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?

SEX VS GENDER

● SEX : innate, biological

● GENDER: socialized, learned

PATRIARCHY

MEANING

Narrow, traditional

Wider definition

SEXISM?

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

But then….

Why this gender based Inequality

?Factor

-Societ

y

Caste

ClassGender

• No overlap with caste and class

• Overlap exists

Gender

Class

Caste

Is Gender a separate entity?

India, along with Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, has had female heads of governments, which the United States or Japan has not yet had

Point to ponder…..