CBSE Class 10 · Gender, Religion and Caste

Gender and Politics Class 10: Division, Discrimination and Representation

Updated 14 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Gender division is a hierarchical social division based not on biology but on social expectations and stereotypes. It shows in the sexual division of labour, where housework is left to women, so women's role in public life stays small. Feminist movements made it political. Indian women still face lower literacy, unequal pay, sex-selective abortion and low representation in legislatures.

Follow the arrows: gender division comes from social stereotypes, not biology, and feminist movements challenged it, yet gaps remain.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Gender and Politics

Gender division. A form of hierarchical social division found everywhere but rarely studied in politics. It is often treated as natural and unchangeable, but it is not based on biology; it rests on social expectations and stereotypes.

Public/private division and the sexual division of labour.

Boys and girls are raised to believe that women's main job is housework and bringing up children.
Sexual division of labour: a system in which all work inside the home is done by the women of the family or organised by them through domestic helpers; men do the work outside.
Men can do housework; they think it is for women. When such work is paid, men take it up: most tailors or hotel cooks are men.
Women do work outside: in villages they fetch water, collect fuel and work in fields; in cities poor women work as domestic helpers and middle-class women in offices. Most women do some paid work besides domestic labour, but their work is not valued or recognised.
Result: although women are half of humanity, their role in public life, especially politics, is minimal in most societies.

Political mobilisation. Earlier only men could vote and contest. Women organised and agitated for equal rights and voting rights, better political and legal status, and education and careers. More radical feminist movements sought equality in personal and family life too. (Feminist: a woman or man who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men.) This improved women's public role: they now work as scientists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, managers and teachers. In Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Norway and Finland, women's participation in public life is very high.

India: a patriarchal society. Patriarchy means, literally, rule by father: a system that values men more and gives them power over women. Indian women face disadvantage and discrimination:

Literacy: only 54 per cent among women compared with 76 per cent among men; fewer girls go for higher studies because parents prefer to spend on sons, though girls perform as well as boys.
Work and pay: an average woman works about one hour more than a man every day, but much of her work is unpaid and not valued. The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 provides equal wages for equal work, yet women are paid less in almost all areas.
Sex-selective abortion: has lowered the child sex ratio to 919 (Census 2011), and below 850 or even 800 in some States.
Violence: harassment, exploitation and violence, including domestic violence; urban areas have become particularly unsafe.
Time use survey (1998-99, six States): an average woman works a little over seven and a half hours a day, a man about six and a half, but men's work is more visible because it earns income.

Women's political representation. Feminists argue that unless women control power, their problems will not get attention. Women in the Lok Sabha reached 14.36 per cent for the first time in 2019; in State Assemblies, less than 5 per cent. One-third of seats in panchayats and municipalities are reserved for women, giving over 10 lakh elected women representatives. In 2023, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women's Reservation Act) was passed to give 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies and the Delhi Assembly.

The lesson. Gender shows that some social divisions need to be expressed in politics: disadvantaged groups benefit when their unequal treatment becomes a political issue.

Gender and Politics: key facts

Gender division: Hierarchical social division based on social expectations and stereotypes, not biology
Sexual division of labour: All work inside the home done or organised by women; men work outside; Public/private division.
Feminist and patriarchy: Feminist: believes in equal rights for women and men. Patriarchy: system valuing men more and giving them power over women
Discrimination data: Literacy women 54% vs men 76%
Child sex ratio 919 (Census 2011)
Work woman works ~1 hour more daily
Law Equal Remuneration Act 1976
Representation: Lok Sabha women 14.36% (2019, first time)
State Assemblies < 5%
Local bodies 1/3 seats reserved, > 10 lakh women
Women's Reservation Act 2023 33%
Lesson: Disadvantaged groups benefit when social divisions become political issues; Gender = positive expression of division.

Literacy	women 54% vs men 76%
Child sex ratio	919 (Census 2011)
Work	woman works ~1 hour more daily
Law	Equal Remuneration Act 1976

Lok Sabha women	14.36% (2019, first time)
State Assemblies	< 5%
Local bodies	1/3 seats reserved, > 10 lakh women
Women's Reservation Act 2023	33%

How to answer Gender and Politics questions

Expect MCQs on terms and data, 2- and 3-mark answers on the sexual division of labour or forms of discrimination, 5-mark answers on women's disadvantage and representation, and source items using NCERT's time use table.

1Define gender division and stress that it is social, not biological.
2For the division of labour, give the pattern and the contradiction (paid housework done by men).
3For discrimination, give named areas with data: literacy, pay, sex ratio, violence.
4For representation, give the Lok Sabha figure, the State Assembly figure, local reservation and the 2023 Act.
5End with why gender must be expressed in politics.

Gender and Politics in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Invisible unpaid work

Imagine a student whose mother says, 'I don't work, I am a housewife,' yet the student sees her cooking, cleaning, looking after grandparents and helping with homework from morning to night.

Using NCERT, explain why such work is called 'not work' and why this matters for gender equality.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Recall the sexual division of labour: housework is assigned to women.
Such work is unpaid, so it is not valued or recognised.
Time use data: women work more hours than men, but men's work is visible because it earns income.
Unrecognised work keeps women's public and political role small.

Answer: The mother's work is unpaid household labour, so society does not count it as 'work', even though NCERT's time use survey shows women work longer hours than men each day. Because it earns no income, it stays invisible and undervalued. This sexual division of labour keeps women tied to the private sphere and limits their role in public life and politics.

Memory hook: Unpaid is not the same as no work.

Tricks to remember Gender and Politics

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

54-76-919
Women's literacy 54, men's 76, child sex ratio 919.
Use it when: Data MCQs.
L-W-S-V
Literacy, Wages, Sex ratio, Violence: four ways women are disadvantaged.
Use it when: 5-mark discrimination answer.
14.36 in 2019, 33 in 2023
Lok Sabha women reached 14.36% in 2019; the 2023 Act promises 33%.
Use it when: Representation questions.

Gender and Politics: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: What gender division rests on · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

Gender division, according to NCERT, is based on:
(a) biological differences alone
(b) social expectations and stereotypes
(c) religious laws
(d) economic class

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

NCERT states gender division is not based on biology but on social expectations and stereotypes (1 mark).

Answer: (b) social expectations and stereotypes

Example 2: Sexual division of labour (2 marks) · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

What is meant by the sexual division of labour? Give one example of how it shows in society. (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

A system in which all work inside the home is done by the women of the family or organised by them through domestic helpers (1 mark).
Example: men think housework is for women, yet when such work is paid, men do it, so most tailors and hotel cooks are men (1 mark).

Answer: It is a system where all work inside the home is done or organised by women of the family. For example, men think cooking is women's work, yet when it is paid, men take it up: most hotel cooks and tailors are men.

Example 3: Assertion-reason: women's visible work · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

Assertion (A): An average Indian woman works longer than an average man every day, yet her work is less visible.
Reason (R): Most of a man's work generates income, while the bulk of a woman's work is unpaid household work.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The time use survey links visibility to income generation; R explains A (1 mark).

Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Example 4: Women's disadvantage (5 marks) · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level

'India is still a male-dominated, patriarchal society.' Support the statement by describing the ways in which women face disadvantage and discrimination. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Patriarchy values men more and gives them power over women (1 mark).
Literacy among women is only 54 per cent against 76 per cent for men; girls drop out as parents prefer spending on sons (1 mark).
Few women in highly paid jobs; women work about an hour more daily, but much of it is unpaid; despite the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, they are paid less (1 mark).
Sex-selective abortion has lowered the child sex ratio to 919, and below 850 or 800 in some States (1 mark).
Harassment, exploitation and violence, including domestic violence; low share in legislatures (14.36 per cent in Lok Sabha in 2019, under 5 per cent in Assemblies) (1 mark).

Answer: Patriarchy means a system that values men more and gives them power over women, and Indian women still face it. Female literacy is only 54 per cent against 76 per cent for men, and girls often drop out because parents prefer to spend on sons. Few women hold highly paid jobs; a woman works about an hour more than a man daily, but much of it is unpaid, and despite the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, women are paid less for the same work. Sex-selective abortion has lowered the child sex ratio to 919. Women face harassment and domestic violence, and their political presence is low: 14.36 per cent of the Lok Sabha in 2019 and under 5 per cent of State Assemblies.

Example 5: Source: the time use survey · 4 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Read the source and answer the questions.

Source (NCERT, from the Government of India Time Use Survey, 1998-99, conducted in six States): Daily time use (hours:minutes): Income generating work: men 6:00, women 2:40. Household and related work: men 0:30, women 5:00. Talking, gossip: men 1:25, women 1:20. No work/leisure: men 3:40, women 3:50. Sleep, self-care, reading: men 12:25, women 11:10.

(i) How much time does an average woman spend daily on household and related work? (1)
(ii) Add up the hours each spends on income-generating and household work. Who works more in total? (1)
(iii) Why is the woman's work less recognised, and what does this show about the sexual division of labour? (2)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(i) 5 hours (1 mark).
(ii) Women: 2:40 + 5:00 = 7:40; men: 6:00 + 0:30 = 6:30; women work more (1 mark).
(iii) Most of the woman's work is household work, which is unpaid, so it is invisible and not valued (1 mark).
(iii) It shows that housework is assigned to women while men's work is outside and paid, so women's contribution stays hidden (1 mark).

Answer: (i) 5 hours. (ii) Women work 7 hours 40 minutes (2:40 + 5:00), men 6 hours 30 minutes (6:00 + 0:30), so women work more. (iii) Most of the woman's work is unpaid household work, so it is invisible and not valued, while men's work earns income and is seen. This reflects the sexual division of labour, which assigns housework to women and keeps their contribution hidden.

Example 6: Why gender belongs in politics (3 marks) · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

'Gender division is an example that some form of social division needs to be expressed in politics.' Explain. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Women organised and agitated for voting rights, better legal status and education and career opportunities (1 mark).
This political mobilisation improved women's role in public life: they became scientists, doctors, lawyers, managers; Scandinavian countries show very high participation (1 mark).
In India, reservation of one-third local seats and the 2023 Women's Reservation Act came from raising the issue politically, showing disadvantaged groups benefit when their unequal treatment becomes political (1 mark).

Answer: Women gained voting rights, better legal status and wider careers only after organising and agitating politically. This raised their role in public life, very high in Scandinavian countries. In India, one-third reservation in local bodies and the 2023 Women's Reservation Act also came from making gender a political issue. So disadvantaged groups benefit when their unequal treatment is expressed in politics.

Where students lose marks in Gender and Politics

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Calling gender division biological
Gender and sex are confused.
Wrong working
Gender division is natural because men and women are biologically different.
Right working
It is based on social expectations and stereotypes, not biology.
Do this: Social, not natural.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Saying women do no paid work
Housework image dominates.
Wrong working
Women only work at home.
Right working
Most women do some paid work besides domestic labour, but it is not valued.
Do this: Give village and city examples.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Out-of-date reservation facts
Old guides say the bill is pending.
Wrong working
The Women's Reservation Bill has never been passed.
Right working
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed in 2023 (33 per cent).
Do this: Use the 2023 Act.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Mixing up data
Many figures.
Wrong working
Women's literacy is 76 per cent.
Right working
Women 54, men 76.
Do this: Learn 54-76-919.
Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

Start gender answers with 'not biological but social': it shows conceptual clarity.
Use one figure per point in 5-mark answers on discrimination.
For representation, quote 14.36 per cent (2019), under 5 per cent (Assemblies), one-third (local bodies) and 33 per cent (2023 Act).
Political Science word limits: 40 (2 marks), 60 (3 marks), 120 (5 marks).

Practice questions on Gender and Politics

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
A woman or a man who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men is called a:
(a) patriarch
(b) feminist
(c) secularist
(d) communalist
Hint
Feminist movements.
Answer
(b) feminist
Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
What does the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 provide, and how far has it been followed? (2 marks)
Hint
Equal wages; reality.
Answer
It provides that equal wages should be paid for equal work. In practice, in almost all areas from sports and cinema to factories and fields, women are still paid less than men for the same work.
Q3 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder board level
What is the child sex ratio, and why has it declined in India? (2 marks)
Hint
Girls per thousand boys.
Answer
The child sex ratio is the number of girl children per thousand boys. It fell to 919 in India (below 850 or 800 in some States) because many parents prefer sons and resort to sex-selective abortion.
Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
Suppose a classmate argues, 'Women do not work outside the home, so they need not take part in politics.' Using NCERT, show why both parts of this claim are wrong. (3 marks)
Hint
Women's paid work; why representation matters.
Answer
Women do work outside: in villages they fetch water, collect fuel and work in fields, and in cities they work as domestic helpers and in offices; most do paid work besides housework, though it is not valued. They must take part in politics because their problems get attention only when women share power, as feminists argue. Reservation in panchayats has brought over 10 lakh women representatives.
Q5 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level
Assertion (A): The share of women in India's State Assemblies is very high.
Reason (R): One-third of seats in panchayats and municipalities are reserved for women.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Hint
What share do women hold in State Assemblies?
Answer
(d) A is false, but R is true. Women's share in State Assemblies is less than 5 per cent.
Q6 · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level
Examine the status of women's representation in India's legislatures and the steps taken to improve it. (5 marks)
Hint
Lok Sabha, Assemblies, cabinets, local bodies, 2023 Act.
Answer
Women's representation in Indian legislatures has been very low. Women's share in the Lok Sabha touched 14.36 per cent for the first time only in 2019, and in State Assemblies it is less than 5 per cent, placing India among the bottom group of nations, behind several developing countries of Africa and Latin America. Cabinets remain largely all-male even when a woman is Chief Minister or Prime Minister. To change this, one-third of seats in panchayats and municipalities were reserved, giving over 10 lakh elected women representatives. After decades of demands, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 was passed to give 33 per cent reservation in the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies and the Delhi Assembly.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.What is patriarchy?Show answer
Literally rule by father: a system that values men more and gives them power over women.
2.In which countries is women's participation in public life very high?Show answer
Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Norway and Finland.
3.What was the child sex ratio in Census 2011?Show answer
919.
4.How many elected women are in local bodies?Show answer
More than 10 lakh.
5.What does the 2023 Act provide?Show answer
33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies and the Delhi Assembly.

Gender and Politics: frequently asked questions

What is gender division in Class 10?

A hierarchical social division between men and women based on social expectations and stereotypes, not on biology.

What is the sexual division of labour?

A system in which all work inside the home is done or organised by women, while men work outside.

How are women discriminated against in India?

Lower literacy, unequal pay, fewer high-paid jobs, sex-selective abortion lowering the child sex ratio, violence and low political representation.

What is the status of women's reservation in legislatures?

One-third of local body seats are reserved; the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 provides 33 per cent reservation in the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies and Delhi Assembly.