Chapter 3 – Gender, Religion and Caste – Notes - 2023-24

Important Key Words

Sexual division of labour:

• In a sexual division of labor, all household work is either carried out by the women in the family or managed by them with the assistance of domestic helpers.

Feminist:

• A person, whether a woman or a man, who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men.

Urbanization:

• Urbanization means the movement of people from rural areas to urban areas.

Occupational Mobility:

• Occupational mobility is when individuals switch from one job to another. This often happens when a new generation chooses different occupations from their ancestors.

Caste Hierarchy:

• Caste hierarchy is like a ladder where all caste groups are arranged from the "highest" to the "lowest" castes. It's a way of ranking different castes in a social order.

What is Gender Division?

Gender division means how society treats and expects people to act based on whether they are seen as a boy or a girl.

Sometimes, this can be unfair because it might give more advantages to one gender and limit opportunities for the other. It happens at workplace, education, household, and culture.

To make things fair, we should make sure that everyone, no matter their gender, gets the same chances and isn't judged by stereotypes or rules about how they should act or look.

Private and Public Division

• Historically, women had limited roles in public life, like politics, as only men were allowed to participate, vote, and run for public offices.
• Feminist Movement : But over time, people started to talk about this and wanted to make things fairer for women. They wanted women to have the same rights and opportunities as men in education and careers. So, Feminist movements emerged to improve women's political and legal status, as well as their educational and career opportunities.
• In India, a male-dominated, patriarchal society, women face disadvantages and discrimination in several ways:
• The literacy rate among women is lower at 54% compared to 76% among men.
• Women often work longer hours than men, but much of their work goes unpaid. The Equal Remuneration Act of 1976 aims to ensure equal pay for equal work.
• Sex-selective abortion practices have resulted in a decline in the child-sex ratio, with fewer girls being born compared to boys.
• Urban areas have become increasingly unsafe for women.

What is Patriarchy?

Patriarchy means a society where men are in charge and have more power than women. This can result in women having fewer opportunities and not being treated fairly.

What is Patriarchal society?

A patriarchal society is one where men usually have more power and control than women. In this kind of society, men often make important decisions, while women are expected to take care of the home. This can lead to unequal treatment and opportunities for women.

Political Representation of women

• Women's often don't receive enough attention in society.
• Many feminists and women's groups believe that women need to be in positions of power to have their problems taken seriously.
• In India, in 2014, women made up 12 % of the Lok Sabha members, marking a significant increase. However, in state assemblies, women's representation is less than 5 percent.
• To address women's issues, one solution is to make sure there are enough women in elected roles.
• In local government bodies like Panchayats and Municipalities, one-third of the seats are reserved for women.
• Currently, there are more than 10 lakh elected women representatives in rural and urban areas.
• This shows that sometimes, it's important to make sure that groups that don't have as much power, like women, are part of the political process to address their concerns.

Problem Facing by women in society

• Women often have a tough time because they are treated unfairly in different ways. Here are some of the problems they face:
• Pay Gap: Yet Equal wages Act available, Women usually get paid less than men, even when they do the same job.
• Violence: Women can sometimes be hurt by others just because they are women. This includes things like domestic violence at home or unwanted advances from people.
• Not Enough Women Leaders: There aren't as many women in charge of important things like businesses or governments. This means they don't have as much say in important decisions.
• Reproductive Rights: Some places make it hard for women to make choices about their own bodies, like deciding if they want to have children or not.
• Too Much Work at Home: Women often have to take care of the family and the house without getting paid. This can make it hard for them to work outside the home or go to school.
• Biases and Stereotypes: People sometimes treat women differently because they think all women should act a certain way. This isn't fair and can stop women from doing what they want.
• Healthcare Issues: Women might not always get the same attention as men when they're sick. This can make their health worse.
• School Problems: In some places, girls don't get a chance to go to good schools, which makes it hard for them to learn and get good jobs. The literacy rate of women is 54% as compared to men 76%.

What steps can be taken to enhance women's representation in legislatures?

• By Reserved Seat : To make sure more women are part of the government, we can have a rule that says some seats must always be for women. Just like in local village elections (Panchyat election) where one-third of the seats are reserved for women. In some places like Uttarakhand, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, they even reserve half of the seats for women.
• Support from Political Parties: Political parties can help by encouraging and supporting women who want to come in politics.
• By Changing How People Think: We can change the way people think about women in politics. This means we challenge old ideas and stereotypes.
• By Women's Groups and Networks: Women can team up and support each other in politics, making it easier for them to succeed.

The schemes and strategies implemented by Indian government for empower women

• The Indian government has enacted several important acts and legislations to promote and protect the rights and empowerment of women in the country. Like –
• The Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (Amendment 2005): This amendment grants daughters equal rights in ancestral property.
• Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: This act prohibits the giving or receiving of dowry at or before a marriage.
• Maternity Benefit Act, 1961: This legislation provides for maternity leave and other benefits to working women.
• The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976: This act mandates equal pay for equal work for men and women.
• Prohibition of Sex Selection Act, 1994: This act aims to prevent the misuse of technology for sex-selective abortions.
• National Commission for Women Act, 1990: This establishes the National Commission for Women (NCW).
• Domestic Violence Act, 2005: This law aims to protect women from physical, emotional, economic, and verbal abuse within the home.
• Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006: This act sets the legal age for marriage at 18 for women and 21 for men.
• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013: This act requires employers to establish mechanisms for addressing complaints of sexual harassment.
• To empowering women Indian Government implemented various scheme to foster social and economic development. Like –
• The Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme (RGNCS), 2006: This scheme implemented to working women.
• Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY), 2000: This scheme is aimed at empowering adolescent girls.
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), 2017: This scheme aims to provide financial assistance to pregnant and lactating mothers for their maternity and health needs.
• Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP), 2015: This initiative aims to address the declining child sex ratio and promote the education and protection of girls.
• Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK), 2017: MSK is a center for empowering rural women through skill development, training, and awareness programs.
• National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), 2011: NRLM aims to empower rural women by providing them with self-employment opportunities.
• Support to Training and Employment Program for Women (STEP), 1986: STEP promotes skill development and employment opportunities for women by providing training and financial support.
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK), 1993: RMK offers micro-credit and financial services to women.

Religious Differences and Politics

• People can be divided based on their religion, and this happens in many countries, including India.
• Even when most people share the same religion, they might have different ways of practicing it.
• Unlike gender differences, religious differences often come into play in politics.

Gandhi's View on Religion and Politics

• Mahatma Gandhi believed that politics and religion are connected. He meant that politics should follow the good values found in all religions, not a specific one like Hinduism or Islam.

Human Rights and Religious Minorities

• Some human rights groups in our country argue that during communal riots (violent clashes between religious groups), most of the victims are from smaller religious communities. They want the government to take special actions to protect these minority groups.

Women's Rights and Family Laws

• The women's movement in our country has a concern. They think that family laws in different religions treat women unfairly. They want the government to change these laws to make them more equal for women.

Religion and Politics Relationship

• Using values from different religions in politics is not a bad thing. People should be able to express their needs and demands based on their religious beliefs.
• Those in power should sometimes regulate religious practices to prevent discrimination and oppression. This is fine as long as all religions are treated equally.

What is Communalism?

• Communalism is a social and political phenomenon where individuals prioritize their religious or ethnic identity over their national identity.
• It is often leading to divisions, conflicts, and sometimes violence between different religious or ethnic communities.
• It can also involve political exploitation, exclusivity, segregation, and social and economic inequalities.

Communalism and Religion

• The problem starts when religion is seen as the foundation of a nation. Example- Northern Ireland illustrates the dangers of this approach to nationalism.
• The problem becomes more serious when religion is used in politics exclusively, where one religion and its followers are set against another. This occurs when one religion's beliefs are portrayed as superior, and the demands of one religious group oppose another.
• Communal Politics: State power is used to establish dominance of one religious group over others. This type of political use of religion is called communal politics.
• Communal politics is based on the idea that religion is the main basis of a social community. It involves thinking in the following way:
• People of the same religion must belong to one community with identical fundamental interests. Any differences among them are considered irrelevant.
• This also implies that people of different religions cannot be part of the same social community, as their interests are believed to conflict.
• Extreme Communalism: In extreme cases, communalism leads to the belief that people of different religions cannot live as equal citizens within one nation. 
• It suggests that one religious group must dominate the rest or that they should form separate nations. 
• This belief is flawed because people of one religion have diverse interests and identities in different contexts.
• Forms in Politics: Communalism can take various forms in politics, including everyday beliefs involving religious prejudices and the belief in the superiority of one's religion. 
• It can also involve a quest for political dominance by one's religious community or political mobilization based on religious lines. 
• This might use sacred symbols, religious leaders, emotions, or fear to unite followers of one religion in the political arena.
• In some cases, communalism can lead to communal violence, riots, and massacres. India and Pakistan experienced severe communal riots during the Partition.

Family laws

• Family laws deal with matters like marriage, divorce, adoption, and inheritance. In our country, different family laws apply to different religions.

What is Secular State?

A secular state is one where the government remains neutral in matters of religion. It treats all religions equally, ensures religious freedom for all citizens, separates religion from politics, and safeguards the rights of religious minorities.

Secular State and Combating Communalism

• Communalism has been a significant challenge to democracy in India. The framers of our Constitution recognized this challenge and chose a secular state as the model for India.
• This choice is reflected in several constitutional provisions:
• India has no official state religion, unlike countries like Sri Lanka (Buddhism), Pakistan (Islam), or England (Christianity).
• The Constitution grants all individuals and communities the freedom to practice any religion they choose or not follow any religion at all.
• Discrimination on religious grounds is prohibited by the Constitution.
• The Constitution also permits state intervention in religious matters to ensure equality within religious communities. For example, it outlaws untouchability.
• Secularism is not just a belief held by some individuals or political parties; it is a fundamental principle of our country.
• Communalism doesn't threaten only specific individuals; it threatens the very essence of India. Therefore, it needs to be actively countered.
• While a secular Constitution is essential, it alone is not enough to combat communalism. To fight communalism effectively:
• Communal biases and propaganda must be addressed in everyday life.
• Political mobilization based on religion should be countered in the political arena.

Caste and Politics in India

• Caste inequalities are unique to India. In this system, hereditary occupations were sanctioned by rituals, and members of the same caste group practiced similar occupations, married within the caste, and did not eat with members from other castes.
• The caste system also involved the exclusion of and discrimination against "outcaste" groups, who were subjected to the inhuman practice of untouchability.
• Reformers like Jotiba Phule, Gandhiji, B.R. Ambedkar, and Periyar Ramaswami Naicker worked to eliminate caste inequalities.
• Economic development, urbanization, education, and weakening of the position of landlords have led to changes in the caste system.
• Despite these changes, caste still plays a role in contemporary India, with most people marrying within their caste, and some aspects of untouchability persisting.
• Caste groups with historical access to education have done well in acquiring modern education, leading to a large presence of "upper caste" individuals in urban middle-class communities.
• Caste continues to be closely linked to economic status.

Caste in Politics

• Casteism is rooted in the belief that caste is the primary basis of social community, but this belief is not fully supported by experience.
• Caste can influence politics in various ways:
• Political parties select candidates based on the caste composition of the electorate to secure necessary support in elections.
• Appeals to caste sentiments are made by political parties and candidates to garner support.
• Universal adult franchise and the principle of one-person-one-vote have empowered previously marginalized castes.
• While caste matters in politics, it's not the only factor. Elections involve multiple castes, and no party wins votes from all members of a caste or community.
• Voters often have a strong attachment to political parties, which can outweigh their caste or community affiliation.
• People from the same caste may have different voting preferences based on economic conditions.
• Elections are influenced by government performance and the popularity of leaders.
• So, caste plays a role in Indian politics, but elections are influenced by various factors, including party loyalty, government performance, and individual economic conditions.

Politics in the Caste

• Caste influences politics, but it's a two-way relationship. Politics also affects the caste system and caste identities by involving them in political matters. It's not politics that becomes caste-focused; it's caste that becomes involved in politics.
• This involvement takes various forms:
• Caste groups may try to expand by including neighboring castes or sub-castes that were previously excluded.
• Caste groups often form coalitions with other castes or communities, engaging in dialogue and negotiation.
• New categories of caste groups have emerged in politics, such as "SC, ST " and "OBC" caste groups.
• Caste plays different roles in politics. Sometimes, expressing caste differences in politics provides space for disadvantaged communities to demand their share of power. This has helped people from Dalits and OBC castes gain better access to decision-making.
• Many political and non-political organizations advocate for ending discrimination against specific castes, seeking more dignity, and improving access to land, resources, and opportunities.
• However, focusing on caste in politics can have negative consequences. Similar to religion-based politics, caste-based politics alone isn't very healthy for democracy. It can divert attention from other crucial issues like poverty, development, and corruption. In some cases, caste divisions lead to tension, conflict, and even violence.

Census of Religion and Caste in India

• The Census of India records the religion of every Indian once every ten years. Census workers visit each household and record the religion of each person based on their self-description. Even if someone claims to have "no religion" or be an "atheist," it is accurately recorded.
• This provides reliable information about the proportions of different religious communities in the country and how they have changed over time.
• Since Independence, the total population of each community has increased substantially, but their proportions have remained relatively stable. In percentage terms, the populations of Hindus, Jains, and Christians have slightly declined since 1961, while the proportions of Muslims, Sikhs, and Buddhists have increased slightly.
• Contrary to the common impression, the proportion of Muslims in the country's population is not expected to overtake other religious communities significantly. Expert estimates suggest a modest increase of about 3 to 4 percent over the next 50 years.
• Similarly, among caste groups, the Census recognizes two main categories: Scheduled Castes (Dalits) and Scheduled Tribes (Adivasis). Scheduled Castes were previously considered "outcastes" in the Hindu social order and faced exclusion and untouchability. Scheduled Tribes lived secluded lives in hills and forests and had limited interaction with the rest of society. In 2011, Scheduled Castes accounted for 16.6 percent of the population, and Scheduled Tribes for 8.6 percent.
• The Census does not count the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Different sources provide varying estimates for their proportion in the population. The National Sample Survey of 2004–05 estimated their population to be around 41 percent.
• Together, the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs make up about two-thirds of the country's population and about three-fourths of the Hindu population.