๐ Class 10 Political Science – Chapter 4
๐ Gender, Religion and Caste ๐
๐ง๐ค๐ง Gender and Politics
- Gender division is often seen as natural & unchangeable, but it is actually based on social expectations & stereotypes (เคชूเคฐ्เคตाเค्เคฐเคน).
๐ Public vs. Private Division
- Women = half of humanity ๐ฉ๐ฆฑ, but minimal role in politics & public life.
- Earlier → only men could vote ๐ณ️ & contest elections.
- Gradually → gender issue raised in politics → demand for:
- Political & legal status of women ๐
- Better education & career opportunities ๐
- Movements started by women for equality in personal & family life → called Feminist Movements ✊
๐บ Women in Patriarchal (เคชुเคฐुเคท-เคช्เคฐเคงाเคจ) Society
India is male-dominated (Patriarchal) → women face discrimination & oppression:
- ๐ Literacy Rate → Women: 54%, Men: 76%
- ⏰ Women work 1 hour more daily than men → most of their work is unpaid
- ⚖️ Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 → equal wages for equal work
- ๐ผ Sex-selective abortion → decline in child-sex ratio (girls per 1000 boys)
- ๐️ Urban areas → unsafe for women
๐ณ️ Women’s Political Representation
- Women’s issues → not given adequate attention.
- Feminists argue → unless women control power, problems won’t be solved.
- Lok Sabha (2014) → Women’s representation reached 12%.
- State Assemblies → Less than 5% women.
- Local Bodies (Panchayats & Municipalities) → 1/3rd seats reserved for women → now 10 lakh+ elected women representatives.
๐ Gender division proves that social divisions must be expressed in politics.
๐ Disadvantaged groups benefit when their issues become political.
๐ Religion, Communalism and Politics
๐ Religion in Politics
- Religious differences are often expressed in politics.
- India → followers of many religions ๐⛪๐️✡️
- People should be free to express their needs, interests & demands as a member of a religious community.
⚔️ Communalism (เคธांเคช्เคฐเคฆाเคฏिเคเคคा)
๐ Definition → Use of religion in politics.
Forms of Communalism in Politics:
- When one religion is presented as superior to others.
- When demands of one religious group oppose another.
- When state power is used to dominate other religions.
Expressions of Communalism:
- Everyday beliefs → religious prejudices & stereotypes.
- Desire for political dominance of one’s religion.
- Political mobilisation → use of sacred symbols, leaders, emotional appeal, fear.
- Worst form → communal riots, violence, massacre (e.g., Partition of India & Pakistan).
๐️ Secular State (เคงเคฐ्เคฎเคจिเคฐเคชेเค्เคท เคฐाเค्เคฏ)
India is a Secular State ๐ฎ๐ณ
Features:
- ๐ซ No official religion in India.
- ๐ Freedom to profess, practice & propagate any religion (or none).
- ⚖️ No discrimination on religion basis.
- ๐ฅ State can intervene in religion to ensure equality (e.g., ban on untouchability).
๐ช Caste and Politics
๐ Caste Inequalities
- Caste system = based on hereditary occupations.
- Same caste → same occupation, marry within caste, eat separately.
- With development & urbanisation → old caste hierarchy is weakening.
- Indian Constitution → banned caste discrimination ✊ & introduced policies to reduce caste-based injustices.
๐ณ️ Caste in Politics
Caste plays a role in politics in different ways:
- Political parties → select candidates ensuring caste balance.
- Election campaigns → appeal to caste sentiments.
- Parties raise caste-based issues to gain support.
- Lower castes became more aware of voting rights & power.
๐ But caste is not the only factor in elections:
- Candidates need support from multiple castes/communities.
- No party can win support of all voters of one caste.
- Some voters have multiple candidates from their caste; some have none.
- Performance of government & popularity of leaders also affect results.
Power keeps changing → elections bring new MLAs/MPs.
๐ณ️ Politics in Caste
Politics also influences caste system & caste identities by bringing them into the political arena.
๐น Key Points:
- Each caste group tries to become bigger by including neighbouring castes or sub-castes.
- Different caste groups form alliances ๐ค with other castes/communities → enter into dialogue & negotiation.
- New kinds of caste groups emerged in politics → ‘Backward’ & ‘Forward’ caste groups.
- Caste plays different roles in politics:
- Sometimes → helps in representation & mobilisation.
- Sometimes → leads to tensions, conflicts & even violence ⚔️.
