This MCQ module is based on: Gender and Politics — Gender, Religion & Caste
TOPIC 8 OF 18
Gender and Politics — Gender, Religion & Caste
🎓 Class 10
Social Science
CBSE
Theory
Ch 3 — Gender, Religion and Caste
⏱ ~15 min
🌐 Language: [gtranslate]
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[myaischool_lt_sst_assessment grade_level="class_10" subject="civics" difficulty="intermediate"]
Gender and Politics
NCERT Democratic Politics-II | Chapter 3: Gender, Religion and Caste
Gender Religion and Caste — Chapter Overview
Social diversity in itself does not threaten democratic functioning. In fact, the political expression of social differences is both possible and often desirable in a democratic setup. In this chapter, we examine how three forms of social division — based on gender?, religion, and caste — manifest in Indian politics. For each type, we explore the nature of the division, how it finds expression in the political arena, and whether such expressions strengthen or weaken democracy.
This part focuses on the gender division — one of the most universal yet least discussed forms of social hierarchy in political science. We examine how women's roles have historically been confined to the domestic sphere, the struggle for gender equality, and the progress made in women's political representation.
The Public-Private Division and Sexual Division of Labour
Definition
Sexual Division of Labour: A system in which domestic work — cooking, cleaning, washing, child-rearing — is either performed by the women of the household or organised by them through domestic helpers. Men typically handle work outside the home.
From an early age, boys and girls are socialised into believing that household tasks and child-rearing are primarily women's responsibilities. This belief creates a sexual division of labour? in most families. Women shoulder the bulk of domestic tasks, while men take up employment and public responsibilities.
However, this separation is not as clean as it appears. In rural India, women participate in agriculture, fetch water, and gather fuel for cooking. In cities, women from lower-income households often work as domestic helpers, while those from the middle class hold jobs in offices. The reality is that the majority of women perform paid work alongside their unpaid domestic labour. Despite this double burden, women's contributions at home remain unrecognised and undervalued.
Key Fact
According to a government time-use survey, an average Indian woman works over 7.5 hours daily, while an average man works about 6.5 hours. Yet men's work is more visible because it generates monetary income. Women spend nearly 5 hours daily on household-related tasks compared to just 30 minutes by men.
The consequence of this invisible labour is stark: although women make up half the world's population, their participation in public life — especially politics — remains minimal in most societies. For a long period, only men could vote, stand for elections, or hold public office. Gradually, women organised and demanded equal political rights, leading to major social and legal changes.
How Feminist Movements Changed Gender Roles in Politics
Definition
Feminist: A person — woman or man — who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men. Feminist movements are organised efforts aimed at achieving equality not just in public life but also in personal and family matters.
Women's movements around the world agitated for extending voting rights to women, improving their educational and professional opportunities, and enhancing their legal and political standing. More radical feminist movements went further, demanding equality in personal and family relationships as well.
These campaigns yielded significant results. Today, women work as scientists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, managers, and professors — professions once considered unsuitable for them. In Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Finland, women's participation in public life is remarkably high. However, in many other parts of the world, including India, the journey toward gender equality remains far from complete.
Gender Inequality in Indian Society and Politics
Definition
Patriarchy: Literally meaning "rule by the father," this term refers to a system that gives men more power, privileges, and social status than women. India continues to be a largely patriarchal society.
Despite notable progress since independence, India remains a male-dominated society. Women face multiple forms of disadvantage, discrimination, and oppression:
Education Gap
Female literacy stands at 54% compared to 76% for males. Fewer girls pursue higher education as families invest more in sons' schooling.
Wage Disparity
Despite the Equal Remuneration Act 1976 mandating equal pay for equal work, women earn less than men in nearly every sector — from factories and farms to sports and cinema.
Declining Child Sex Ratio
Sex-selective abortion driven by son preference has pushed the child sex ratio down to 919 girls per 1000 boys (Census 2011), dropping below 850 in some states.
Safety & Violence
Reports of harassment, exploitation, and domestic violence against women persist. Urban areas have become especially unsafe for women.
Interestingly, when we look at school examination results, girls often perform as well as or better than boys. The dropout rate among girls is higher not because of academic performance but because of parental reluctance to invest equally in daughters' education. Women carry a greater share of work — on average one hour more per day than men — yet much of their labour remains unpaid and therefore invisible in economic statistics.
Gender Disparities in India — Daily Time Use (Hours)
L4 AnalyseWomen's Political Representation
Issues concerning women's welfare have long been neglected in public policy. Many feminist thinkers and women's organisations have concluded that unless women hold political power themselves, their concerns will not receive adequate attention. One direct way to address this is by increasing the number of women in elected legislative bodies.
India's track record in this regard is far from encouraging. The percentage of women elected to the Lok Sabha reached 14.36 per cent for the first time only in 2019. In state assemblies, the figure is even lower — under 5 per cent. Compared to the global average, and even when measured against several developing countries in Africa and Latin America, India lags significantly behind. Government cabinets remain overwhelmingly male-dominated, even when a woman serves as Prime Minister or Chief Minister.
Women in National Parliaments — Regional Comparison (%)
L4 AnalyseReservation as a Solution
One approach to bridging this gap is to legally mandate a fair proportion of women in elected bodies. India has already implemented this at the local government level. Under the Panchayati Raj system, one-third of all seats in panchayats? and municipalities are reserved for women. As a result, there are now over 10 lakh elected women representatives in rural and urban local bodies across the country.
For decades, women's organisations and activists campaigned for a similar reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. In 2023, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam? (Women's Reservation Act, 2023) was finally passed, providing 33 per cent reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, and the Delhi Assembly.
Why It Matters
The gender division demonstrates that certain forms of social division need to find expression in politics. When disadvantaged groups raise their concerns through political channels, democratic processes can lead to meaningful change — as illustrated by the evolution from women having no voting rights to the passage of the Women's Reservation Act.
THINK ABOUT IT — Is Housework "Real" Work?
L5 Evaluate
The textbook poses a thought-provoking observation: a child says her mother always tells visitors that she does not work because she is a housewife, but the child sees her working without rest all day long.
Reflect on these questions:
- Why is household work not recognised as "real" work in our society?
- What would happen if women stopped doing domestic tasks for a week?
- How does the invisibility of women's domestic labour affect their bargaining power within the family?
- Conduct a time-use survey in your own household — who works more hours daily, the men or the women?
Guidance
Domestic work is not considered "real" work because it does not generate monetary income. However, it is essential to the functioning of any household and, by extension, the entire economy. If domestic labour were monetised, it would constitute a significant portion of GDP. The devaluation of housework reinforces patriarchal norms by keeping women economically dependent and politically marginalised. Time-use surveys consistently show that women work longer hours than men when domestic labour is included.
DISCUSS — Feminism, Casteism, and Communalism
L5 Evaluate
The textbook asks: if casteism and communalism are seen as harmful divisions, then why is feminism considered a positive force? Should we not oppose all movements that divide society?
- What distinguishes feminism from casteism and communalism in terms of goals?
- Does feminism seek dominance of one group over another, or equality?
- Can political expression of gender differences lead to positive democratic outcomes?
Guidance
Feminism is fundamentally different from casteism and communalism because its objective is equality, not the supremacy of one group. Casteism and communalism seek to privilege one caste or religious group over others. Feminism, by contrast, seeks to dismantle hierarchies and ensure that all people — regardless of gender — have equal rights, opportunities, and dignity. Political expression of gender inequality has led to positive outcomes such as voting rights, workplace protections, and reservation in local bodies.
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Competency-Based Questions
Case Study: In Country Y, women constitute 48% of the population. A recent survey shows that women spend an average of 7 hours daily on household tasks while men spend 45 minutes. Women's literacy rate is 58% compared to 79% for men. Only 12% of elected representatives in the national parliament are women. A women's rights organisation is campaigning for a law to reserve 33% of parliamentary seats for women. Some critics argue that this would undermine democratic elections based purely on merit.
Q1. Which real country's situation does Country Y most closely resemble?
L3 Apply
Q2. Analyse why the "merit-based" argument against women's reservation is flawed in the context described above.
L4 Analyse
Q3. Evaluate the possible impact of 33% reservation on both women's representation and the quality of governance in Country Y.
L5 Evaluate
HOT Q. Design a multi-pronged strategy that Country Y could adopt — beyond legislative reservation — to meaningfully increase women's participation in politics and public life.
L6 Create
⚖ Assertion–Reason Questions
Assertion (A): The gender division is a form of hierarchical social division that tends to be seen as natural and unchangeable.
Reason (R): The gender division is based on social expectations and stereotypes, not on biology alone.
Reason (R): The gender division is based on social expectations and stereotypes, not on biology alone.
Assertion (A): The percentage of women in India's Lok Sabha crossed 14% for the first time in 2019.
Reason (R): The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023) reserves 33% seats for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Reason (R): The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023) reserves 33% seats for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Assertion (A): In India, one-third of seats in panchayats and municipalities are reserved for women.
Reason (R): The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 mandates equal wages for equal work done by men and women.
Reason (R): The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 mandates equal wages for equal work done by men and women.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sexual division of labour in Class 10 Civics?
Sexual division of labour refers to the system in which household work like cooking, cleaning, and childcare is assigned primarily to women, while men are expected to engage in paid employment outside the home. In NCERT Class 10 Civics, this concept is discussed as the root of gender inequality in politics. This division is not natural or biological but socially constructed. Feminist movements have challenged this division by arguing that both men and women should share household responsibilities.
What is the public-private division in gender politics?
The public-private division is the idea that public life including politics and employment is the domain of men, while private or domestic life is the domain of women. This division has historically excluded women from political participation and decision-making. NCERT Class 10 Civics explains how feminist movements worldwide have challenged this artificial divide, arguing that personal and domestic issues are deeply political. The demand to bring gender equality into all spheres of life is central to feminism.
What is the status of women's political representation in India?
Women's political representation in India remains significantly lower than their population share. In the Lok Sabha, women's representation has rarely exceeded 15 percent. At the state assembly level, it is even lower. However, at the local government level, the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments mandating one-third reservation for women in panchayats and municipalities have significantly increased women's participation. A Women's Reservation Bill for Parliament has been discussed but implementation has been gradual.
What are feminist movements?
Feminist movements are social and political movements that advocate for equal rights and opportunities for women. In the context of NCERT Class 10 Civics, feminist movements have worked to challenge the sexual division of labour, demand equal pay, secure voting rights, fight domestic violence, and increase women's representation in politics. These movements argue that gender discrimination is not natural but socially imposed. Globally, feminist movements have achieved significant legal reforms including property rights and maternity protection.
How does gender affect Indian politics?
Gender affects Indian politics through low representation of women in legislatures, gender-based voting patterns, and policy issues that disproportionately affect women. Despite constituting nearly half the population, women hold a small fraction of parliamentary and assembly seats. Political parties rarely give adequate tickets to women candidates. However, at the grassroot level, reservation in Panchayati Raj has empowered millions of women as elected representatives. Gender issues like dowry and domestic violence have become significant political agenda items.
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Social Science Class 10 — Democratic Politics II (Civics)
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