SPL(VII) -LESSON-5 WOMEN CHANGE THE WORLD (LESSON NOTES)

 

SPL(VII) -LESSON-5

WOMEN CHANGE THE WORLD

(LESSON NOTES)

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v INTRODUCTION

Ø As you know that there are so much inequalities faced by women since earlier time. In this male-dominated society, they fail to avail equal privileges and opportunities. No, doubt, their position and status have been improved with the change of time, still, they lag behind in almost every field.

 

Ø In this chapter we will see that how some women break the stereotypes and come forward.

Ø This chapter will also briefly trace the different types of efforts made by the women’s movement to challenge discrimination.

v FEWER OPPORTUNITIES

Ø Even today also, most of people feel that women are fit only for certain kinds of jobs as a nurse. They are not fit for technical jobs. They are never seen as army officers, pilots, railway engine drivers, etc.

Ø By this they are creating stereotypes toward women. These stereotypes creating problems as-

§  Due to these stereotypes many girls do not get the same support that boys do to study.

§  It creates the less opportunities for women.

§  It also creates the discrimination and inequality.

v BREAKING STEREOTYPES

Ø Today’s women have become very aware. They are determined to break these stereotypes by excelling them in fields which were considered male preserves till now.

Ø We have now women pilots, engineers, police officers, scientists etc.

Ø We can mention here the name of Laxmi Lakra who by becoming an engine driver, showed the world that women can do everything.

v RIGID EXPECTATION

Ø Presently, we live in a society in which all children face pressures from their parents, society and from peer groups.

Ø Parents expectation are more and rigid from their children. Sometime they pressurise their sons to choose science and maths instead of humanities.

Ø These notions have no base. They must be eliminated from our mind. Subjects like history, political science, etc. are also job oriented.

v LEARNING IN EARLIER TIME

Ø Now a day’s school is an important part of life.

Ø But in the past, it was not there. Most children learnt the work from their family members or elders. They preferred to teach boys. women were only seen as supportive.

Ø In the nineteenth century, new ideas about learning and education appeared. But there was a lot of opposition to educating girls ever then.

Ø Yet many women and men made efforts to open schools for girls. Women struggled to learn to read and write.

v SOME WOMEN WHO STRUGGLED TO LEARN

v PANDITA RAMABAI

Ø Ramabai (1858–1922), played very important role in women’s education. She learnt to read and write from her parents. She was given the title ‘Pandita’ because she could read and write Sanskrit,

 

Ø She set up a Mission in Khedgaon near Pune in 1898, where widows and poor women were encouraged not only to become literate but to be independent.

Ø They were taught a variety of skills from carpentry to running a printing press, skills that are not usually taught to girls even today.

v ROKEYA SAKHAWAT HOSSAIN (1880–1932)

Ø She was born into a rich family. She knows Urdu but she wanted to learn English.

Ø Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain learnt English from her elder brother and an elder sister in spite of family opposition and went on to become a famous writer.

Ø She wrote a remarkable story titled Sultana’s Dream in 1905.

Ø This story imagined a woman called Sultana who reaches a place called Ladyland, a place where women had the freedom to study, work, and create inventions like controlling rain from the clouds and flying air cars.

Ø In 1910, she started a school for girls in Kolkata which is still functioning well.

v RASHSUNDARI DEVI

Ø Rashsundari Devi of Bengal was the first Indian woman to write an autobiography called ‘Amar Jiban’.

Ø It is the first known autobiography written by an Indian woman.

Ø She was a housewife from a rich landlord’s family. At that time, it was believed that if a woman learnt to read and write, she would bring bad luck to her husband and become a widow!

Ø Despite this, she taught herself. In his autobiography she told that how she learns the alphabet secretly.

v SCHOOLING AND EDUCATION TODAY

Ø Today both boys and girls attend school in large numbers. But the difference in their education Still Remain

§  India has a census every 10 years which counts the population data as literacy, sex-ratio, etc.

§  According to 2011 census there a large gap in the literacy rate of Male and Female-( Male-82% , Female-65%)

§  A huge number of SC and ST children leave school at an early age. The 2011 census even shows that Muslim girls are less likely than Dalit girls to complete primary school.

§  There are many reasons like –

·      Non-availability of teachers and schools,

·      Lack of transport,

·      Cost of education,

·      Indifferent attitude of teachers and parents

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM

v WOMEN’S MOVEMENT

Ø The position and status of women have undoubtedly improved a lot due to women movement.

Ø Individually and collectively struggled to bring about changes in the position of women are referred as the Women’s Movement.

 

Ø These movement are supported by men also. They used different strategies to fight against discrimination and seek justice.

Ø These movements are related to campaigning, raising awareness, protesting and showing solidarity.

v IMPORTANT POINTS

Ø Stereotype: Fixed image of a person and a community. It prevent us from looking at people as unique individuals.

Ø Discrimination: Treating people unequally.

Ø Violation: When someone forcefully breaks the law or a rule or openly shows disrespect, we often say that he/she has committed a violation.

Ø Sexual Harassment: Physical or verbal behaviour that is of a sexual nature and against a woman’s wishes.

Ø Protest: To raise voice against the wrong action or decision.

Ø Scheduled Caste (SC): It is the official term used for Dalit class of people.

Ø Scheduled Tribe (ST): It is the official term used for Adivasi class of people.

Ø Autobiography: Autobiography is the life sketch of the writer himself.

Ø Manuscript: The script written in the writer’s own handwriting.

Ø Census: Counting of population and other information as their age, schooling, what work they do, and so on is known as census. It held in every 10 years in India.

Ø International women Day- 8 March

Ø Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Compaign started in 2014.

Ø Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-UNO agenda to achieve some specific goal as remove poverty, equality, schooling for all etc. during 2015-30.