Gender caste and politics

Gender caste and politics

• 1.
  Gender division This isa form of hierarchical social division seen everywhere This is reflected in a SEXUAL DIVISION OFLABOUR their role in public life,especially politics, is minimal in most societies. Women in different parts of the world organised and agitated for equal rights More radical women’s movements aimed at equality in personal and family life as well. These movements are called FEMINIST movements. We now find women working as scientists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, managers and college and university teachers which were earlier not considered suitable for women
• 2.
  Traces of genderdiscrimination l The literacy rate among women is only 54 per cent compared with 76 per cent among men the proportion of women among the highly paid and valued jobs is still very small The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976women are paid less than men, even when both do exactly the same work In many parts of India parents prefer to have sons There are reports of various kinds harassment, exploitation and violence against women.
• 3.
  Political representation ofwomen unless women control power, their problems will not get adequate attention. For example, the percentage of elected women members in Lok Sabha has crossed 10 per cent of its total strength Their share in the state assemblies is less than 5percentage cabinets are largely all-male
• 4.
  Efforts it legally bindingto have a fair proportion of women in the elected bodies One-third of seats in local government bodies – in panchayats A bill with this( one third reservation) proposal has been pending before the Parliament for more than a decade
• 5.
  relationship between religionand politics Gandhiji used to say that religion can never be separated from politics. Human rights groups in our country have argued that most of the victims of communal riots in our country are people from religious minorities. Women’s movement has argued that FAMILY LAWS of all religions discriminate against women. Ideas, ideals and values drawn from different religions can and perhaps should pay al role in politics treat every religion equally
• 6.
  communalism The problem beginswhen religion is seen as the basis of the nation. religion is expressed in politics in exclusive and partisan terms beliefs of one religion are presented as superior to those of other religions state power is used to establish domination of one religious group over the rest The followers of a particular religion must belong to one community It also follows that people who follow different religions cannot belong to the same social community community
• 7.
  various forms in politics: andbelief in the superiority of one’s religion over other religions For those belonging to majority community, this takes the form of majoritarian dominance Political mobilisation on religious lines Sometimes communalism takes its most ugly form of communal violence
• 8.
  Secular state There isno official religion for the Indian state. The Constitution provides to all individuals and communities freedom to profess, practice and propagate any religion The Constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion At the same time, the Constitution allows the state to intervene in the matters of religion in order to ensure equality
• 9.
  caste hereditary occupational divisionwas sanctioned by rituals practiced the same or similar occupation, married within the caste group and did not eat with members from other caste groups.
• 10.
  socio-economic changes, large scaleURBANISATION, growth of literacy and education, OCCUPATIONAL MOBILITY and the weakening of the position of landlords in the villages, the old notions of CASTE HIERARCHY are breaking down. The Constitution of India prohibited any caste-based discrimination
• 11.
  aspects of castehave persisted most people marry within their own caste or tribe. Untouchability has not ended completely, despite constitutional prohibition lagged behind in modern education closely linked to economic status
• 12.
  various forms inpolitics When parties choose candidates in elections, they keep in mind the caste composition of the electorate and nominate candidates from different castes Political parties and candidates in elections make appeals to caste sentiment political leaders to gear up to the task of mobilising and securing political support
• 13.
  Arguments against No parliamentaryconstituency in the country has a clear majority of one single caste. No party wins the votes of all the voters of a caste or communit Many political parties may put up candidates from the same caste The ruling party and the sitting MP or MLA frequently lose elections in our country The voters have strong attachment to political parties
• 14.
  Politics in caste Eachcaste group tries to become bigger by incorporating within it neighbouring castes or sub- castes Various caste groups are required to enter into a coalition with other castes New kinds of caste groups have come up in the political arena like ‘backward’ and ‘forward’ caste groups.