UGC NET/JRF EXAM, JUNE-2025 WOMEN’S STUDIES

Feminist Ethnography is a qualitative research method that centers women's lived experiences and questions the traditional power hierarchies in research.

A. It is a qualitative research method - correct.
B. It uses participant observation and interviews to highlight women's perspectives - correct.
C. It does challenge traditional power dynamics - so this statement is incorrect.
D. It is critical and reflexive, acknowledging the researcher's positionality - correct. E. It can be done by researchers of any gender, so this is incorrect.

In Amy S. Wharton's The Sociology of Gender, she explains that the erosion of standard working hours (i.e., the traditional 9-to-5 schedule) results from social and economic transformations. Two key factors are:

A. The growth of service sector employment, which often demands flexible, nonstandard, or shift-based schedules.

D. The spread of digital technologies, which blur boundaries between work and home, enabling round-theclock connectivity and flexible work arrangements.

The Second Wave of Feminism (1960s-1980s) expanded the feminist agenda from legal rights to personal and social equality. It is characterized by:

A. Consciousness-raising groups as a central method for building feminist solidarity and analyzing personal experiences politically.

B. The slogan "the personal is political", emphasizing that personal experiences of women (marriage, sexuality, domestic life) are shaped by broader social and political structures.

Gender Roles refer to socially constructed expectations about how individuals should behave based on their gender.

A. They represent society's concept of appropriate behaviors for men and women - correct. C. They are acquired through socialization, not innate - correct.

D. They are based on social norms and standards established by culture and institutions - correct. Hence, gender roles are socially learned and reinforced, not biologically determined.

Let's correctly match feminist and gender theories (List I) with their associated thinkers (List II): A. Queer Theory → III. Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick -

A central figure in Queer Theory, Sedgwick's works such as Epistemology of the Closet explore sexuality, identity, and gender beyond binaries.

B. Post-Colonial Feminist Theorist → IV. Lila Abu-Lughod - Known for her critique of Western feminism and her work on women in Middle Eastern societies, emphasizing cultural and contextual understanding.

C. Hegemonic Masculinity → II. Raewyn Connell - Developed the concept of hegemonic masculinity, describing dominant male norms that marginalize alternative masculinities.

D. Ecofeminism → I. Françoise d'Eaubonne - Coined the term ecofeminism in 1974, linking environmental degradation with patriarchy.

Now match the types of feminism (List I) with their key characteristics (List II):

A. Liberal Feminism III. Argues that women's subordination can be addressed through political processes within democracy, emphasizing equality, legal rights, and reforms.

B. Marxist Feminism IV. Links women's oppression to capitalism and private property, believing change must come through the overthrow of industrial capitalism.

C. Radical Feminism II. Believes in women-centered politics and separatist spaces to challenge patriarchy and male domination.

D. Postmodern Feminism → I. Rejects the idea of a universal female subject, emphasizing diversity, language, and cultural context in constructing gender identities.

A. Nupi Lan (Women's War) → IV. Refers to the two major women-led uprisings in Manipur (1904 & 1939) against British colonial policies and economic exploitation.

B. Meira Paibis (Guardians of Civil Society) → II. A women's social movement established in 1977 in Manipur, known for combating social evils and human rights violations.

C. Ima Market → I. A women-only market in Imphal, functioning since the 16th century, symbolizing women's economic independence.

D. Likai (Tragic Tale from Meghalaya) →III. А Khasi folktale depicting a widow who works as a porter to raise her child after her husband's death - reflecting women's resilience.

Here's the corrected and detailed matching of the schemes with their descriptions based on the Government of India's official framework:

A. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)→ II. Promotes institutional deliveries by offering cash incentives to pregnant women, particularly from BPL families and low-performing states.

B. Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) → I. Provides essential free care to mothers and newborns in public health institutions - including free delivery (even C-section), drugs, diagnostics, blood, and transport - ensuring no out-of-pocket expenses, especially within 48 hours of birth.

C. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) → IV. A flagship umbrella program delivering a package of services (nutrition, preschool education, health check-ups, etc.) through Anganwadi centers; its services have now been subsumed under Mission Poshan 2.0.

D. Mission Poshan 2.0 → III. A comprehensive nutrition support mission that integrates Anganwadi Services and Poshan Abhiyan to improve nutritional outcomes and service delivery efficiency.

Let's correctly match the countries (List I) with their Gender Parity Scores (List II) as per the Global Gender Gap Index 2024:

A. Iceland → II. 93.5% - Iceland continues to rank #1 globally, achieving the highest level of gender parity at 93.5%.

B. Finland → I. 87.5% - Finland maintains a strong record of gender equality with 87.5% parity, ranking among the top three countries.

C. New Zealand → IV. 83.5% - New Zealand stands out as one of the leading countries outside Europe with 83.5% parity.

D. Spain → III. 79.7% - Spain achieves 79.7% parity, placing it among the top 20 nations in global rankings.