Social Movements | Class 12 Sociology Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 2 min read
Social Movements – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Social Movements from Class 12 Sociology, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
The Women's Movement
The women's movement in India has evolved from 19th-century social reform efforts to contemporary campaigns for gender justice. Early reform movements addressed issues like sati, widow remarriage, and women's education. Early 20th-century organizations such as the Women's India Association (1917), All India Women's Conference (1926), and National Council for Women in India (1925) initially focused on women's welfare but gradually embraced political issues, linking women's freedom to national freedom.
Women actively participated in agrarian struggles and revolts, including the Tebhaga movement and Telangana armed struggle. Post-independence, many women activists joined nation-building efforts, leading to a lull in organized women's movements. However, the mid-1970s saw a resurgence, often called the second phase, with new organizational strategies and ideologies.
Contemporary movements address issues like violence against women, sexual harassment, dowry, land rights, and employment. Legal reforms have been achieved through sustained campaigns. The movement recognizes that women's experiences vary by class, caste, and region, and that gender identities constrain both men and women. The goal is a gender-just society where both sexes can express themselves freely. Government initiatives like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao aim to improve sex ratios and empower women.
The chapter includes images of women activists and campaigns against dowry, illustrating ongoing struggles.
📊 Diagram: Figure 11: In the North Cedar Hills, a woman named Gufiallo became famous for her part in the Civil Disobedience Movement; Figure 12: Struggle against dowry; Figure 13: Shahjehan Begum 'Ape' with a photograph of her daughter, allegedly murdered for dowry
🔗 Connection: This concluding section ties together the themes of social movements as expressions of the dialectical relationship between individuals and society.
Frequently asked questions
Which of the following is NOT an important right won through social movements as mentioned in the chapter?
The right to free university education for all
Assertion (A): Universal adult franchise means that every adult has the right to vote. Reason (R): Universal adult franchise was a radical departure from colonial rule where ordinary people had no say in governance.
A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
What was the main demand of the Chartism movement in 19th century England?
The Chartism movement demanded universal male suffrage, voting by ballot, and the right to stand for elections without owning property.
Explain how social movements can inspire other social movements, giving one example from the chapter.
Social movements inspire other movements by showing that change is possible and by providing ideas, strategies, and motivation. For example, the Indian national movement inspired the making of the Indian Constitution, which in turn facilitated further social changes and movements.
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