WHAT IS GENDER?
Wiki definition: Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them.
Are gender differences same as those based on sex?
WHY IS GENDER USED AS A BASIS FOR DIFFERENCE?
Some other basis:● Caste : ties with the Veda, “religious” aspects, “purity”, characterizes Indian society● Class : stratification on the basis of status, economic power, occupation etc.
●Social stratification●Culture analysis
WHY GENDER THEN?
ANCIENT INDIA
● Glorious Vedic period● Men and women enjoyed equal rights● Women “ worshipped “
MEDIEVAL INDIA
● Advent of foreign/Muslim conquerors
● Deterioration in status of women
● Evil practices
COLONIAL PEROID
● Colonialists: Tool to justify their rule.● Example: Sati abolition● Nationalist: Tool to glorify their past.● Revivalists/ Reformists
Were women really the centre of concern?
• The idea of Development
• Education as a parameter to
study gender based
discrimination
GENDER INEQUALITY
Colonial/Post
Colonial India
Post Independence
Female 1% 65%
1947 20110
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
MaleFemale
Present Day Scenario
• Visible difference
between the male and
female literacy rate at
the primary level
• Negative impact by the
society
• Negative impact on the
society
• Continuing trend if not
acted against
Types of Gender based Inequality
• Mortality Inequality
• Natality Inequality
• Basic Facility Inequality
• Special Opportunity Inequality
• Professional Inequality
• Ownership Inequality
• Household Inequality
Caste
ClassGender
• No overlap with caste and class
• Overlap exists
Gender
Class
Caste
Is Gender a separate entity?