Purushottam's Bright Learners Social Science 7

 The latest introduction to the media circle is of internet, popularly
social media like facebook, twitter and blogs.

 There are many small scale based newspapers which circulate
news that remain often unreported in mainstream newspapers
like that of khabar lahriya which reported exclusively about
problems faced by dalits.

 One of the main reasons that privacy is ensured by the media
houses are mainly because of safety and security of the nation
and its individuals. Today terrorism is such a big threat that often
important information are distorted to cause harm to the society
at large.

 The Right to Information act initially was not applicable for
Jammu and Kashmir but later on in 2009 the act was amended
and Jammu and Kashmir also was brought within the purview of
tis act.

 The medium through which large number of people
receives information about daily affairs is called media.
Since they cater to the mass, they are known as mass
media.

 The media plays an important role in smooth functioning of
democracy.

 The task of media is projection of information, take up
discussions and debates on important affairs, formulating
public opinion and to rectify errors if any.

 Usually there are certain ethics which the media houses
should adhere to.

 The Right to Information act 2005 allowed people to access
information about public authorities.

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TEST YOURSELF

A. Answer the following in brief:
1. What do you mean by media? Give examples of few mass media.
2. According to you which are the most popular media?
3. How does competition affect ethical codes of a media house?
4. When did Right to information come in force?
5. How is media capable of shaping up public opinion?
B. Answer the following in detail:
1. Why do you think media plays an important role in democracy?
2. How do media act as a platform for debate and discussions?
3. What does a media house ideally do in case of error?
4. Which are the important ethics that a media enterprise should adhere to?
5. Why do you think Right to Information took so long to come in force?
C. Fill in the blanks:
1. The information disseminated through the media house should be

___________ as well as accurate.
2. Media houses should keep in mind that they maintain ___________ of

individuals and do not show or print anything ___________.
3. ___________ and ___________ are the media units of our government.
4. ___________ was an active role player in the movement regarding Right to

Information.
5. The primary responsibility of media is ___________ of ___________
D. Think and answer:
What are the types of media do you come across on a daily basis? What kinds of
information available in the media are you most interested in?

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Gender as a concept, talks about the social qualities that men and women are
expected to possess, like we associate masculinity with male members in society
and feminine concept with female members. Sex, as a concept, is the biological
state of being male or female. We generally associate gender with a systematic
pattern of behaviour that we are generally accustomed with a man and a woman
to follow in a society. Gender awareness increases with interaction the society or
community and with other members of society.
The most important school in a child’s life is his/her family. The prime lessons of
social life are learned by a child from and amongst his/her family members.
Earlier traditions had set pattern for man and woman, where a boy was expected
to behave like his father and a girl was expected to imbibe the qualities of her
mother. However in modern times this pattern has been much more flexible and
has thus reflected equality among man and woman. Family has been an
important pillar in regard to gender awareness.
Another section of society, community has a role to play in matters of gender
issues. A child automatically adopts the language of the community he adheres
to. Community helps the child in developing a cultural association. Traditionally
in a cultural community men and women were assigned different roles and
profession, for example, women were generally not found to take up the
profession of car drivers, whereas men were not found to take up babysitting
professionally. But in contemporary times any profession can be taken up by any
gender, depending on capability and eligibility.

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Schools are an important place where the child develops on his / her gender
concepts and set pattern of social behaviour. Interactions with people at public
places also help in forming gender awareness clarity.

INEQUALITY ISSUES

In certain sections of the society men and women are not only treated differently
but also unequally as well. Women face discriminations in maximum matters.
Certain grounds on which they are discriminated are discussed below:

i) Till date a large number of women die every year due to
negligence of health. Often they are ill-treated and not even catered with
proper medical care. Since women perform the most important role in child
bearing, it is very necessary that they take proper care of themselves. Female
infanticide has also been a major concern even in contemporary scenario.
This picture should face a positive growth with change in our mindset where
we start treating girls and boys equally.

ii) Education shapes the present as well as the future of every
individual. Therefore education should be the common as well as the basic
need for both men and women. However we often get to hear news about
girls dropping out of school, girls devoid of opportunities of schooling as well
as higher education just for the reason of being a girl. The case is similar in all
tribes and caste, where we often get to hear Dalit and tribal girls face
discriminations not only in school but also in the society. History cites us the
references of many girls and women who were great scholars and promoted
gender equality in those time, like Pandita Rama Bai, who encouraged
women’s education and Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain who voiced out against
seclusion of Muslim women.

iii) Conventionally men are seen taking the important decisions
of a household or a community. Earlier men were found professionally being
assigned important positions, as women were treated to be inferior to men.
However, the constitution of India as a part of Fundamental Rights
guarantees certain reservations for women.

iv) : Equal division of labour is a concept that was not prevalent
in earlier times. Women were not economically self sufficient financially and
thus had to depend a lot on the male members of the family. Women were
neglected even in matters of property divisions. Housework was the only

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stipulated work of a woman. Fortunately, things are much different now.
Though the disparity has not completely vanished, but there are societies
which spontaneously treats women and men at par.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Gender equality is very important section of Human Rights. Women rights can be
said to be the special entitlements for women. In some countries these rights are
backed by law whereas in some countries these are ignored. Women’s rights
have successfully been able to lessen dowry marriages and infanticide killing.
Hopefully in future the entire society gracefully accepts men and women to be
equal.

 Raja Ram Mohan Roy propagated abolition of Sati, where women
were put alive on the pyre of her dead husband.

 Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was one of the most prominent
figures of earlier times, who effectively worked for the upliftment
of status of women.

 Certain societies of North East and South India are matriarchal. It
is customary in these communities that even property of mother,
is inherited only by her daughter.

 Both Government as well as Non Governmental organisations
have extended a helping hand in regard to empowerment of
women.

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 allocated or designated.
 looking after children.
 clearness.
 Infanticide-a person who kills her own baby before birth

because it is a girl.
 usually.
 the concept of having right to something.

 Gender is the concept of being masculine or feminine. It
is a social concept whereas sex is a more biological
concept.

 Family, school, communities as well as public spaces help in
developing gender awareness.

 Women in certain societies are not only treated differently
but also unequally, especially on grounds of health,
education, decision making and division of labour.

 Women’s rights are special laws and rights that protect
women in certain matters.

TEST YOURSELF

A. Answer the following briefly:
1. What is the concept of gender?
2. Why do you think women face discrimination all over the world?

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3. What are the primary societal sources for gender inequality?
4. What has helped women to restore their status?
5. How does Indian constitution help women?
B. Answer the following in detail:
1. How do you justify that a woman’s good health is important for the family to

sustain.
2. What are the disparities faced by women in regard to education?
3. Do you agree that nowadays there are equal division of labour and wages in

rural sectors of our country? Justify.
4. “Gender equality is very important section of Human Rights.” - Discuss in

detail.
5. How important is the role of community in matters of gender issues?
C. Fill in the blanks:
1. The first development of gender awareness of a child dawns in from the

_______________.
2. _______________ encouraged women’s education.
3. A child automatically adopts the language of the _______________ he

adheres to.
4. _______________ voiced out regarding seclusion of Muslim women.
5. Education is an important driving factor to establish ___________ equality.
D. Think and answer:
Have you observed or experienced any gender inequality among your peers,
neighbourhood or in your family? Have you discussed this with your parents or
your teachers?

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