GENDER, RELIGION AND CASTE

GENDER, RELIGION AND CASTE

Ø In Societies differences exist

v Gender Division

Ø It is natural biological fact

Ø However based on social expectation & stereotypes

Example

    I.        Sexual division of labour

Ø Domestic work & bringing up children –responsibilities of women

Ø Outside  work- men

Fact

Ø Majority of women do some sort of paid work outside in addition to domestic labour

Ø Their work- no recognition & not valued i.e. invisible

Ø “Time use survey “ (1998-99) says men work 6.5 hrs. & females 7hrs.  Men sleeps 12.25 hrs. women 11.10 hrs.

  II.        Women role in public life

Ø Role minimal in most societies. Women agitated for equal rights.

Ø Feminist: a woman or man who believes in equal rights & opportunities for women.

Ø Feminist movements aimed at equality in personal & family life as well.

Ø Scandinavian  countries (Sweden , Norway & Finland) participation of women in public life is very high (42%)

Ø World average is (19.7%)

Ø India male dominated “patriarchal society” (rule of father )

Ø Women in India , face discrimination, disadvantage & oppressions.

Example

1.  Literacy rate :- Women-54% (2001)       65.46(2011)

                         Men-76% (2001)              82.14 (2011)

2.  Highly paid  jobs – low proportion

3.  Ineffective equal wages act i.e Equal remuneration Act 1976.

4.  Girl child aborted result unfavourable sex ratio

Result  

Sex ratio   1000 : 933 (2001)

                 1000 : 940 (2011)

Ø State of Haryana has just 877

5.  Frequent reports of harassment, exploitation & violence.

III.        Women political representation (India)

Ø Representation very low in legislatures.

Ø 2014 percentage of women crossed 12% of its total strength for the first time in Lok sabha .

Ø State assemblies – less than 5%

Solution

Ø Reservation for women just like 1/3  seats in local self government

Ø Bill still pending for more than a decade

v Division based on religion (2011)

Religious diversity in India

1.  Hindu-79.8 %               2.Muslim-14.2%

3.Christians-2.3%            4.Sikh- 1.7%

5.Buddhist -0.7%             6. Jain-0.4%

Ø Acc. to Gandhi religion never be separated from politics. Politics be guided by ethics drawn from religion.

Ø Human rights groups says victims of riots are minorities.

Ø Different “ family laws” of different religions (i.e divorce , marriage, inheritance ) discriminates women.

Communalism

Meaning: loyalty or commitment to one’s own ethnic (mainly religion) group rather than to the wider society.

Ø When state power is used to establish domination of one religious group over the rest, then it termed as communal politics.

Communalism can take different forms in politics

1.  Most common expression of communalism prejudices, stereotypes of religious communities superiority of one’s religion.

2.  Idea of majoritarian dominance or political dominance

3.  Use of sacred symbols & emotional appeal

4.  Religious leaders plan fear in order to bring the followers of one religion together

5.  Most ugly form- communal violence i.e. riots & massacre.

Eg. India & Pakistan, 1947- 10 Lakh killed

v Secular state

Ø Constitution does not give special status to religion.

1.  Constitution provides freedom to profess practice & propagate any religion or not to follow any.

2.  Constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion.

3.  Constitution allows govt. to intervene in the matters of religion. eg. “Untouchability”.

v Division based on caste

Ø Caste special to India especially in Hinduism

Meaning: a hereditary class of Indian society, based on occupational division sanctioned by rituals

Ø Caste system based on exclusion of outcaste, marriage within caste.  Caste communities did not eat with members of other caste.

Ø Worst form : untouchability

Ø SC ( Dalits) - 16.6% of total population

Ø ST – 8.6%

Ø SC, ST & OBC – 41%

v Changes in caste system

Reasons

1.  Urbanization

2.  Occupational mobility

v Caste in politics

1.  In elections candidate choosed keeping in mind caste composition of constituency.

2.  During election campaign, emotional appeal to caste sentiments

Is Indian election are all about caste?..

Ø Not true

Reasons

Ø No constituency in India has a clear majority of one single caste, Candidate need to win confidence of more than one caste.

Ø In a constituency voter can have more than one candidate from their caste.

Ø Ruling party & sitting MLA & MPs frequently lose election. that could not have happened if all caste were frozen in their political preferences.

v Politics in caste

Ø Politics too influences the caste system how?

1.  Each caste group tries to become bigger by adding sub caste.

2.  Various caste groups enter into coalition

3.  New kind of caste group formed like “Backward” and “Forward” caste groups.