Notes Class 9 Civics Chapter 3 Gender, Religion and Caste

Notes For All Chapters Civics Class 10 CBSE

Overview

• Democracy thrives on diversity; social differences don’t threaten it.
• But when these differences turn into divisions and inequalities, they can influence politics.
• Three main forms of social division in India:
  1. Gender
  2. Religion
  3. Caste
• The chapter explores how these differences are expressed in politics and whether their impact is positive or negative.

1. Gender and Politics

Gender Division

• A universal form of social division.
• Often treated as natural and unchangeable, but it is socially constructed (based on stereotypes, not biology).

Public/Private Division

• Traditionally, women confined to domestic work (cooking, cleaning, child-rearing).
• Men linked to work outside home.
• When domestic jobs are paid (cooks, tailors, helpers), men often dominate.
• Women also work outside:
  • In villages – fetching water, fuel, farming.
  • In cities – domestic helpers, office workers.
• Yet women’s work is undervalued and unrecognised.

Consequences

• Women = half the population but have minimal political participation.
• Earlier: voting rights & participation in politics were limited to men.
• Feminist movements: demanded equality in education, career, and family life.

Women’s Condition in India

• India is still a patriarchal society (male-dominated).
• Inequalities:
  • Female literacy = 54% vs male literacy = 76%.
  • Girls drop out earlier (families prioritise boys’ education).
  • Women earn less than men (despite Equal Remuneration Act, 1976).
  • Female foeticide → Child sex ratio (919 girls per 1000 boys, Census 2011).
  • Violence and harassment, even at home (domestic violence).

Women in Politics

• Women’s representation in legislatures is very low:
  • Lok Sabha (2019) → 14.36% women.
  • State Assemblies → less than 5%.
• India lags behind many nations (e.g., Nordic countries).
• Panchayati Raj: 1/3rd seats reserved for women in local bodies (over 10 lakh women representatives).
• Women’s Reservation Bill (1/3rd seats in Parliament & Assemblies) still pending.

Key Point: Women’s political participation improves when social inequality is raised as a political issue.

2. Religion, Communalism and Politics

Religion and Politics

• Religion influences politics in many ways:
  • Gandhiji: religion = moral values, should guide politics.
  • Human rights groups: protect minorities in riots.
  • Women’s movements: demand equal family laws across religions.
• Religion in politics is fine if:
  • All religions are treated equally.
  • It promotes ethics, values, and equality.

Communalism

• Problem arises when religion becomes the basis of politics.
• Features of communalism:
  1. Followers of one religion = one community with same interests.
  2. People of different religions cannot form one nation.
  3. Leads to majoritarian dominance or separatism.

Forms of Communalism

1. Everyday prejudices & stereotypes (belief in superiority of one religion).
2. Desire for political dominance by majority or minority.
3. Political mobilisation on religious lines (using symbols, leaders, emotional appeal).
4. Communal violence & riots (e.g., Partition, post-Independence riots).

Secularism in India

• Constitution ensures India is a secular state:
  • No official religion.
  • Freedom to practice, profess, propagate any religion.
  • Ban on religious discrimination.
  • State can intervene (e.g., abolishing untouchability).

Key Point: Communalism threatens democracy and the very idea of India. Secularism is essential for unity.

3. Caste and Politics

Caste Inequalities

• Unique to India, though all societies have inequality.
• Caste system = hereditary division of labour, sanctioned by rituals.
• Practices: marrying within caste, eating separately, untouchability.
• Reformers like Phule, Ambedkar, Gandhiji, Periyar worked to abolish caste discrimination.

Changes in Modern India

• Economic development, urbanisation, education weakened caste hierarchy.
• Constitution banned caste discrimination.
• Yet:
  • Caste persists in marriages.
  • Untouchability not fully eradicated.
  • Upper castes still dominate education and high-paying jobs.
  • Lower castes continue to face poverty and exclusion.

Caste in Politics

• Parties consider caste composition while nominating candidates.
• Appeals to caste sentiments common.
• Some parties seen as representatives of certain castes.
• Vote banks: when a caste supports a party, though not all members vote alike.

Politics in Caste

• Politics reshapes caste identities:
  • Castes merge with neighbouring castes to form larger groups.
  • Coalitions among castes.
  • Emergence of groups like “backward” and “forward” castes.

Positive Role

• Marginalised castes (Dalits, OBCs, Adivasis) gained political voice.
• Demanded dignity, land, resources, and equal opportunities.

Negative Role

• Excessive caste-based politics diverts attention from issues like poverty, development, corruption.
• Sometimes leads to conflict and violence.

Key Point: Caste in politics is a double-edged sword — it can empower disadvantaged groups but can also create unhealthy divisions.