Gender, Religion and Caste | Class 10 Social Science Notes

Gender and politics

Gender division is a hierarchical social division present universally but often overlooked in political studies. Unlike biological sex, gender refers to social and cultural differences and roles assigned to men and women. These roles are not natural or unchangeable but are shaped by social expectations and stereotypes. For example, household work such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, tailoring, and child care is predominantly done by women, a system known as the sexual division of labour. Men usually perform work outside the home. This division is not due to inability but social norms that assign domestic responsibilities to women. Women also engage in paid work, especially in rural areas (fetching water, collecting fuel, working in fields) and urban settings (domestic helpers, office workers), but their work is often undervalued and unrecognized.

This division results in women’s minimal participation in public life and politics historically. Initially, only men had voting rights and could contest elections. Over time, women’s movements worldwide demanded equal political and legal rights, including voting rights, educational and career opportunities, and equality in personal and family life. These movements are termed feminist movements. Political mobilization on gender issues has improved women’s participation in professions like science, medicine, engineering, law, and education. In some countries like Sweden, Norway, and Finland, women’s participation in public life is very high.

In India, despite progress since Independence, patriarchy prevails, and women face discrimination and disadvantages. Literacy rates for women are lower than men, and fewer girls pursue higher education due to parental preferences favoring boys. Women’s work is often unpaid and invisible despite working longer hours than men on average. The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 mandates equal pay for equal work, but wage disparities persist. Sex-selective abortions have led to a declining child sex ratio, with some states having ratios below 850 girls per 1000 boys. Violence and harassment against women, including domestic violence, remain significant problems.

Women’s political representation in India is low, with women constituting only about 14.36% of Lok Sabha members as of 2019 and less than 5% in many state assemblies. Local government bodies have reserved one-third of seats for women, leading to over 10 lakh elected women representatives. The Women's Reservation Act, 2023, reserves 33% of seats for women in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the Delhi Assembly. This political expression of gender division has helped address women’s issues and improve their status. Feminism is distinguished from casteism and communalism because it seeks equality and justice rather than division or domination based on identity.

📊 Diagram: © Zuban (figure_2); Why are we discussing things like household work in this textbook on Political Science? Is this politics? (figure_3); Why not? If politics is about power, then surely male dominance in the household should be considered political. (figure_4); Discuss all these perceptions of an ideal woman that prevail in our society. Do you agree with any of these? If not, what is your image of an ideal woman? (figure_5); Table on page 4 (6×3) showing daily time use by men and women in various activities (table_1); Can you identify your State on this map? What is the child sex ratio in it? How is it different from others with a different colour? (figure_6); ratio has fallen below 850 or even 800 in some States. (figure_8); Note: Figures are for the per cent of women in the directly elected houses of parliament as on 1 October 2018. (figure_9)

🧪 Activity: Conduct a time use survey in your household for one week. Note the daily hours spent by adult men and women on income-generating work, household activities, recreation, talking, self-care, and rest. Calculate average daily hours for each activity and compare the workload of men and women.

🔗 Connection: This section leads to the next topic on Religion, communalism and politics by shifting focus from gender-based social divisions to religious divisions and their political implications.

Table on page 4 (6×3)