WHAT IS GENDER? Wiki definition: Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Are gender differences same as those based on sex?

SEX VS GENDER ● SEX : innate, biological ● GENDER: socialized, learned

PATRIARCHY MEANING Narrow, traditional Wider definition SEXISM?

WHY IS GENDER USED AS A BASIS FOR DIFFERENCE? Some other basis: ● Caste : ties with the Veda, “religious” aspects, “purity”, characterizes Indian society ● Class : stratification on the basis of status, economic power, occupation etc. ● Social stratification ● Culture analysis WHY GENDER THEN?

ANCIENT INDIA ● Glorious Vedic period ● Men and women enjoyed equal rights ● Women “ worshipped “ MEDIEVAL INDIA ● Advent of foreign/Muslim conquerors ● Deterioration in status of women ● Evil practices

COLONIAL PEROID ● Colonialists: Tool to justify their rule. ● Example: Sati abolition ● Nationalist: Tool to glorify their past. ● Revivalists/ Reformists Were women really the centre of concern?

The idea of Development Education as a parameter to study gender based discrimination GENDER INEQUALITY GENDER INEQUALITY Colonial/Post Colonial India Post Independence Female1%65%

Present Day Scenario Visible difference between the male and female literacy rate at the primary level Negative impact by the society Negative impact on the society Continuing trend if not acted against

Types of Gender based Inequality Mortality Inequality Natality Inequality Basic Facility Inequality Special Opportunity Inequality Professional Inequality Ownership Inequality Household Inequality

But then….

Why this gender based Inequalit y ? Factor - Society

Caste ClassGender No overlap with caste and class Overlap exists Gender ClassCaste Is Gender a separate entity?

India, along with Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, has had female heads of governments, which the United States or Japan has not yet had Point to ponder…..