NCERT Textbook: Gender, Religion & Caste Caste | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

 Page 1


Gender, Religion and Caste 
29
Chapter 3
Gender, 
Religion and 
Caste 
Overview
The existence of social diversity does not threaten democracy. Political 
expression of social differences is possible and sometimes quite desirable 
in a democratic system. In this chapter we apply these ideas to the practice 
of democracy in India. We look at three kinds of social differences that 
can take the form of social divisions and inequalities. These are social 
differences based on gender, religion and caste. In each case we look at 
the nature of this division in India and how it gets expressed in politics. 
We also ask whether different expressions based on these differences are 
healthy or otherwise in a democracy. 
Chapter 3.indd   29 08-04-2022   14:15:08
2024-25
Page 2


Gender, Religion and Caste 
29
Chapter 3
Gender, 
Religion and 
Caste 
Overview
The existence of social diversity does not threaten democracy. Political 
expression of social differences is possible and sometimes quite desirable 
in a democratic system. In this chapter we apply these ideas to the practice 
of democracy in India. We look at three kinds of social differences that 
can take the form of social divisions and inequalities. These are social 
differences based on gender, religion and caste. In each case we look at 
the nature of this division in India and how it gets expressed in politics. 
We also ask whether different expressions based on these differences are 
healthy or otherwise in a democracy. 
Chapter 3.indd   29 08-04-2022   14:15:08
2024-25
30
Democratic Politics
Gender and politics
Let us begin with gender division. 
This is a form of hierarchical social 
division seen everywhere, but is 
rarely recognised in the study of 
politics. The gender division tends 
to be understood as natural and 
unchangeable. However, it is not 
based on biology but on social 
expectations and stereotypes.
Public/private division
Boys and girls are brought up to 
believe that the main responsibility 
of women is housework and bringing 
up children. This is reflected in a 
sexual division of labour in most 
families: women do all work inside 
the home such as cooking, cleaning, 
washing clothes, tailoring, looking 
after children, etc., and men do all 
the work outside the home. It is not 
that men cannot do housework; they 
simply think that it is for women to 
attend to these things. When these 
jobs are paid for, men are ready to 
take up these works. Most tailors or 
cooks in hotels are men. Similarly, 
it is not that women do not work 
outside their home. In villages, 
women fetch water, collect fuel and  
work in the fields. In urban areas, 
poor women work as domestic 
helper in middle class homes, while 
middle class women work in offices. 
In fact, the majority of women do 
some sort of paid work in addition 
to domestic labour. But their work 
is not valued and does not get 
recognition.
The result of this division of 
labour is that although women 
constitute half of the humanity, their 
role in public life, especially politics, 
is minimal in most societies. Earlier, 
only men were allowed to participate 
in public affairs, vote and contest 
for public offices. Gradually the 
gender issue was raised in politics. 
Women in different parts of the 
world organised and agitated for 
equal rights. There were agitations 
in different countries for the 
extension of voting rights to women. 
A poster from Bengal affirming women’s 
strength. 
Sexual division of labour: 
A system in which all 
work inside the home 
is either done by the 
women of the family, 
or organised by them 
through the domestic 
helpers. 
Why not? If 
politics is about 
power, then 
surely male 
dominance in the 
household should 
be considered 
political.
Why are we 
discussing things 
like household 
work in this 
textbook on 
Political Science? 
Is this politics?
© Zuban 
Chapter 3.indd   30 08-04-2022   14:15:13
2024-25
Page 3


Gender, Religion and Caste 
29
Chapter 3
Gender, 
Religion and 
Caste 
Overview
The existence of social diversity does not threaten democracy. Political 
expression of social differences is possible and sometimes quite desirable 
in a democratic system. In this chapter we apply these ideas to the practice 
of democracy in India. We look at three kinds of social differences that 
can take the form of social divisions and inequalities. These are social 
differences based on gender, religion and caste. In each case we look at 
the nature of this division in India and how it gets expressed in politics. 
We also ask whether different expressions based on these differences are 
healthy or otherwise in a democracy. 
Chapter 3.indd   29 08-04-2022   14:15:08
2024-25
30
Democratic Politics
Gender and politics
Let us begin with gender division. 
This is a form of hierarchical social 
division seen everywhere, but is 
rarely recognised in the study of 
politics. The gender division tends 
to be understood as natural and 
unchangeable. However, it is not 
based on biology but on social 
expectations and stereotypes.
Public/private division
Boys and girls are brought up to 
believe that the main responsibility 
of women is housework and bringing 
up children. This is reflected in a 
sexual division of labour in most 
families: women do all work inside 
the home such as cooking, cleaning, 
washing clothes, tailoring, looking 
after children, etc., and men do all 
the work outside the home. It is not 
that men cannot do housework; they 
simply think that it is for women to 
attend to these things. When these 
jobs are paid for, men are ready to 
take up these works. Most tailors or 
cooks in hotels are men. Similarly, 
it is not that women do not work 
outside their home. In villages, 
women fetch water, collect fuel and  
work in the fields. In urban areas, 
poor women work as domestic 
helper in middle class homes, while 
middle class women work in offices. 
In fact, the majority of women do 
some sort of paid work in addition 
to domestic labour. But their work 
is not valued and does not get 
recognition.
The result of this division of 
labour is that although women 
constitute half of the humanity, their 
role in public life, especially politics, 
is minimal in most societies. Earlier, 
only men were allowed to participate 
in public affairs, vote and contest 
for public offices. Gradually the 
gender issue was raised in politics. 
Women in different parts of the 
world organised and agitated for 
equal rights. There were agitations 
in different countries for the 
extension of voting rights to women. 
A poster from Bengal affirming women’s 
strength. 
Sexual division of labour: 
A system in which all 
work inside the home 
is either done by the 
women of the family, 
or organised by them 
through the domestic 
helpers. 
Why not? If 
politics is about 
power, then 
surely male 
dominance in the 
household should 
be considered 
political.
Why are we 
discussing things 
like household 
work in this 
textbook on 
Political Science? 
Is this politics?
© Zuban 
Chapter 3.indd   30 08-04-2022   14:15:13
2024-25
Gender, Religion and Caste 
31
These agitations demanded 
enhancing the political and legal 
status of women and improving their 
educational and career opportunities. 
More radical women’s movements 
aimed at equality in personal and 
family life as well. These movements 
are called feminist movements.
Political expression of gender 
division and political mobilisation 
Discuss all these perceptions of an ideal woman that prevail in our society. Do you 
agree with any of these? If not, what is your image of an ideal woman?
Feminist: A 
woman or a man 
who believes in 
equal rights and 
opportunities for 
women and men. 
© Zuban 
on this question helped to improve 
women’s role in public life. We now 
find women working as scientists, 
doctors, engineers, lawyers, 
managers and college and university 
teachers which were earlier not 
considered suitable for women. In 
some parts of the world, for example 
in Scandinavian countries, such as 
Sweden, Norway and Finland, the 
Chapter 3.indd   31 08-04-2022   14:15:18
2024-25
Page 4


Gender, Religion and Caste 
29
Chapter 3
Gender, 
Religion and 
Caste 
Overview
The existence of social diversity does not threaten democracy. Political 
expression of social differences is possible and sometimes quite desirable 
in a democratic system. In this chapter we apply these ideas to the practice 
of democracy in India. We look at three kinds of social differences that 
can take the form of social divisions and inequalities. These are social 
differences based on gender, religion and caste. In each case we look at 
the nature of this division in India and how it gets expressed in politics. 
We also ask whether different expressions based on these differences are 
healthy or otherwise in a democracy. 
Chapter 3.indd   29 08-04-2022   14:15:08
2024-25
30
Democratic Politics
Gender and politics
Let us begin with gender division. 
This is a form of hierarchical social 
division seen everywhere, but is 
rarely recognised in the study of 
politics. The gender division tends 
to be understood as natural and 
unchangeable. However, it is not 
based on biology but on social 
expectations and stereotypes.
Public/private division
Boys and girls are brought up to 
believe that the main responsibility 
of women is housework and bringing 
up children. This is reflected in a 
sexual division of labour in most 
families: women do all work inside 
the home such as cooking, cleaning, 
washing clothes, tailoring, looking 
after children, etc., and men do all 
the work outside the home. It is not 
that men cannot do housework; they 
simply think that it is for women to 
attend to these things. When these 
jobs are paid for, men are ready to 
take up these works. Most tailors or 
cooks in hotels are men. Similarly, 
it is not that women do not work 
outside their home. In villages, 
women fetch water, collect fuel and  
work in the fields. In urban areas, 
poor women work as domestic 
helper in middle class homes, while 
middle class women work in offices. 
In fact, the majority of women do 
some sort of paid work in addition 
to domestic labour. But their work 
is not valued and does not get 
recognition.
The result of this division of 
labour is that although women 
constitute half of the humanity, their 
role in public life, especially politics, 
is minimal in most societies. Earlier, 
only men were allowed to participate 
in public affairs, vote and contest 
for public offices. Gradually the 
gender issue was raised in politics. 
Women in different parts of the 
world organised and agitated for 
equal rights. There were agitations 
in different countries for the 
extension of voting rights to women. 
A poster from Bengal affirming women’s 
strength. 
Sexual division of labour: 
A system in which all 
work inside the home 
is either done by the 
women of the family, 
or organised by them 
through the domestic 
helpers. 
Why not? If 
politics is about 
power, then 
surely male 
dominance in the 
household should 
be considered 
political.
Why are we 
discussing things 
like household 
work in this 
textbook on 
Political Science? 
Is this politics?
© Zuban 
Chapter 3.indd   30 08-04-2022   14:15:13
2024-25
Gender, Religion and Caste 
31
These agitations demanded 
enhancing the political and legal 
status of women and improving their 
educational and career opportunities. 
More radical women’s movements 
aimed at equality in personal and 
family life as well. These movements 
are called feminist movements.
Political expression of gender 
division and political mobilisation 
Discuss all these perceptions of an ideal woman that prevail in our society. Do you 
agree with any of these? If not, what is your image of an ideal woman?
Feminist: A 
woman or a man 
who believes in 
equal rights and 
opportunities for 
women and men. 
© Zuban 
on this question helped to improve 
women’s role in public life. We now 
find women working as scientists, 
doctors, engineers, lawyers, 
managers and college and university 
teachers which were earlier not 
considered suitable for women. In 
some parts of the world, for example 
in Scandinavian countries, such as 
Sweden, Norway and Finland, the 
Chapter 3.indd   31 08-04-2022   14:15:18
2024-25
32
Democratic Politics
Patriarchy: Literally, 
rule by father, this 
concept is used to 
refer to a system that 
values men more and 
gives them power 
over women.
Activities Men Women
Income generating work 6:00 2:40
Household and related work 0:30 5:00
Talking, Gossip 1:25 1:20
No work/ Leisure 3:40 3:50
Sleep, self-care, reading etc. 12:25 11:10
Daily time use (hours: minutes)
Source: Government of India, Time Use Survey, 1998-99.
+
A ‘time use survey’ was conducted in six states of our country. It 
shows that an average woman works every day for a little over 
seven and half hours while an average man works for six and a 
half hours. Yet the work done by men is more visible because 
most of their work leads to generation of income. Women also do 
a lot of direct income generating work, but the bulk of their work 
is household related. This work remains unpaid and invisible.
participation of women in public life 
is very high. 
In our country, women still lag 
much behind men despite some 
improvement since Independence. 
Ours is still a male-dominated, 
patriarchal society. Women face 
disadvantage, discrimination and 
oppression in various ways:
? The literacy rate among women 
is only 54 per cent compared with 
76 per cent among men. Similarly, a 
smaller proportion of girl students 
go for higher studies. When we 
You can conduct a similar time use survey in your own 
household. Observe all the adult male and female members of 
your family for one week. Every day note down the number of 
hours each of them spends on the following activities: income 
generating activity (working at the office or shop or factory 
or field, etc.), household related activity (cooking, cleaning, 
washing, fetching water, looking after children or elders, etc.), 
reading and recreation, talking/gossiping, self-care, taking rest 
or sleeping. If necessary make new categories. Add up the time 
taken on each activity for a week and calculate the daily average 
for each activity for each member. Do women work more in your 
family as well?
Chapter 3.indd   32 08-04-2022   14:15:18
2024-25
Page 5


Gender, Religion and Caste 
29
Chapter 3
Gender, 
Religion and 
Caste 
Overview
The existence of social diversity does not threaten democracy. Political 
expression of social differences is possible and sometimes quite desirable 
in a democratic system. In this chapter we apply these ideas to the practice 
of democracy in India. We look at three kinds of social differences that 
can take the form of social divisions and inequalities. These are social 
differences based on gender, religion and caste. In each case we look at 
the nature of this division in India and how it gets expressed in politics. 
We also ask whether different expressions based on these differences are 
healthy or otherwise in a democracy. 
Chapter 3.indd   29 08-04-2022   14:15:08
2024-25
30
Democratic Politics
Gender and politics
Let us begin with gender division. 
This is a form of hierarchical social 
division seen everywhere, but is 
rarely recognised in the study of 
politics. The gender division tends 
to be understood as natural and 
unchangeable. However, it is not 
based on biology but on social 
expectations and stereotypes.
Public/private division
Boys and girls are brought up to 
believe that the main responsibility 
of women is housework and bringing 
up children. This is reflected in a 
sexual division of labour in most 
families: women do all work inside 
the home such as cooking, cleaning, 
washing clothes, tailoring, looking 
after children, etc., and men do all 
the work outside the home. It is not 
that men cannot do housework; they 
simply think that it is for women to 
attend to these things. When these 
jobs are paid for, men are ready to 
take up these works. Most tailors or 
cooks in hotels are men. Similarly, 
it is not that women do not work 
outside their home. In villages, 
women fetch water, collect fuel and  
work in the fields. In urban areas, 
poor women work as domestic 
helper in middle class homes, while 
middle class women work in offices. 
In fact, the majority of women do 
some sort of paid work in addition 
to domestic labour. But their work 
is not valued and does not get 
recognition.
The result of this division of 
labour is that although women 
constitute half of the humanity, their 
role in public life, especially politics, 
is minimal in most societies. Earlier, 
only men were allowed to participate 
in public affairs, vote and contest 
for public offices. Gradually the 
gender issue was raised in politics. 
Women in different parts of the 
world organised and agitated for 
equal rights. There were agitations 
in different countries for the 
extension of voting rights to women. 
A poster from Bengal affirming women’s 
strength. 
Sexual division of labour: 
A system in which all 
work inside the home 
is either done by the 
women of the family, 
or organised by them 
through the domestic 
helpers. 
Why not? If 
politics is about 
power, then 
surely male 
dominance in the 
household should 
be considered 
political.
Why are we 
discussing things 
like household 
work in this 
textbook on 
Political Science? 
Is this politics?
© Zuban 
Chapter 3.indd   30 08-04-2022   14:15:13
2024-25
Gender, Religion and Caste 
31
These agitations demanded 
enhancing the political and legal 
status of women and improving their 
educational and career opportunities. 
More radical women’s movements 
aimed at equality in personal and 
family life as well. These movements 
are called feminist movements.
Political expression of gender 
division and political mobilisation 
Discuss all these perceptions of an ideal woman that prevail in our society. Do you 
agree with any of these? If not, what is your image of an ideal woman?
Feminist: A 
woman or a man 
who believes in 
equal rights and 
opportunities for 
women and men. 
© Zuban 
on this question helped to improve 
women’s role in public life. We now 
find women working as scientists, 
doctors, engineers, lawyers, 
managers and college and university 
teachers which were earlier not 
considered suitable for women. In 
some parts of the world, for example 
in Scandinavian countries, such as 
Sweden, Norway and Finland, the 
Chapter 3.indd   31 08-04-2022   14:15:18
2024-25
32
Democratic Politics
Patriarchy: Literally, 
rule by father, this 
concept is used to 
refer to a system that 
values men more and 
gives them power 
over women.
Activities Men Women
Income generating work 6:00 2:40
Household and related work 0:30 5:00
Talking, Gossip 1:25 1:20
No work/ Leisure 3:40 3:50
Sleep, self-care, reading etc. 12:25 11:10
Daily time use (hours: minutes)
Source: Government of India, Time Use Survey, 1998-99.
+
A ‘time use survey’ was conducted in six states of our country. It 
shows that an average woman works every day for a little over 
seven and half hours while an average man works for six and a 
half hours. Yet the work done by men is more visible because 
most of their work leads to generation of income. Women also do 
a lot of direct income generating work, but the bulk of their work 
is household related. This work remains unpaid and invisible.
participation of women in public life 
is very high. 
In our country, women still lag 
much behind men despite some 
improvement since Independence. 
Ours is still a male-dominated, 
patriarchal society. Women face 
disadvantage, discrimination and 
oppression in various ways:
? The literacy rate among women 
is only 54 per cent compared with 
76 per cent among men. Similarly, a 
smaller proportion of girl students 
go for higher studies. When we 
You can conduct a similar time use survey in your own 
household. Observe all the adult male and female members of 
your family for one week. Every day note down the number of 
hours each of them spends on the following activities: income 
generating activity (working at the office or shop or factory 
or field, etc.), household related activity (cooking, cleaning, 
washing, fetching water, looking after children or elders, etc.), 
reading and recreation, talking/gossiping, self-care, taking rest 
or sleeping. If necessary make new categories. Add up the time 
taken on each activity for a week and calculate the daily average 
for each activity for each member. Do women work more in your 
family as well?
Chapter 3.indd   32 08-04-2022   14:15:18
2024-25
Gender, Religion and Caste 
33
Mummy always 
says to outsiders: 
“I don’t work. I 
am a housewife.” 
But I see her 
working non-stop 
all the time. If 
what she does is 
not work, what 
else is work?
look at school results, girls perform 
as well as boys, if not better in 
some places. But they drop out 
because parents prefer to spend their 
resources for their boys’ education 
rather than spending equally on their 
sons and daughters. 
? No wonder the proportion of 
women among the highly paid and 
valued jobs, is still very small. On 
an average, an Indian woman works 
one hour more than an average man 
every day. Yet much of her work 
is not paid and therefore, often 
not valued.
? The Equal Remuneration Act, 
1976 provides that equal wages 
should be paid to equal work. 
However in almost all areas of 
work, from sports and cinema, to 
factories and fields, women are paid 
less than men, even when both do 
exactly the same work.
?  In many parts of India, parents 
prefer to have sons and find ways to 
have the girl child aborted before 
she is born. Such sex-selective 
abortion led to a decline in child sex 
ratio (number of girl children per 
thousand boys) in the country to 
merely 919. As the map shows, this 
Can you identify 
your State on this 
map? What is the 
child sex ratio in 
it? How is it  
different from  
others with a  
different colour?
Identify the States 
which have child 
sex ratio below 
900.
Compare this map 
with the poster 
on the next page. 
How do the two of 
them tell us about 
the same issue?
Source: Census Report of 2011
Chapter 3.indd   33 08-04-2022   14:15:25
2024-25