing or a thing gazed by society.
Few individuals are of the view that a female is a good object whose definition is written by us. De Beauvior takes up the same issue and applies it on the views of women about men. The view about a women is a term defined by males in which she is considered an object and man considers himself a subject. In this way, word ‘women’ is that meaning given by men.
De Beauvoir says that biological condition of women is not against them but is a condition which becomes positive or negative. Biological experiences of women such as pregnancy, periods, changes in body etc. don’t have any meaning of its own but in an opposite society, they are considered a pressure and in patriarchal society, this is seen as a disadvantage for them.
In this way, yet female is born naturally but different views about her are made in different societies. In many societies, she is considered as an object of consumption and has to face many atrocities such as rape, eve-teasing, beating, domestic violence, dowry death etc. All this happens because of social mentality attached with females. That’s why their participation is quite less. Although there are many societies where females are greatly respected and no atrocities are committed against them. Their participation is more in public sphere and they take part in every sphere of life.
In this way, everything depends upon society that how it perceives females. If they are given higher status and will not be considered an object, society will surely do progress. But if everything happens opposite to it, society will not do progress. In this say we can say that a ‘Woman is not born, she is made’.
Question 3.
Is gender inequality raising doubt on India as a democratic society?
Answer:
India is a democratic country in which all the citizens enjoy many rights without any discrimination. One of our fundamental rights is that there exists equality in our country which means that all will be equally treated irrespective of their caste, colour, race, gender etc. But if we look at the actual condition, there is no equality. Discrimination takes place in many spheres especially there exists gender inequality everywhere. We can observe the existence of gender inequality in different spheres and this raises doubts on having a democratic society in our country. We can see many examples of this such as:
1. Females don’t have much participation in the decision making process of our coountry. In rural and even in ifflban societies, females cannot do anything of their own. They do whatever their family wants.
2. Whenever there is a question of caste, kinship or religion, females are victimised. If we look carefully we can say that females are the prisoners of patriarchy. Whenever she is compared with a male, she is always discriminated which is against the spirit of democracy.
3. Females are doing government as well as private jobs. Yet in government sector, they both get same pay for same job but this is not the case in private sector. In private sector, females are given less pay and they are greatly exploited which is actually against our basic rights.
4. Decreasing sex ratio also depicts about gender discrimination. Females are used as a target. In political sector, their participation is not given much importance.
5. The Indian Constitution has given equal rights to females and many laws have been made to give them share in their father’s property. But if she demands her share of property from her brother, she is often criticized and the issue goes to the court.
6. After looking at these examples, we can say that a question can be raised against having a democractic society in India. Unless we make sure of political, social and economic equality, we cannot call India a democratic country in a true sense.
Question 4.
Describe some important features of gender discrimination in political sphere of India.
Answer:
If we look at the Indian politics, we can find many examples of gender discrimination over’here. Some of them are given below:
1. Women participation in the Indian politics is quite low. If we look at the first Lok Sabha elected in 1952 and till 16th Lok Sabha elected in 2014, we can clearly see that their participation is quite low. In the first Lok Sabha, only 22 women members were elected which was around 5%. But in 16th Lok Sabha in 2014, this number rose to 66 which comes around 12.2.%. This clearly shows their less participation in Lok Sabha. Rest will be cleared by the following table:
S.No. Year Number of Women M.P.s Percentage of Women M.P.s
| S.No. | Year | Number of Women M.P.s
|
Percentage of Women M.P.s |
| 1. | 1951-52 | 22 | 4.5% |
| 2. | 1957 | 22 | 4.45% |
| 3. | 1962 | 31 | 6.28% |
| 4. | 1967 | 29 | 5.58% |
| 5. | 1971 | 28 | 5.41% |
| 6. | 1977 | 19 | 3.51% |
| 7. | 1980 | 28 | 5.29% |
| 8. | 1984 | 43 | 7.95% |
| 9. | 1989 | 29 | 5.48% |
| 10. | 1991 | 39 | 7.30% |
| 11. | 1996 | 40 | 7.37% |
| 12. | 1998 | 43 | 7.92% |
| 13. | 1999 | 49 | 9.02% |
| 14. | 2004 | 45 | 8.29% |
| 15. | 2009 | 59 | 10.87% |
| 16. | 2014 | 66 | 12.15% |
This table clearly shows us the existence of gender discrimination in this sector.
2. Political parties are also not in favour of more participation of women in public life. Maybe the reason for this is our society which is patriarchal and males are not ready to obey the orders given by a female. A bill was introduced in our Parliament to keep one-third of the total seats reserved for women in the elected legislative bodies but is yet to get passed after so many years. This clearly shows how the process of gender discrimination is continuing in public life.
3. It is generally seen that maybe a female becomes one of the important leaders of a party but her participation in the decision-making process is quite less. They are made head of the women wing of the party to manage female related issues. This is also one of the examples of gender discrimination in political parties.
4. There are three levels of government in our country. The central government, state government and local self-government. At the level of local self-government, one-third of the seats are kept reserved for women. But actually, every type of work is done by their husbands. There are very few females who actually try to develop their areas. Here, the major issue comes in front that the women participation in public life and decision-making process is quite less. They cannot openly express themselves and consequently move away from the process of development.
Question 5.
How gender discrimination is a constraint to inclusive growth?
Answer:
There is no denying the fact that gender discrimination is a constraint or an obstacle in the way of inclusive growth. Our society depends upon the mutual co-operation of both the sexes and they are male and female. To run society and for its continuation, their co-operation is required. In the absence of one, society neither can run nor can it continue. Gender discrimination and inclusive growth can be judged on certain aspects such as:
1. During ancient times, division of labour was based on sex. Males arranged for the food and females managed the household, and children. Just because of this cooperation society continued in a better way.
2. In present age, cooperation of both the sexes is very much necessary for inclusive growth because if they will not cooperate, a home cannot develop. In this situation, the development of society is a distant reality.
3. It has been said that the half of world’s population belongs to females. If half of the total population will not be made a part of the development process and will be kept under the four walls of home, income of that society will remain half. It will not be able to fulfill its needs. But if that half population will take part in increasing income of society, then definitely, there will a progress of family, society and country.
Here we can take examples of Indian society and western societies. There is a great deal of gender discrimination in Indian society. That’s why females are unable to use their basic rights* So, they have to spend the whole of their life in the four walls of their house. They are unable to take part in the economic and political field and that’s why there is no all round development of the country. On contrary to this, if we look at western societies, female participation in every field is much more than our society.
They take part in the economic field, take education and earn money which helps in the all-inclusive growth of family, society and country. Just after comparing both societies, we can clearly see the difference. More the gender discrimination, less the growth and less the gender discrimination, more the growth. In this way, we can say that gender discrimination is a constraint in the way of inclusive growth.