Chapter 3 Gender, Religion and Caste Class 10th Notes Civics
Chapter 3 Gender, Religion and Caste Class 10th Notes Civics Social Science
Gender Division
What is Gender Division?
It's the division of labor and tasks in society on the basis of one's gender. Although it appears natural, it's not biological—it's socially constructed.
Sexual Division of Labour:
Women perform domestic work, while men perform work outside. This restricts women's work options and keeps them in private/domestic spheres.
Patriarchy:
A system where men dominate and enjoy the lion's share of power in politics, economics, and society.
Discrimination Against Women:
Women are less educated than men.
Girls are dropping out of school at an earlier age.
Women are paid less and have fewer senior-level positions.
Wage discriminations exist despite Equal Remuneration Act (1976).
Female foeticide has resulted in a low child sex ratio in India (914 girls per 1000 boys).
Women are harassed and abused in the family and society too.
Feminism:
Feminists hold the view of equal rights and opportunities for men and women.
Feminist Movement
These are concerted efforts to bring about equality of the sexes in public as well as private life, and have enhanced women's access to education, work, and politics.
Women's Political Representation
Political participation of women is far lower than men's globally.
Women make up:
■ 10% of members of parliament in India (under world average of 19%).
■ 5% in state legislatures.
Panchayati Raj Act:
Reserves 1/3rd of all seats in local councils (panchayats & municipalities) for women. This has resulted in increased female political participation.
Efforts to reserve seats in Lok Sabha and state legislatures did not succeed because there was no political party consensus.
Religion, Communalism, and Politics
Religion in Politics:
Religious communities make their demands as they are to be expected in a democracy. India is a religiously diverse nation where various religions have unique family laws (marriage, inheritance, etc.).
Communalism:
When religion is employed negatively in politics to:
Highlight one religion at the expense of others.
Make one community's demands antagonistic to another's.
Employ state power with a view to oppressing religious others.
Types of Communalism:
Prejudices and Stereotypes against religions.
Desiring political power on a religious basis.
Political mobilization along religious lines by symbols, leaders, or emotional appeal.
Violence and riots such as that during the Partition of India.
India as a Secular State:
■ No state religion.
■ Freedom to preach, practice, or not to follow any religion.
■ No discrimination on the basis of religion.
■ State can intervene to enforce equality (e.g., prohibiting untouchability).
Caste and Politics
What is Caste?
A hereditary system based upon one's profession, dividing men and women into classes.
Caste defined:
■ Your profession.
■ Whom you marry.
■ With whom you dine.
Urbanization, literacy, and employment have weakened the rigidity of the caste system.
The Constitution:
Prohibited discrimination on the basis of caste.
Started efforts to alleviate inequalities (reservations).
Caste in Politics:
Parties attempt to represent several castes.
Appeals are made on the caste line during an election.
Caste issues are raised to mobilize support.
Lower castes have politically asserted their rights.
Politics within Caste:
Politics has shaped caste identity by:
■ Promoting growth or merger of larger castes into smaller castes.
■ Promoting interaction among castes.
■ Creation of new political identities such as "forward" and "backward" castes.