Gender, Religion & Caste
🧑🤝🧑 Gender division is a hierarchical social division shaped by social expectations and stereotypes, not biology alone.
It leads to a sexual division of labour—women’s work is undervalued and often invisible in politics & economics.
⚖️ Equality & Rights🏠 Work & Care🗳️ Suffrage & Laws
📚 Introduction
Gender division is widespread yet often ignored in political studies. It is treated as “natural”, but in reality stems from stereotypes about roles and abilities. This mindset produces a sexual division of labour.
🧵 Sexual Division of Labour
A system where most household work is done/managed by women.
| Aspect | How it shows up | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Social Expectation | Girls taught that cooking, cleaning, childcare are “women’s work”. | Limits opportunities; normalises unpaid labour. |
| 🧑🌾/🏙️ Women’s Double Burden | Work at home + outside (fetching water, farm labour; offices, domestic work). | Longer hours; work remains undervalued & invisible. |
| 💵 Pay & Recognition | Even for same job, women often paid less. | Wage gaps; weak economic independence. |
👩🎓 Feminist Movements
🎯 Goal
Equal rights for women in personal, family, education, work & politics.
🗳️ Suffrage
New Zealand gave women voting rights in 1893. In India, universal suffrage in 1950 (Art. 326).
📜 Reforms
Equal Remuneration Act, 1976; Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (in force: 26 Oct 2006).
📝 Note: In British India, limited voting rights for women began in some Presidencies (Bombay/Madras 1921; Bengal 1925).
🚩 Women as a Disadvantaged Section
| Indicator | Status / Issue (figures as per your notes) | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 📝 Literacy | Women 70.3% vs Men 84.7% (NSO, 2019) | Lower access to higher studies; resource preference for boys. |
| 💼 Employment | Women’s share in high-paying jobs is low; longer unpaid workday. | Economic dependence; time poverty. |
| 💰 Wages | Equal Remuneration Act mandates equal pay, but gaps persist. | Unfair pay undermines equality & dignity. |
| 👶 Sex Ratio (0–6 yrs) | 929 girls per 1000 boys (NFHS-5, 2019; several states >1000 overall) | Preference for sons → gender imbalance; long-term social effects. |
| 🛡️ Safety | Harassment & violence reported at home and in public spaces. | Restricts mobility; lowers participation in public life. |
💡 Scandinavian countries (e.g., Sweden, Norway, Finland) show high women’s participation in public life.
🧭 Civics Angle: Rights & Participation
- 🗳️ Universal Adult Franchise (1950): Right to vote for all adults (Art. 326).
- ⚖️ Equal Pay: Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 (principle of equal wages for equal work).
- 🛡️ Protection from Violence: PWDVA, 2005 (effective 26 Oct 2006).
🧠 Exam Quick Notes
📌 Definition
Gender division = social, not purely biological. Leads to sexual division of labour.
🧵 Examples
Household chores by women; double burden; wage gap.
🗳️ Citizenship
Universal franchise (1950); role of feminist movements in rights expansion.
📝 Try These
- Define the sexual division of labour with two examples from rural and urban contexts.
- Explain how feminist movements changed women’s role in public life (give two outcomes).
- Write short notes on: (a) Universal Adult Franchise (b) Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 (c) PWDVA, 2005.
- Why does a low child sex ratio threaten democratic values?