gender studies

2. GENDER - ORIENTATION
By
M. NAWAZ KHALID ARBI
MSc. Gender & Women Studies, MA (English), LLB
Cell # 0321-9467207 Email: nawazkhalid123@gmail.com

3. What is Gender
SEX
 BIOLOGICAL:
 MALE OR FEMALE:
Physical category, Natural,
Born with.
 CANNOT BE CHANGED
GENDER
 ACQUIRED
 FAMININE & MASCULINE
 SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED
 CAN BE CHANGED
 IT DETERMINES
ROLES,RELATIONSHIPS
BETWEEN MAN &
WOMEN
 It is influence by: Class,
Race, Age, Culture,
Religion, Politics, War,
Education etc

4. Gender Stereotypes
• These are related to gender roles (which are
assigned to the sexes).
• So stereotyping ignores the vast individual
difference that exist between male &female.
• Could be generalizations.

5. Common Stereotypes
GIRLS/WOMEN
• Weak
• Dependent
• Emotional
• Fragile
• Passive
• Soft spoken
• Secretaries
• Nurturing
• Gentle
• Caretakers
BOYS/MEN
• Powerful
• Independent
• Rational
• Protector
• Active
• Force full
• Bosses
• Casual /Assertive
• Strong
• Achievers

6. Differential Socialization
Various agencies reinforce stereotypes:
 FAMILY
 SCHOOL/TEACHERS/CURICULLA
 PEER GROUPS
 MASS MEDIA
 ROLE MODELS
 IMITATION
 EXPECTATIONS
 DIVISION OF LABOUR
 LANGUAGE
 CLASS, OCCUPATION, RACIAL & CULTURAL VARIATIONS
 GENDER BOUNDARIES----PUBLIC & PRIVATE SPACES

7. Cycle Of Change
• Values & Attitudes
• Perpetuating Institutions
• Gender Practices

8. Feminism is a Belief
Definition of Feminism-- It is an awareness of women’s:
 Oppression
Subordination
Marginalization
Discrimination.
Exploitation in society e.g. family, work…
Conscious action by women & men to change women’s
situation.

9. Feminism may be understood as:
 Feminism is a belief that women universally face
some form of oppression or exploitation.
Feminism is a social movement to change the
position of women.
Feminism is a commitment to uncover &
understand the causes of oppression & it also
commits to work individually & collectively to end
authoritarianism.

10. Feminist is a person who:-
 Holds that women suffer discrimination.
 Advance women’s interests.
 Advocacy of the claims of women.
 Support need of radical change in the social,
economic, political & legal orders.

11. Feminist
So a feminist is any one who
recognizes the existence of
discrimination on the basis of
gender (sexes) , male dominance
& patriarchy & who takes some
action against it.

12. AGENDA OF FEMINISM
It has many dimensions including:
Analysis of gender roles.
Patriarchy.
Class struggle.
National liberation.
Poverty & Development.
Dowry killing.
Violence against women.
Religious exploitation.
………………………………………

13. What is Patriarchy?
• The word patriarchy literally means the rule of the father or
the ‘patriarch’, and originally it was used to describe a
specific type of ‘male-dominated family’--- the large
household of the patriarch which included women, junior
men, children, slaves and domestic servants all under the
rule of this dominant male.
• Now it is used more generally to refer to male domination, to
the power relationship by which men domination & is
characterized as a system whereby women are kept
subordinate in a number of ways.

14. PATRIARCHY
It varies from class to class, race to race, in ethnicity,
period of history….
 The nature of control can differ.
 From our grandmothers to our mothers 7 to us.
 It differ from upper class women , tribal women etc.
 Hindu, Muslim, European, African etc.
 Cultural & Social practices vary.

15. PATRIARCHAL CONTROL
Women’s production or labour power.
Women’s reproductive power.
Control of women’s sexuality & its
exploitation.
Control women’s mobility.
Control on property & economic recourses.

16. PATRIARCHY IS A SYSTEM
It permeates in every institution in society which makes it invisible &
natural.
 Family.
 Social Relations.
 Religious Beliefs.
 Laws.
 Education.
 Text Books.
 Media.
 Employment.
 Work environment.
 State.
 Military & so on.

17. MANIFESTATION OF PATRIARCHY
 Different forms of discrimination.
• Destroys self respect.
• Subordination.
• Self-Esteem.
• Sets limits on aspirations
• Courageous initiatives/act is condemned (unfeminine).
• Violation of defined roles & spaces is considered shameless
& be-perda.

18. PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES &
PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH OF WOMEN

19. OBJECTIVE
• Concept of Health & Wellbeing
• Psychosocial Issues of Women
• Impact on Health
• Psychiatric Disorders

20. Psychosocial Issues
• Gender Preference
Cultural, Sociopolitical background
• Illegal Abortion
• Infanticide
• Injustice in the hands of Loved ones (parents)
• Quality of Diet, Fear of early physical maturity
• Quality of Education

21. • Over expectations/Responsibilities
• Employment/ Limited Jobs
• Underpaid
• Harassment at Work Place
• Decision making in Marriage
• Exchange marriages/Marriage with Qurraan
• Late Marriages, in search of matching, avoidance
• Pregnancy/Infertility
• Quitting job after marriage

22. • Violence against Women
• Domestic violence ( private matter )
• Spouse Abuse , Marital Rape.
• Burning to death ( Kitchen stove bursts )
• Acid burn victims
• Honor killing ( Karro kaari )
• Attack at Malaala

23. Understanding Bases of Violence
• Intrinsic/Extrinsic Factors
• Individual Personality
• Education less than Husband
• Witnessed Violence in childhood
• Power, Decision maker
• Employment of Women-Independence
Privilege/ Right

24. • Early Marriage
• Dowry (Jahez)
• Women with no children or no male child
• Mother’s in law role
• Zan, Zar & Zameen, Source of evil
• Inheritance-NO Share
• Women exchanged to settle disputes

25. • Stress of Physiological changes
• Menarche
• Pregnancy
• Menopause
• Old Age

26. Major issues and concerns for women
• Denial of fundamental rights
- right to life
- right to movement (mobility)
- right to citizenship
- right to information
- right to vote
- right to education, health, reproductive health
- right to choice marriage
- right to own land, property
- right to inheritance
- right to play, fine arts etc.

27.  All men are created equal (key word here is men),
 She is wrapped around my little finger
 Shake it off, be a man
 Cry like a little girl
 You throw [a ball] like a little girl
•Men are the head of the household
•Women don't know anything about guy stuff
•Men don't have feelings
•Big boys don't cry
•Man's achievements
•The best man for the job
•If a man drove 50 miles at 60 m
•she (ex. Isn’t she a beauty? like when a guy talks about his car etc.),
•guys (when you mean both men and women or sometimes just one of the
genders),
Sexist Expressions

28. Sexist Words
 mankind
manhood
man-made
Manly
manhours
manpower,
man the desk
Manpower Planning
chairman,
policeman
postman
foreman

30. Neutral Words

People
Human beings
Staffing
chairperson
camera operator."
business people
Humankind
Human Resource
Workforce

31. • Women Are Born Unclean
• Intellectually Inferior
• Physically Week
• Mother Of Evils
• Foundation Of Devil
• Gateway To Hell
• Dependent
• Emotional
• Fit Or Private Place
Clinches

32. THANKS --QUESTIONS