Gender Studies (HISIDC-151)
FYUG Even Semester Exam, 2025

Course No: HISIDC-151 | Semester: 2nd | Full Marks: 70

Exam Duration: 3 Hours | Pass Marks: 28

UNIT-I

Question 1 1 × 4 = 4 Marks

(a) What is gender?

Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, expressions, and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and gender-diverse people.

(b) From which word the term 'gender' is derived?

The term 'gender' is derived from the Old French word 'gendre', which itself comes from the Latin word 'genus', meaning "kind," "type," or "sort".

(c) "The scope of gender study is multi-disciplinary." Is this statement true or false?

True. Gender studies draws from fields such as sociology, history, literature, and psychology.

(d) Name one social institution which shapes gender identity.

The Family is a primary social institution that shapes gender identity from childhood.

(e) State one difference between gender studies and women studies.

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Women's studies focuses primarily on the experiences and status of women, whereas gender studies examines the broader social construction of both masculinity and femininity and the relations between them[span_12](end_span).

Question 2 2 Marks

Option A

(a) Point out two theories of gender studies.

  • Liberal Feminism: Focuses on achieving gender equality through political and legal reform.
  • Social Constructionism: Posits that gender is not an innate biological trait but is created by society.
Option B

(b) What do you mean by social construction of gender?

The social construction of gender is the theory that society and culture create gender roles and that these roles are prescribed as appropriate behavior for a person of that specific sex.

Question 3 8 Marks

Option A

(a) Analyze the emergence and development of gender studies.

Gender studies emerged as an academic field in the late 20th century, evolving from Women’s Studies. Its development can be traced through several stages:

  • Roots in Feminism: The field grew out of second-wave feminism in the 1960s and 70s, which sought to bring women's voices into academia.
  • Shift from Women to Gender: By the 1980s, scholars realized that analyzing women in isolation was insufficient. They began focusing on the relationships between men and women, leading to the broader term "Gender Studies".
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  • Interdisciplinarity: It integrated insights from sociology, history, and humanities to understand how power dynamics are gendered[span_23](end_span).
  • Contemporary Focus: Today, it includes masculinity studies and queer theory, looking at how gender intersects with race and class.
Option B

(b) Discuss the differences between gender studies and women studies.

Feature Women's Studies Gender Studies
Focus Focuses exclusively on women's experiences and history. Focuses on the social construction of all genders (men, women, non-binary).
Perspective Gynocentric (women-centered). Relational (examines power between genders).
Scope Aims to correct the historical exclusion of women. Analyzes gender as a category of social organization.

UNIT-II

Question 4 1 × 4 = 4 Marks

(a) Name one women writer of ancient India.

Ghosha or Lopamudra (Vedic period poets).

(b) Name the Mauryan princess who was a great Buddhist missionary.

Sanghamitra, the daughter of Emperor Ashoka.

(c) Point out one social evil related to women during the Sultanate Period.

The Purdah system or the practice of Sati were prevalent during this period.

(d) Name the Mughal princess who played a significant role against emperor Shah Jahan.

Jahanara Begum (though she was his daughter and supporter, in political conflicts involving his sons, she played a key role in the imperial court). Note: In the context of the question regarding opposition, the princess might refer to Roshanara Begum who supported Aurangzeb against Shah Jahan's chosen successor.

(e) Who was Mirabai?

Mirabai was a 16th-century Hindu mystical poet and a celebrated devotee of Lord Krishna, a key figure in the Bhakti movement.

Question 5 2 Marks

Option A

(a) Name two highly influential women of ancient India.

  • Gargi (philosopher).
  • Prabhavatigupta (Vakataka queen regent).
Option B

(b) Name any two female Bhakti Saints of India.

  • Mirabai.
  • Andal or Akka Mahadevi.

Question 6 8 Marks

Option A

(a) Discuss the position of women during the Sultanate Period.

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The position of women during the Sultanate period saw a general decline compared to earlier periods, marked by increased restrictions[span_51](end_span):

  • Social Restrictions: The Purdah (veiling) system became widespread among upper-class Muslim and Hindu women.
  • Education: Formal education was limited mostly to women of the royal family or upper nobility.
  • Legal Status: Women had limited property rights, though Islamic law provided some inheritance rights that were often ignored in practice.
  • Exceptional Leaders: Despite restrictions, figures like Razia Sultan emerged as sovereign rulers, showing that merit could occasionally break barriers.
Option B

(b) Review the status of women during the Mughal Period.

In the Mughal period, the status of women varied greatly between the royalty and the common masses:

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  • Royal Influence: Queens like Nur Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal held significant political power and influenced state policy[span_59](end_span).
  • Literary Contributions: Princesses like Gulbadan Begum (author of Humayun-nama) were highly educated and literate.
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  • Social Evils: Sati, Jauhar, and child marriage continued to exist in Hindu society, while the Harem system restricted the movement of royal Muslim women[span_62](end_span).
  • Economic Role: Common women were involved in agriculture, weaving, and spinning, contributing significantly to the economy.

UNIT-III

Question 7 1 × 4 = 4 Marks

(a) Name the British Governor-General who banned the 'Sati' system.

Lord William Bentinck in 1829.

(b) Name the prominent social reformer who played a significant role against the 'Sati' system.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

(c) What was the age of consent for girls according to 'Age of Consent Bill'?

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The Age of Consent Act, 1891, raised the age from 10 to 12 years[span_70](end_span).

(d) In which year was the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act passed?

1856.

(e) Name the first women's college of India.

Bethune College, Kolkata (established in 1879).

Question 8 2 Marks

Option A

(a) What was the minimum age of marriage for girls and boys according to Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929?

Commonly known as the Sarda Act, it fixed the age at 14 years for girls and 18 years for boys.

Option B

(b) Name two social reformers who contributed for women education during the colonial period.

  • Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
  • Jyotirao Phule (along with Savitribai Phule).

Question 9 8 Marks

Option A

(a) Write a note on Age of Consent Bill.

The Age of Consent Bill (1891) was a landmark legislative effort to protect young girls from early sexual consummation:

  • Context: It was sparked by the tragic death of Phulmoni Dasi, a 10-year-old girl, due to marital rape.
  • Advocacy: Reformers like Behramji Malabari campaigned vigorously for the bill.
  • The Law: It raised the legal age of consent for sexual intercourse for all girls (married or unmarried) from 10 to 12 years.
  • Opposition: It faced intense opposition from conservative groups (including Bal Gangadhar Tilak) who saw it as British interference in Indian religious customs.
Option B

(b) Discuss the development of women education in the colonial period.

Women's education in colonial India evolved through three major influences:

  • Missionary Efforts: Christian missionaries opened the first girls' schools in the early 19th century.
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  • Indian Reformers: Leaders like Vidyasagar and Phule established schools specifically for girls and marginalized communities, arguing that education was key to social progress[span_90](end_span).
  • Government Policy: The Wood’s Despatch (1854) for the first time officially recognized and encouraged female education, leading to the establishment of government-aided schools.

UNIT-IV

Question 10 1 × 4 = 4 Marks

(a) Name one women leader of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Basanti Devi or Sarojini Naidu.

(b) Who is known as the Nightingale of India?

Sarojini Naidu.

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(c) Name one prominent women leader of the Quit India Movement in Assam.[span_97](end_span)

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Kanaklata Barua or Pushpalata Das[span_99](end_span).

(d) Name one women revolutionary martyr of Bengal.

Pritilata Waddedar or Matangini Hazra.

(e) Who led the Jhansi Regiment of INA?

Captain Lakshmi Sahgal.

Question 11 2 Marks

Option A

(a) Who was Sarojini Naidu?

A distinguished poet and political activist, she was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress (1925) and the first woman Governor of an Indian state (UP).

Option B

(b) Who was Kanaklata Barua?

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A teenage revolutionary from Assam who was martyred while leading a procession to hoist the national flag at Gohpur police station during the Quit India Movement in 1942[span_108](end_span).

Question 12 8 Marks

Option A

(a) Examine the role of women in Quit India Movement.

Women played a heroic and unprecedented role in the 1942 Quit India Movement:

  • Leadership in Absence: When top male leaders were arrested, women took charge. Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the flag at Mumbai’s Gowalia Tank Maidan.
  • Mass Participation: Women led processions, distributed banned literature, and organized strikes.
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  • Assam Context: Young Kanaklata Barua sacrificed her life in Assam, becoming a symbol of resistance[span_114](end_span).
  • Underground Activities: Usha Mehta operated a secret radio station to spread the message of the movement.
Option B

(b) Review the role of women in the Revolutionary Movement of India.

Women were not just passive supporters but active participants in armed struggle:

  • Direct Action: Pritilata Waddedar led the raid on the Chittagong European Club.
  • Shooting Incidents: Bina Das fired at the Governor of Bengal during a convocation ceremony.
  • Logistical Support: Many women sheltered revolutionaries and transported weapons.
  • Martyrdom: Figures like Matangini Hazra showed extreme bravery, holding the tricolor even after being shot.

UNIT-V

Question 13 1 × 4 = 4 Marks

(a) Who was the founder of Women's Indian Association?

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Annie Besant (along with Dorothy Jinarajadasa and Margaret Cousins) in 1917[span_124](end_span).

(b) In which year was the National Council for Women formed?

1925.

(c) When was the All-India Women's Conference formed?

1927.

(d) Who was the first President of All-India Women's Conference?

Maharani Chimnabai Gaekwad of Baroda.

(e) In which year was Dowry Prohibition Act passed?

1961.

Question 14 2 Marks

Option A

(a) Mention two aims of National Council of Women.

  • To promote the social, civil, and moral welfare of women.
  • To provide a common platform for various women's organizations in India.
Option B

(b) State two provisions of Dowry Prohibition Act.

  • Taking or giving dowry is a punishable offense with imprisonment and fines.
  • Any agreement for the giving or taking of dowry is void.

Question 15 8 Marks

Option A

(a) Give an account of Women's Indian Association.

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The Women's Indian Association (WIA), formed in 1917 in Adyar, Madras, was a pioneer in the women's movement[span_141](end_span):

    [span_143](start_span)
  • Inception: Founded by Margaret Cousins and Annie Besant to address the needs of Indian women[span_143](end_span).
  • Political Focus: It was the first organization to demand women’s suffrage (the right to vote) in India.
  • Journalism: It published the journal Stri-Dharma to voice concerns regarding female education and child marriage.
  • Nationwide Scope: It opened branches across India, creating a network for social reform and political awareness.
Option B

(b) Write a note on the Act prohibiting Domestic Violence, 2005.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, provides a civil remedy for victims of domestic abuse:

  • Wide Definition: It covers physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and economic abuse.
  • Right to Residence: It guarantees the victim's right to live in the shared household.
  • Protection Orders: Magistrates can issue orders to prevent the abuser from communicating with or approaching the victim.
  • Scope: It applies not just to wives but to all women in "domestic relationships" (live-in partners, mothers, sisters).

Exam Focus Enhancements

Exam Tips

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  • Highlight the difference between "Gender" and "Sex" if asked for a definition of gender studies[span_154](end_span).
  • In revolutionary movement questions, emphasize the shift from passive resistance to active armed participation.

Common Mistakes

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  • Confusing the 1891 Age of Consent (12 years) with the 1929 Child Marriage Restraint Act (14 years)[span_157](end_span).
  • Mixing up the years of formation for WIA (1917) and AIWC (1927).

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: Who founded the Sarda Act? A: Harbilas Sarda (Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929).
  • Q: What is 'genus' in Latin? A: It means "kind" or "sort," the root of 'gender'.

Important Laws List

  • 1829: Sati Prohibition Regulation.
  • 1856: Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act.
  • 1961: Dowry Prohibition Act.
  • 2005: Domestic Violence Act.

Answer Presentation Strategy

For short questions (1 mark), provide a direct, one-sentence answer. For long questions (8 marks), use an introduction, at least 4 clear bullet points with detailed explanations, and a concluding remark on the historical significance of the topic.

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