(SEM VII) THEORY EXAMINATION 2022-23 INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN’s AND GENDER STUDIES

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SECTION A – Short Answers (2 Marks Each)

(a) Reproduction as the cause of women’s oppression

Women’s oppression has often been linked to their reproductive role, as control over reproduction places restrictions on women’s mobility, labour participation, and autonomy, reinforcing dependency and inequality.

(b) Socialization of domestic labour

Socialization of domestic labour refers to the process by which household work such as cooking, cleaning, and caregiving is culturally assigned to women and considered their natural responsibility.

(c) Gender division of labour

Gender division of labour means allocation of different types of work to men and women based on socially constructed gender roles rather than ability or choice.

(d) Eco-feminism

Eco-feminism links the exploitation of nature with the oppression of women, arguing that both arise from patriarchal and capitalist systems of domination.

(e) Gender socialization

Gender socialization is the process through which individuals learn gender roles, behaviors, and expectations from family, school, media, and society.

(f) Difference between sex and gender

Sex refers to biological differences between males and females, while gender refers to socially constructed roles, identities, and expectations.

(g) Patriarchy

Patriarchy is a social system where men hold power and authority in political, economic, and family structures, leading to women’s subordination.

(h) “Personal is Political”

This feminist slogan means that personal experiences such as domestic work, violence, and reproduction are shaped by political and social structures, not just individual choices.

(i) Gender as a social construction

Gender is socially constructed because roles, behaviors, and expectations for men and women are created by society and vary across cultures and time.

(j) Public–private dichotomy

The public–private dichotomy divides social life into public spaces (work, politics) dominated by men and private spaces (home, family) assigned to women.

SECTION B – Long Answers (10 Marks Each)

(Attempt any three in exam; answers provided for all)

(a) Patriarchy, masculinity, and negotiation of gender roles

Patriarchy promotes ideals of masculinity such as dominance, strength, and authority, while femininity is associated with care and obedience. Men and women negotiate these roles differently depending on class, caste, and culture. While men are expected to conform to masculine norms, women often challenge or adapt femininity through education, employment, and activism, reshaping gender relations.

(b) Marxist feminism and its critique

Marxist feminism explains women’s oppression through capitalism and class relations, emphasizing unpaid domestic labour and economic dependence. Critics argue that it overlooks patriarchy independent of class and ignores cultural, sexual, and emotional dimensions of women’s oppression.

(c) Dalit feminist critique of Dalit patriarchy

Dalit feminism critiques both upper-caste feminism for ignoring caste and Dalit patriarchy for oppressing Dalit women. Dalit women face triple oppression based on caste, class, and gender. Examples include discrimination within Dalit movements and exploitation in labour and domestic spaces.

(d) Socialist feminism vs radical feminism

Socialist feminism combines class and gender analysis, arguing that capitalism and patriarchy together oppress women. Radical feminism focuses on patriarchy as the root cause of oppression, emphasizing control over women’s bodies and sexuality. Both influenced Western women’s movements differently.

(e) Evolution of women’s movement in India

The Indian women’s movement evolved through social reform in the 19th century, nationalist participation in the early 20th century, and post-independence struggles focusing on legal rights, violence, employment, and political representation.

SECTION C – Long Answers (10 Marks Each)

3(a) Women’s contemporary issues in social institutions

Women face issues such as gender discrimination in family, unequal access to education, workplace harassment, wage gaps, and political under-representation. Social institutions often reinforce patriarchal norms, limiting women’s autonomy despite legal equality.

3(b) Sex and gender within the sex-gender system

Sex refers to biological traits, while gender reflects social expectations. For example, caring work is socially assigned to women, not biologically determined, showing how gender roles are constructed within society.

4(a) Functions of mass media in context of gender

Mass media informs, educates, entertains, and shapes opinions. In gender context, media often reinforces stereotypes but also plays a role in spreading awareness about women’s rights and gender equality.

4(b) Sexual harassment of women at workplace

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome physical contact, verbal remarks, and hostile work environment. It violates dignity and equality, leading to laws like the POSH Act in India.

5(a) Role of women in advertisements in India

Advertisements often portray women as caregivers or objects of beauty, reinforcing stereotypes. However, some modern ads challenge traditional roles by showing women as independent and empowered.

5(b) Feminism and its waves

Feminism is a movement for gender equality. The first wave focused on legal rights, the second on social and sexual equality, and the third on diversity, identity, and intersectionality.

6(a) Public and private spaces for women

Women’s access to public spaces is often restricted by safety concerns, norms, and traditions. Private spaces may also be sites of control and violence, showing how power operates in both domains.

6(b) Is patriarchy same everywhere?

Patriarchy varies across cultures, classes, and regions. For example, tribal societies may have different gender relations compared to urban patriarchal families.