CHAPTER: GENDER, RELIGION AND CASTE

QUESTION – ANSWERS

NOTE: QUESTIONS HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE ARE FOR FAIR REGISTER

TOPIC 1: GENDER

Q1. What is Gender division? How is it practiced? What are its consequences?

Gender division: It is a form of hierarchical social division. Generally, it is

considered as natural and unchangeable. Actually it is based not on biology but on
social expectations and stereotypes.

Division in practice:

a) There is common belief that the main responsibility of women is

housework and bringing up children as reflected in a sexual division of
labour.
b) Men do the work such as cooking, tailoring if these jobs are paid for.
For example most tailors or cooks in hotels are men.
c) Women too work outside their home. Poor women work as domestic
servant in middle class homes while in urban area women work in
offices along with men. It is done in addition their domestic work.
But their work is not valued and does not get recognition.

Results: Although the population of women is half of the humanity, their role
in .public life especially

a) Politics is minimal in most societies.

b) This has led to agitations for equal rights for women such as voting
rights, enhancing the political and legal status of women and
improving their educational and career opportunities. These
movements are called ‘feminist’ movements.

Q2. A. What are Feminist movements?

B. What are their demands?

C. How have the feminist movements helped in improving women’s

condition?

Ans. Feminist movements are political expressions against gender division and aim
at women empowerment.

Demands of Feminist movements are:

1. Equal rights for women in all spheres of life.

2. The extension of voting rights to women.

3. Enhancing the political and legal status of women.

4. Improving the educational and career opportunities for women.

As a result of feminist movements, we now have women working as doctors,
engineers, lawyers, managers, scientists and college and university teachers
which were earlier not considered suitable for women. E.g. In Scandinavian
countries the participation of women in public life is very high.

Q3. Mention different aspects of life in which women face discrimination,

disadvantages and oppression in India.

OR

‘Women in India continue to be discriminated leading to their unequal

position in the society’. Justify the statement with four suitable examples.

Ans. 1. Education – Literacy rate among women is only 54% as compared with
76% among men. Parents prefer to spend their resources for their sons’ education
rather than daughters.

2. Low Proportion of women in highly paid and valued jobs – Women still
have a small share in the highly paid jobs. Even if a woman works for more
number of hours than a man, her work is not given importance. This results in low
paid and low valued jobs for women.

3. Women are paid less than men – Despite of Equal Wages of Act women are
paid less than men, even when both do exactly the same work.

4. Preference for Son – In many parts of India parents prefer to have sons and
find ways to have the girl child aborted before she is born. This has led to decline
in child sex – ratio (927)

5. Exploitation at work place and domestic violence – Women are exploited

and harassed at the work place. They have to face different forms of domestic
violence at home.

Q4. What is the status of women’s representation in India’s legislative

bodies? How can this problem be solved?

Ans. In India, the proportion of women in legislature has been very low. The
percentage of elected women members in Lok Sabha was never reached even
10% of its total strength. Their share in assemblies in less than 5%. In respect to
women’s Political representation India is among the bottom group of nations in the
world.

Steps taken to solve this problem – By making laws we can have a fair number
seats for women in the elected bodies. For e.g. In Panchayats and municipalities
1/3rd of the seats is reserved for women. Now, there are more than ten lakh
elected women representatives in rural and urban local bodies.
 Reservation of one – third seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State
Assemblies is still under consideration.

Q5. Analyze the status of women’s representation in India’s legislative

bodies.

a) In India, the proportion of women in legislature has been very low. For
example, the percentage of elected women members in Lok Sabha has never
reached even 10 per cent of its total strength.

b) Their share in the state assemblies is less than 5 per cent. In this respect, India
is among the bottom group of nations in the world. India is behind the averages
for several developing countries of Africa and Latin America.

c) In the government, cabinets are largely all-male even when a woman becomes
the Chief Minister or the Prime Minister.

d) It is only in Panchayati Raj that one-third of seats in local government bodies–

in panchayats and municipalities– are now reserved for women. Now there are
more than 10 lakh elected women representatives in rural and urban local bodies

e) Women’s organisations and activists have been demanding a similar

reservation bill of at least one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and State
Assemblies for women. A bill with this proposal has been pending before the
Parliament for more than a decade. But there is no consensus over this among all
the political parties. The bill has not been passed.

TOPIC 2: RELIGION

Q6. ‘Religious differences are often expressed in the field of politics.’

Discuss.

Ans.

a. Religion cannot be separated from politics: Gandhiji considered religion a

part of politics. Man’s activities cannot be divided into water-tight compartments.
He believed that without religion, politics would be dirty and a shameful game. For
Gandhiji religion was not particular religion like Hinduism or Islam but moral
values that inform all religions. Religion brings morality into politics. He believed
that politics must be guided by ethics drawn from religion.

b. Government to protect religious minorities: Human rights groups are of

the view that the communal riots in the country affect the religious minorities –
who are the only victims in such incidents. They demand that the government
should protect the religious minorities.

c. Family laws: Women’s movement has argued that the family laws of all
religions discriminate against women. They demand that steps should be taken by
the government to enhance their rights and to bring equality between men and
women.

Q7. Explain how can religion influence politics.

OR
Explain how can religion be used positively in the politics.

Ans. 1. Ideas, ideals and values drawn from different religions should have a
place in politics.

2. People should be able to express in politics their needs, interests and demand
as a member of religious community.

3. Those who hold political power should sometimes be able to regulate the
practice of religion so as to prevent discrimination and oppression. These political
acts should treat every religion equally.

Q8. Define the term ‘Communalism’. Enumerate the major beliefs of

communal people.

Ans. Communalism is a situation when people of a particular religion try to

promote their own

interests at the cost of other religions.

Major beliefs of communal people:

1. The followers of a particular religion must belong to one community.

2. Their fundamental interests should be same. Any difference that they may have
is irrelevant for the community.

3. People who follow different religions cannot belong to the same social
community. If the followers of different religions have some common interests,
these are superficial and immaterial. These interests are bound to be different and
involve a conflict.

4. Communalists believe that people belonging to different religions cannot live as

equal citizens within nation. Either one of them has to dominate the rest or they
have to form different nations.

Q9. Define the term ‘communal politics’.

OR

When does the problem of communalism become acute?

Ans. When religion is used in politics it is known as communal politics. Religion is

used in communal

politics in the following manner:

1. Religion is expressed in politics in exclusive and partisan terms.

2. One religion and its followers are discriminated by another.

3. Beliefs of one religion are presented as superior to those of other religions.

4. The demands of one religious group are formed in opposition to another.

5. State power is used to establish domination of one religious group over the
rest.

Q10. ‘The ideology of communal politics fundamentally flawed.’ Justify.

Ans. Most of the ideas of communal politics are fundamentally flawed because:

1. People of one religion don’t have the same interests and aspirations in every
context.

2. Everyone has several roles, positions and identities.

3. Every community has several demands. These demands have to be taken care
of.

Q11. Explain the various forms that communalism can take in politics.

Ans.

1. Religious beliefs: The most common expression of communalism is in

everyday beliefs. These routinely involve religious prejudices, stereotypes of
religious communities and belief in the superiority of one’s religion over other
religions. This is so common that we often fail to notice it, even when we believe
in it. Eg- For example even today the members of lower classes are not allowed to
enter the temples in many regions

b. Majoritarian dominance: A communal mind often leads to political

dominance of one’s own religious community. For those belonging to majority
community, it takes the form of majoritarian dominance. For those belonging to
the minority community, it can take the form of a desire to form a separate
political unit.Eg- For example, in Sri Lanka, majoritarianism has been followed
which has resulted in conflict in the country.

c. Political mobilization on religious lines is another frequent form of

communalism. This involves the use of sacred symbols, religious leaders and
emotional appeal, in order to bring the followers of one religion together in the
political arena. In electoral politics, this often involves special appeal of votes in
the name of religion. Eg- Use of religious symbols

d. Communal Riots Sometimes communalism takes its most ugly form of

communal violence, riots and massacre. India and Pakistan suffered some of the
worst communal riots at the time of the Partition. The post-independence period
has also seen large-scale communal violence. Eg- Disintegration of Yugoslavia.

Q12. Mention constitutional provisions that make India a secular state.

Ans. 1. There is no official religion of the Indian state.

2. The constitution provides to all individuals and communities freedom to

profess, practice and propagate any religion or not to follow any.

3. The constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion.

4. The constitution allows the state to intervene in the matters of religion in order
to ensure equality within religious communities. E.g. It bans untouchability.

TOPIC 3: CASTE

Q13. Discuss the reasons for the decline of caste system in India.

Ans. The reasons for the decline of Caste System in India are:

1. Social reformers and political leaders have worked hard to end the caste
inequalities in

India. E.g. Mahatma Gandhi, Jyotiba Phule, Periyar Ramaswami Naicker etc.

2. With economic development, urbanization, growth in literacy and education,

occupational mobility and the weakening of the position of Zamindars, the old
ideas of caste system are breaking down.

3. The constitution of India prohibited any caste – based discrimination and laid
the foundations of policies to reverse the injustices of the caste system.

Q14. ‘The constitution of India prohibits caste based discrimination, yet it

has not disappeared.’ Illustrate this statement.

Ans. Some of the older aspects of the caste have persisted. It has not
disappeared completely from the Indian economy.

1. Even now most people marry within the own caste or tribe.

2. Untouchability has not ended completely, despite constitutional prohibition.

3. The caste groups that got good education facilities under the old system have
done very well in acquiring modern education. Those who were prohibited from
acquiring education have lagged behind. That is why there is a disproportionately
large presence of upper caste among the urban middle classes in our country.

4. Caste continues to be closely linked to economic status – on an average, the

upper caste are best off, dalits and adivasis are the worst off and the backward
classes are in between.

Q15. ‘Caste inequalities are still continuing in India.’ Analyze this

statement.

OR illustrate some of the glimpses of caste system in modern India.

a. Even now, most people marry within their own caste or tribe.
b. Untouchability has not ended completely, despite constitutional
prohibition. Effects of centuries of disadvantages continue to be felt
today.
c. The caste groups that had access to education under the old system
have done very well in acquiring modern education as well. Those
groups that did not have access to education or were prohibited from
acquiring it, have naturally lagged behind. That is why there is a
disproportionately large presence of ‘upper caste’ among the urban
middle classes in our country.
d. Caste is still an important source of economic inequality because it
 regulates access to resources of various kinds while the upper classes
are best off, the Dalits and Adivasis are worst off, and the backward
classes are in between.
e. Although every caste has some poor members, the proportion of living in
extreme poverty is much higher for the lowest castes.
f. Lower caste people like rural landless labourers, are generally poor and
are exploited even today. Caste still continues to be closely linked to
economic status. The percentage of the population living below the
poverty line between-1999-2000 was 45.8 (STs), 35.9% (SCs), and
27% (OBCs) in rural areas.

Q16. Examine the various forms that caste can take in politics.
a. CONTESTING ELECTIONS: When parties choose candidates in
elections, they keep in mind the caste composition of the electorate and
nominate candidates from different castes to muster necessary
support to win elections.
b. FORMATION OF GOVERNMENT: When governments are formed,
political parties usually make sure that representatives of different
castes and tribes find a place in it.
c. CAMPAIGNING: Political parties and candidates in elections make
appeals to caste sentiment to muster support. Some political
parties are known to favour some castes and are seen as their
representatives.
d. POLITICAL PARTIES REPRESENTING CASTES: There are many
associations and even political parties formed in the name of castes.
They openly contest in the election to protect the interests of a
particular caste.
e. UNIVERSAL ADULT FRANCHISE: Universal adult franchise and the
principle of one-person-one-vote compelled political leaders to gear up to
the task of mobilizing and securing political support. It also brought new
consciousness among the people of castes that were hitherto treated as
inferior and low. The focus on caste in politics can sometimes give an
impression that elections are all about caste and nothing else.

Q17. Mention any two reasons for economic inequality in India.

a. Failure in the implementation of land reform and unequal distribution of
land. Lower class people were not allowed to possess any land.
b. Rigid caste system and lack of occupational mobility are the main
reasons for economic inequality in India.

Q18. Highlight the relation between caste and economic inequality.

a. Caste is an important source of economic inequality because it regulates
access to resources of various kinds. For example, in the past, the Dalits
were treated as ‘untouchables’ and were denied the right to own land and
get education, while only the ‘twice born’ castes or Brahmins had the
right to education.
b. Caste system prevents occupational mobility. People are not allowed
to take up any profession other than their family profession even
though they are talented in other fields because of the rigidity of the
caste system.
Q19. ‘Caste alone cannot determine election results in India.’
Illustrate this statement.
a. No parliamentary constituency in the country has a clear majority of
one single caste. So, every candidate and party needs to win the
confidence of more than one caste and community to win elections.
b. No party wins the votes of all the voters of a caste or community.
When people say that a caste is a ‘vote bank’ of one party, it usually
means that a large proportion of the voters from that caste vote for
that party.
c. Many political parties may put up candidates from the same caste (if
that caste is believed to dominate the electorate in a particular
constituency). Some voters have more than one candidate from their
caste while many voters have no candidate from their caste.
d. The ruling party and the sitting MP or MLA frequently lose elections
in our country. That could not have happened if all castes and
communities were frozen in their political preferences.
e. The voters have strong attachment to political parties, which is
often stronger than their attachment to their caste or community.
f. People within the same caste or community have different interests
depending on their economic condition. Rich and poor or men and
women from the same caste often vote very differently.
g. People’s assessment of the performance of the government and the
popularity rating of the leaders matter and are often decisive in
elections

Q20. ‘It is not politics that gets caste ridden, but it is the caste that
gets politicized.’ Justify.
a. . Each caste group tries to become bigger by incorporating within it
neighboring castes or sub castes, which were earlier excluded from it.
b. Various caste groups are required to enter into a coalition with other
castes or communities and thus enter into a dialogue and negotiation.
c. New kinds of caste groups have come up in the political arena like
‘backward’ and ‘forward’ caste groups.

Q21. Enumerate the factors other than caste that people keep in mind at
the time of elections.

Ans. While caste matters in electoral politics, so do many other factors.

1. Voters have strong attachment to a particular party than caste or community.

2. People within the same caste or community have different interests

depending on their economic conditions.

3. People’s assessment of the performance of the Govt. and the popularity

rating of the leaders are matter and are often decisive in elections. Rich and
poor or men and women from the same caste often vote very differently.
Q22. ‘Politics too influences the caste system and caste identities by
bringing them into the political arena’. Describe the role of politics in
caste.

OR

‘Politics too influences the caste system’. Explain.

OR

‘It is not politics that gets caste ridden, it is the caste that gets
politicised’. Justify this statement.

Ans. Politics too influences the caste system by bringing them into the political
area. Political in caste normally take following forms:

1. Wide Base – Every caste group tries to increase its members by including
various neighbouring castes or sub castes which were earlier excluded from it.

2. Coalition – Various caste groups enter in coalition with other castes or

communities of thus enter into a dialogue and negotiation.

3. New Groups – New kinds of caste groups have been formed, such as ‘back
ward’ and ‘forward’ caste groups in political sphere.

Q23. Mention the positive role of caste in politics.

Ans. 1. In some situations, expressions of caste difference in politics gives many

disadvantaged communities the space to demand their share of power. For e.g.
– Dalits and OBC caste have gained better access to decision making.

2. Several political and non – political organisation have been demanding and
agitating for the end of discrimination against particular castes, for more dignity
and more access to land resources and opportunities.

Q24. Explain how does casteism damage democratic ideals.

OR

Mention the negative role of caste in politics.

Ans. Exclusive attention to caste can produce negative results in democracy -

1. It can divert attention from other important issues like poverty, development,
corruption.

2. In some cases caste division leads to tensions, conflicts and even violence.