Unit-I: Conceptualizing Gender
Topics:
• Constructing Sex and Gender: The biological differences between male and
female (sex) and how society constructs gender roles and expectations.
• Patriarchy: A social system where men hold primary power, dominating roles in
leadership, moral authority, and control of property.
• Sexual Division of Labour: The delegation of different tasks between males and
females in a society, traditionally with men in public work and women in
domestic roles.
• Construction of Sexuality: How society shapes and regulates sexual identities,
norms, and behaviors.
• Masculinity and Femininity: Social and cultural norms, roles, and behaviors
that define what it means to be "male" or "female."
Unit-II: Areas of Gender Discrimination
Topics:
• Family: Gender roles within the family, expectations for men and women.
• Sex Ratio: The imbalance in the ratio of males to females in a population due to
gender bias and practices like female infanticide.
• Literacy: Disparities in access to education between genders.
• Health: Gender-based health disparities, including access to healthcare.
• Governance: Representation of women in political institutions.
• Religion: Gender roles within religious institutions and practices.
• Work vs Employment: Gender discrimination in job opportunities, pay, and the
division between paid and unpaid labor.
• Market: Gender disparities in economic participation and ownership.
• Media: Representation of gender roles and biases in media.
• Politics: Gendered access to power in political spheres.
• Law: Legal rights and protections (or lack thereof) for different genders.
• Domestic Violence: Gendered patterns of abuse and violence within
households.
• Sexual Harassment: Harassment in workplaces and public spaces.
• State Policies and Planning: How government policies impact gender
discrimination and equality.
Unit-III: Gender and Family in India
Topics:
• Family as a Gendered Institution: The role of family in reinforcing gender norms
and expectations.
• Family as a Site of Violence: Domestic violence, including physical, emotional,
and economic abuse.
• Women as Honour and Shame of Caste, Religion, Clan: The burden placed on
women to uphold the honor of their communities, leading to control over their
sexuality and behavior.
Unit-IV: Women's Studies vs Gender Studies
Topics:
• UGC’s Guidelines on Gender Studies: The University Grants Commission’s
framework for gender studies in Indian academia.
• Beijing Conference and CEDAW: International frameworks for addressing
gender equality and women's rights:
o Beijing Conference: The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women,
which produced the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,
promoting gender equality.
o CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women): A key international treaty focused on women's rights.
• Exclusiveness and Inclusiveness: Differences in focus between women’s
studies (focused on women’s experiences and issues) and gender studies
(broader focus on gender roles, relationships, and identities).
Recommended Books:
1. Bhasin, Kamla (2000): Understanding Gender, Kali for Women, New Delhi.
o An accessible introduction to gender concepts, discussing how gender
roles are socially constructed.
2. Davis, Kathy; Evans, Mary; Lorber, J (eds) (2006): Handbook of Gender and
Women’s Studies, Sage, UK.
o A comprehensive guide on the academic study of gender and women’s
issues across various disciplines.
3. Geetha, V. (2002): Gender, Stree, Calcutta.
o A text examining the nuances of gender from an Indian perspective,
discussing the socio-cultural implications of gender roles.
