Role of Gender Chapter Notes | Footprints Class 7: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

Social Aspects of Gender

• Gender broadly refers to the roles, activities, rights, behavior, responsibilities, and attributes that a particular society considers suitable for men and women.
• From birth, gender identity impacts an individual's personal and social life.

Gender and Sex

• Gender: Social classification into men and women.
• Sex: Biological distinction between male and female.
• Gender focuses on the societal differences in social domains, roles, and responsibilities between men and women.

Stereotypes

A stereotype is a very firm and simple idea about what a particular type of person or thing is like, or how a person should or should not behave.

Expected Roles of Boys and Girls in the Family

• Women are often not considered the primary breadwinners of the family.
• If women do take up work, soft occupations like teaching and nursing are considered more appropriate for them.
• The responsibility of household chores lies with the women and not men.

Differential Treatment of Boys and Girls in a Family

• Girls are denied equality in terms of food, basic health facilities, and educational opportunities by parents.
• Girls are expected to help in domestic chores while boys are deliberately kept away from the same.

In India, the mortality rate of girls is higher than that of boys, leading to issues like female foeticide and female infanticide.

Expected Roles of Boys and Girls in the Community

Historically, women were considered emotionally and intellectually inferior, limiting their political participation. Positive changes are being introduced by the Government of India to improve the status of women.

Expected Roles of Boys and Girls in Schools

• Girls in many countries have fewer opportunities for education than boys.
• Girls face obstacles like performing household chores, early marriage, lack of encouragement for education, and limited subject choices.
• Despite these challenges, girls have shown success in board examinations.

Expected Roles of Boys and Girls in Public Spaces

Society often restricts women to traditional roles and subjects them to various forms of violence and harassment. Laws exist to protect women's rights, but more effort is needed to address crimes and inequalities.

Understanding Inequality

• A patriarchal society considers a woman's home as her primary space and her primary role as that of a homemaker.
• A woman has been traditionally considered a secondary participant who follows the decisions of the menfolk.
• This lowers the status of women in society and creates gender inequality.
• Women in different arenas of public life have, over the years, dared to break stereotypes and rise to positions of power, authority, and knowledge.
• However, these achievements are, perhaps, very insufficient in the light of the discrimination which women have been subject to since ancient times.
• Women need to be adequately represented in institutions which make crucial decisions for them.
• In addition, support systems for women, flexible working hours, and most importantly, an environment that favors gender equality are necessary.

The government has introduced several schemes and programs to tackle the growing problems of female infanticide, female foeticide, and female illiteracy. The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme, launched in 2015 has the following objectives:

• Prevention of gender-biased sex-selective elimination
• Ensuring survival and protection of the girl child
• Ensuring education and participation of the girl child

For families that fall in the low-income bracket, the Conditional Cash and Non-cash Transfer Scheme was proposed. Under these schemes, cash and non-cash transfers shall be provided to the family of the girl child that fulfills certain conditions such as birth registration, immunization, enrollment, and retention in school. The scheme also provides for the marriage expenses of the girl child after she becomes an adult.

Economic Aspects of Gender

• Industrial Revolution in 18th century England brought significant changes.
• Women entered schools, factories, and offices due to economic needs, education rise, urbanization, nuclear families, and consumerism.
• In India, women work in both informal and formal economy sectors.

Women in the Informal Sector

• Engage in untaxed, unmonitored activities like agriculture, processing, and marketing.
• Tasks include weeding, milling, beekeeping, handicrafts, and selling produce.
• Supplement family income but lack benefits like medical insurance and job security.

Women in the Formal Sector

• Contribute to organized sectors like schools, banks, offices, and hospitals.
• Receive benefits like sick leave, maternity leave, and medical insurance but are paid less than men.
• Gender equality in pay is still an issue.

Division of Labour within the Family

• Men work outside, women manage households and nurture children.
• Women have little time for personal pursuits due to family responsibilities.

Invisibilisation of Women's Labour

• Domestic and caregiving roles are undervalued in society.
• Rural women balance household duties with economic activities.
• Urban women face expectations of professional success alongside homemaking.

Empowerment of Women

• Enhance education, job opportunities, institutional representation.
• Provide equal opportunities disregarding gender differences.
• Challenge stereotypes for gender equality and societal progress.