GENDER CASTE AND RELIGION CLASS 10 (CIVICS) NCERT NOTES

 GENDER CASTE AND RELIGION:

Social diversity is compatible with democracy.

Political expression of social differences is important for a democratic system.

Social Difference:

• based on gender, 
• religion, and 
• caste.

Gender and politics

Gender division:

A form of hierarchical social division seen everywhere, 

• But rarely recognised in politics. 

Gender division is understood as: 

• natural and 
• unchangeable. 

Note: It relies on societal norms and stereotypes , not biology.

Public/private division

Gender Roles and Division of Labor:

Boys and girls are raised with the belief that: 

• women's main role is: 
• Housework and 
• Child-rearing.

Leads to a sexual division of labor within families: 

Defition: 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.

women 

Handle all domestic tasks like: 

• cooking, 
• cleaning, 
• child care, 

Men: 

• outside work.

Note: Men also do housework; 

• But think it's mainly women work

When these tasks are paid, 

• Men readily participate, 
• Ex- Male tailors and cooks in hotels.

Women do engage in outside work too: 

Rural women:

• fetch water, 
• collect fuel, and 
• work in fields; 

Urban women: 

• Poor women work as domestic helpers in middle class homes, 
• Middle class women work in offices. 

Some women perform both:

• domestic labour
• sort of paid work

But their work is neither valued nor recognized.

Consequences of division of labour: 

Leads to limited women's role in public life, including politics.

Historically, 

• only men engaged in: 
• public affairs, 
• voting, and 
• running for office.

Feminist movements

Definition:  Feminist: A woman or a man who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men.

Gradually, gender equality became a political concern.

Example:

Worldwide women organized and protested for: 

• Equal rights.

Agitations led to efforts to: 

• Expand women's voting rights in various countries.
• 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. 

Political expression of gender division and political mobilisation:

Now women working as: 

• Scientists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, managers and college and university teachers: 

• Earlier not considered suitable for women. 

For example: 

High women's public participation.

In Scandinavian countries:

• Sweden, Norway and Finland, 

Low women's public participation.

In our country

• Despite progress since Independence, 
• The gender gap persists.
• Still a male-dominated, 
• patriarchal society. 

Definition: 

Patriarchy: Literally, rule by father, this concept is used to refer to a system that values men more and gives them power over women.

Challenges in patriarchal society:

Women face

• disadvantage, 
• discrimination and 
• oppression in various ways:

Example:

 Women’s literacy rate - only 54 %

• compared with 76 per cent among men. 

• Fewer girls pursue higher studies (Male✍️)

High dropout rates:

Girls excel in school, 

• even outperforming boys in certain cases. 

High dropout rates rises: 

• due to unequal resource allocation 
• favoring boys' education.

Women’s in highly paid and valued jobs: 

• Still very small. 

On average

• Indian women work longer hours than men, 
• But her work is not paid = not valued.

The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 

• Equal wages for equal work. 
• Gender pay gap persists across fields—sports, cinema, factories, and fields—despite equal work.

Declining child sex ratio

In many parts of India, 

• Parents prefer to have sons and
• Aborted girl child 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. 

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?

As the map shows:

This ratio has fallen: 

• below 850 or even 800 in some States.

Reports citing Women Isuues:

Reports of various kinds of: 

• Harassment, 
• Exploitation and 
• Violence against women. 

Urban areas: 

• unsafe for women. 
• Even within their own home from: 
• Beating, 
• Harassment and 
• Other forms of domestic violence.

Women’s political representation

Why?

Above Problems: 

• But Still not given adequate attention
• Feminists and women’s movements conclude:
• Unless women control power
• Their problem not get adequate attention

How?

• More women as elected representatives.

Women in Indian Legislature:

• Very low. 

For example: 

• In Lok Sabha (elected Womens) - 14.36 % of its total strength for the first time in 2019. 

• In state assemblies - less than 5 per cent. 

In comparision to world: 

India: 

• lies in the bottom group 
• Behind developing countries of Africa and Latin America. 

In the government;

• Cabinets dominated by male: 
• Even when a woman becomes: 
• the Chief Minister or 
• the Prime Minister.

How to solve the Problem:

• Legally require fair representation of women in elected bodies.

Example: Panchayati Raj in India. 

Seats are reserved for Women:

One-third in local government bodies:  

• In panchayats and 
• Municipalities 

More than 10 lakh elected women representatives in: 

• rural and 
• urban local bodies.

Women’s organisations and activists 

Demanding a similar reservation of at least one-third of seats in: 

• The Lok Sabha and 
• State Assemblies.

Challenges:

• A bill proposal pending before the Parliament for more than a decade. 

Why?

• No consensus amongst political parties. 
• The bill has not been passed.

Gender Division (social divisions in politics)

Gender division illustrates the importance of addressing social divisions in politics.

Disadvantaged groups benefit when social divisions become political matters.

- Could women have achieved their gains without raising unequal treatment in politics?

This cartoon offers an understanding of why the Women’s Reservation Bill has not been passed in the Parliament. Do you agree with this reading?

Religion, communalism and politics

Social division based on religious differences. 

• Countries like India have diverse religious populations.

In Northern Ireland: 

Most of the people belong to the same religion, 

• Serious differences exist in religious practices.

Unlike gender differences, 

• The religious differences are often expressed in the field of politics.

Consider the following:

Gandhiji say that: 

• Religion can never be separated from politics. 

He referred to religion as universal moral values, 

• Not specific faiths like Hinduism or Islam.

Believed that politics must be guided by: 

• Ethics drawn from religion.

Human rights groups argue that: 

• Religious minorities are the main victims of communal violence in our country.

Demanded that: 

• The government takes special steps to protect religious minorities.

Women’s movement and Religion:

• Argued that family laws of all religions discriminate against women. 

Family laws: Those laws that deal with family related matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, etc. In our country, different family laws apply to followers of different religions.

 

Demanded:

• Government should change these laws to make them more equitable.

From above discussions - 

Religion and politics don't seem dangerous.

If: Religious ideas can positively impact politics.

People should express religious needs in politics.

Political power can regulate religion to prevent discrimination.

• Regulation should treat all religions equally.

Communalism

Problem begins when religion is seen as: 

• The basis of the nation. 

The Northern Ireland example illustrates dangers of this nationalist approach.

More Acute Problem:

• When religion enters politics completely, 
• Creating conflict between followers.

Why conflict?

• Believing one religion is superior, 
• Demands of one religious group, 
• opposing others' demands, 
• Using state power for one group's dominance over others.

Communal politics Characteristics:

Definition: Using religion in politics is Known as communal politics.

Religion as the principal social community basis.

Communalism thinking 

Followers of a particular religion:

1. Must belong to one community. 

2. Their interests are the same. 

• Any differences are not important for the community.

3. Different religions belong to different social communities. 

4. Followers of different religions have some commonalities; 

• These are superficial and immaterial (Not Imp.)
• Their interests must be: 
• Different and 
• Involve a conflict. 

5. Extreme communalism denies: 

• Equal citizenship to people belonging to different religions within one nation.

• Either, one religious group dominates the rest or 
• They have to form different nations.

Example: Partition

This belief is fundamentally flawed. 

Same religion ≠ always same interests/goals

• Everyone has several other: 
• Roles, 
• Positions and 
• Identities. 

Communities have many voices, and 

• all deserve to be heard.

Uniting followers of a religion for non-religious issues: 

• can suppress diverse community voices.

**Therefore any attempt to bring all followers of one religion together in context other than religion is bound to suppress many voices within that community.**

Communalism can take various forms in politics:

Everyday Communalism beliefs:

• Religious prejudices, 
• Stereotypes of religious communities and 
• Belief in the superiority of one’s religion over other religions. 

**This is so common that we often fail to notice it, even when we believe in it.***

Communal Mind and Political Aspirations:

• Communal mindset seeks political dominance for one's religious group.
• Majority community aims for majoritarian dominance.
• Minority communities may desire a separate political entity.

Communalism through Political Mobilization:

Religious-based political mobilization is common.

To unite followers of one religion politically it uses: 

• Sacred symbols and leaders.
• Emotional appeal and 
• Fear tactics

In elections, special focus on one religion's interests or emotions.

 Extreme Face of Communalism: Violence and Riots

• Communalism can escalate to violence.
• Riots and massacres are the ugliest forms.
• India and Pakistan had severe riots during Partition.
• Post-Independence, large-scale communal violence persisted.

Secular state

Constitution makers were aware of the communalism challenge. 

To overcome this, adopt a secular state. 

(Non Interference by State)

Meaning:

• There is no official religion for the Indian state. 

Example:

• Buddhism in Sri Lanka, 
• Islam in Pakistan and 
• Christianity in England

• Our Constitution does not give a special status to any religion.
• The Constitution grants everyone the freedom to: 
• practice, 
• propagate, or 
• not follow any religion.
• The Constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion.

Indian Model of secularism:

Allows the state intervention in the matters of religion

Why?

• To ensure equality within religious communities. 

For example, 

Abolish untouchability.

Secularism - Foundations of our country. 

Communalism - 

• It threatens the very idea of India. 
• Needs to be combated. 

**A secular Constitution like ours is necessary but not sufficient to combat communalism. 

Communal prejudices and propaganda need to be countered in everyday life and religion- based mobilisation needs to be countered in the arena of politics.**

Caste and politics

Caste inequalities

Caste System in India: A Unique Social Division

1. Distinct to India: Unlike gender and religion, caste division is specific to India.

2. Universal Social Inequality: All societies have social inequality and labor divisions.

3. Occupational Continuity: 

• Most societies pass down occupations through generations.
• India's caste system is an extreme version of this phenomenon.

What differentiates Indian Society from others?

4. Ritual Sanctioned Division: 

• Ritual-backed hereditary occupational divisions.

Simplified: People's jobs were decided by their family traditions and confirmed through rituals.

5. Caste Community Bonds: 

Members of the same caste share: 

• occupations, 
• marriage within caste, and 
• restricted dining with other castes.

Caste System's Exclusion and Change in Modern India

1. Exclusion and Discrimination: Caste system excluded and discriminated against 'outcaste' groups.

• Untouchability's Cruelty: 'Outcaste' groups faced inhuman untouchability practices.

• Leaders' Efforts for Equality: 
• Jotiba Phule, 
• Gandhi ji, 
• B.R. Ambedkar, and 
• Periyar Ramaswami Naicker 

Aimed to remove caste inequalities.

Transformation Efforts in Modern India: 

Leaders work and 

socio-economic changes led to significant changes in: 

• castes and 
• The caste system.

2. Impact of Economic Growth: 

• Economic development, 
• large scale urbanization, 
• growth of literacy and education 
• occupational mobility 
• weakening of the position of landlords in the villages, 

                ðŸ‘‡ðŸ»

Breaking Caste Hierarchy

Caste's Evolution in Contemporary India

1. Urban Inclusivity: In urban areas, who we walk with or dine next to is less significant.

2. Constitutional Change: 

India's Constitution banned: 

• caste-based discrimination and 
• Initiated policies against caste injustices.

But:

• Caste still exists, 
• with some old features.

Example:

• Most marry within their caste; 
• untouchability persists 

3. Continuing Effects: 

Historical advantages/disadvantages affect us today.

• Castes that had educational access excel in modern education.
• Groups denied education lag behind.

Major reason responsible for Upper Caste Dominance in India.

Caste-Economic Nexus: Caste remains tied to economic position.

(See Plus Box on Page 41.)

Caste in politics

Similar to communalism:

• Casteism believes that caste is the sole basis of social community. 

Chracteristics:

Same caste peoples belong to: 

• A natural social community 
• Same interests 

Different from another caste. 

**However, experience disproves this belief, as shown in communalism.

Caste matters but isn’t the sole or most significant aspect of our lives..**

Caste can take various forms in politics:

Choosing party candidates in elections:: 

• Caste composition of the electorate and 
• Nominate candidates from different castes 

Why?

To muster necessary support to win elections. 

When governments form, 

political parties ensure representation of: 

• various castes and 
• tribes.

Caste Appeals and Political Affiliations

• Parties & candidates use caste appeals for support.
• Some parties favor specific castes, seen as representatives.

Why Leaders mobilising and securing political support:

• Universal adult franchise and 
• Principle of one-person-one-vote 

**It also brought new consciousness among the people of castes that were hitherto treated as inferior and low.**

Elections are all about caste and nothing else. 

Not true:

Election Required Multi caste Support:

No constituency has a single-caste majority; 

• candidates and parties require multi-caste support to win.

Vote Bank Politics:

Parties don't get all votes from a caste; 

• 'vote bank' means a large portion of that caste supports one party.

Candidates Caste:

Parties choose candidates from: 

• dominant caste in some constituency; 

Some voters have many candidates from same caste

While others have no candidate from their caste. 

Changing Votes Defy Caste Norms

Losing elections frequently:

• Ruling party and 
• The sitting MP or MLA 

Why?

Not possible if all castes froze to fixed political choices.

Conclusion:

• Although Caste is significant, 

but so are other factors. 

• Voters' party loyalty often outweighs caste ties. 
• Economic status influences interests even within a group. 
• Wealth, gender, and caste impact voting differences. 
• Government performance and leader popularity sway election outcomes.

Politics in caste:

1. Caste Influence on Politics:

   - Caste shapes politics, affecting who gets elected and what policies are pursued.

2. Political Influence on Caste:

   - Politics impacts caste by bringing it into the political sphere.

Forms of Political Influence on Caste:

1. Caste Group Expansion:

   - Each caste group tries to become bigger by incorporating within it neighboring castes or sub-castes which were earlier excluded from it.

2. Coalitions and Dialogues:

   - Caste groups form alliances with others, 

3. Emergence of New Caste Categories:

   - 'Backward' and 'Forward' caste groups arise in the political arena.

Caste's Role in Politics: A Double-Edged Sword

1. Empowering Disadvantaged Communities:

   - Caste-based politics provides marginalized groups like Dalits and OBCs a platform to demand their rightful share of power.

   - It aids in ending discrimination and improving access to resources and opportunities.

2. Challenges of Exclusive Caste Focus:

   - Overemphasis on caste identity, similar to religion-based politics, can be detrimental in a democracy.

   - It can distract from critical issues like poverty, development, and corruption.

   - Caste divisions sometimes result in tension, conflict, and violence.

In essence, caste's role in politics can be both empowering and divisive. While it empowers marginalized communities, exclusive focus on caste identity can hinder progress and lead to social unrest.

pg: 39 Social and Religious Diversity of India 1. How does the Census of India record the religion of each individual, and what is the significance of recording it in this manner? 2. According to the passage, what changes have occurred in the proportion of the six major religious communities in India since Independence? 3. What common misconception regarding the proportion of Muslims in India's population does the passage address, and what do expert estimates suggest about this proportion in the future? 4. What social groups are counted by the Census of India, and how do they differ from one another? 5. Why is there a difference in the estimated population proportion of Other Backward Classes (OBC) in India between the Census and the National Sample Survey of 2004–05, and how do these groups relate to the overall population of the country?

Caste Inequality India: pg: 41 Read the passage and answer the following questions: 1. How did caste historically regulate access to resources and educational opportunities in India, and what is the current legal status of such explicit caste-based inequalities? 2. What are the lingering effects of centuries of caste-based inequalities, even though explicit discrimination has been outlawed? 3. How has the relationship between caste and economic status evolved in recent decades, and what changes have occurred in the distribution of wealth among different caste groups? 4. According to the National Sample Survey evidence mentioned, how does caste continue to be strongly linked to economic status in India, and what are the patterns of economic well-being among various caste groups? 5. What disparities in terms of economic status are observed among different caste groups, and how does this relate to the historical caste hierarchy in India?