Class -7 Civics Chapter -5

Women change the world

Exercise Question & Answer

Q-1. How do you think stereotypes, about what women can or cannot do, affect women’s right to equality?

Ans-Stereotypes about what women can or cannot do affect women’s right to equality because they are termed weak and incapable of doing strong work. It is because of this reason that women are called inferior to men. They are paid fewer salaries/ wages than their men counterparts.

Q-2. List one reason why learning the alphabet was so important to women like Rashsundari Devi, Ramabai, and Rokeya.

Ans- Learning the alphabet was so important to these women because only after that they became able to write stories, letters, and autobiographies which described their own experiences of inequality.

Q-3. “Poor girls drop out of school because they are not interested in getting an education”. Re-read the last paragraph on page 62 and explain why this statement is not true.

Ans-  This statement, “Poor girls dropout of school education” is not true because of the following reasons:

1.   There are no facilities in rural areas, especially in Adivasi areas.

2.   Not even proper schools.

3.   No teacher in the schools on regular basis.

4.   No schools near their homes.

5.   No transport facilities if the schools are far away.

6.   Families too poor to afford schooling expenses.

7.   Discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, religion or sex.

8.   Preference for boys for education and not girls.

Q-4. Can you describe two methods of struggle that the women’s movement used to raise issues? If you had to organise a struggle against stereotypes, about what women can or cannot do, what method would you employ from the ones that you have read about? Why would you choose this particular method?

Ans- Two methods of struggle that the women’s movement used are :-

1.   Campaigning: To fight discrimination and violence against women. Women groups spoke against dowry deaths, sexual harassment. Laws were formulated in 1997 to protect women against sexual harassment. Anti dowry laws were passed in the 1980’s.

2.   Raising awareness: It is an important part to raise public awareness about women’s rights issues. Public rallies, demonstrations were the methods used.

3.   We would use raising awareness. This way we will be able to let people know about the discrimination and gather their support raising awareness.

4.   It is a creative and positive way of expressing the views and thoughts of people on the concerned issues and involving more people.

5.   This way the people who are clueless about women’s problems or are unaware would also be involved.