what is gender?, gender inequality, factors responsible for gender inequality, goverments work and social reformers

1. ROLE OF GENDER

2. What is Gender?
 ‘Gender’ is a socio-cultural term referring socially
defined roles and behaviors assigned to ‘males’ and
‘females’ in a given society
 Either of the two sexes (male and female), especially
when considered with reference to social and
cultural differences rather than biological ones. The
term is also used more broadly to denote a range of
identities that do not correspond to established ideas
of male and female.

3. Gender Inequality
 Gender inequality refers to unequal treatment or
perceptions of individuals based on their gender.
 Nature doesn’t discriminate men from women. But
women worldwide have been the victim of inequality not
only in terms of social and political rights but also on
grounds of employment opportunities.
 Gender Inequality, in simple words, may be defined as
discrimination against women based on their sex.
Women are traditionally considered by the society as
weaker sex. She has been accorded a subordinate
position to men. She is exploited, degraded, violated and
discriminated both in our homes and in outside world.

4. Types of Gender Inequalities
 Most common types that we experience on daily
basis are:
1. Discrimination in education and health
2. Discrimination in employment
3. Wage discrimination
4. Morality inequality
5. Nationality inequality
6. Ownership Inequality

5. Factors responsible for Gender Inequality
 Women suffer from many disabilities and few of them
are:
1. Low status of women in the society
2. Discrimination against the girl child
3. Female infanticide
4. Neglect of female education
5. Child marriage
6. The dowry system
7. No permission for widow remarriage
8. Sati system
9. No right to inherit property

6. Laws by Government for welfare of women
 The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace
(PREVENTION, PROHIBITION and REDRESSAL) Act,
2013
 The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948
 The Plantation Labour Act, 1951
 The Family Courts Act, 1954
 The Special Marriage Act, 1954
 The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
 The Hindu Succession Act, 1956 with amendment in
2005
 Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
 The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (Amended in 1995)
 Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961

7.  The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971
 The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act,
1976
 The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
 The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
 The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1983
 The Factories (Amendment) Act, 1986
 Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act,
1986
 Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987
 The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act,
2005

8. Some other efforts made by Government
 Since the time of Independence, gender inequality
is considered as hindrance in progress and various
steps taken for empowerment of women.
1. Women are given the equal rights to vote
2. Equal share in the property of her parents
3. Declaring Dowry as illegal
4. Women’s education

9. Social Reformers
 Raja ram mohan roy- was the founder of the
Brahmo Sabha movement and laid stress on
women’s education and widow remarriage. He also
worked for prohibition of Sati system.
 Swami dayanand saraswati- founded Arya
Samaj and laid stress on equality of both the sexes
and advocated the education of women.
 Sir syed ahmed- demanded a ban on the Purdah
System and Polygamy in the Muslim society. He also
advocated education for Muslim women.