UGC NET/JRF EXAM, September-2024 WOMEN’S STUDIES

Matching Concepts with Definitions:

A. Social Status - II. It is a honour or prestige attached to one's position in a society: Social status reflects a person's rank or prestige in a social hierarchy, often determined by factors like occupation, caste, gender, or education.

B. Practical Gender Needs (PGNs) - I. It is needs of the women that do not challenge their socially accepted roles: PGNS arise from women's immediate necessities such as water, food, shelter, and income, without questioning or altering existing gender roles

C. Gender Mainstreaming - IV. Involves integrating a gender perspective and gender analysis to all: Gender mainstreaming ensures that gender perspectives are considered in policy formulation, program development, and implementation across all sectors.

D. Gender Analysis - III. Process in which inequalities and discrimination identified in any given set up by using various Participatory Tools and Methods: It is a structured method used to identify and understand differences in the lives of men and women, often using tools like gender audits, needs assessments, and stakeholder analysis.

Matching Women Leaders with their Countries:

A. Jacinda Ardern IV. New Zealand: She served as the Prime Minister of New Zealand (2017–2023) and gained international acclaim for her empathetic leadership style.

B. Angela Merkel - III. Germany: One of the world's most powerful women leaders, she was the Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021.

C. Mary Robinson - I. Ireland: Served as the first female President of Ireland (1990–1997) and later as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

D. Gro Harlem Brundtland - II. Norway: Former Prime Minister of Norway and known globally for her role in environmental and sustainable development policies, including the Brundtland Commission.

Albert Bandura introduced the Social Learning Theory, which posits that people learn behaviours, attitudes, and emotional reactions through observing others.

It emphasizes the role of modeling, imitation, and reinforcement in learning.

Bandura's Bobo Doll experiment famously demonstrated how children imitate aggressive behaviour observed in adults, laying a foundation for studies in media effects, education, and psychology.

It bridges the gap between behaviourism and cognitive learning theories by incorporating both environmental and cognitive factors.

Secondary education for women has a direct and positive impact on health outcomes, particularly in the areas of maternal and child health.

Women with at least secondary education are:

• More likely to access antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal services.
• Better informed about nutrition, immunization, and disease prevention.
• Empowered to make independent healthrelated decisions and seek timely medical help.

According to a UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, each additional year of a mother's education reduces the risk of her child dying in infancy by up to 10%.

Matching organizations and movements with key figures:

A. Women India Association (WIA) - IV. Annie Besant: Founded in 1917 by Annie Besant, Margaret Cousins, and others, WIA was one of the earliest women's organizations in India, focusing on social reforms and women's rights.

B. All India Women's Conference (AIWC) III. Margaret Cousins: - Established in 1927 with Margaret Cousins as one of its founders, AIWC worked extensively for women's education and legislative reforms.

C. Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) - I. Ela Bhatt: Founded in 1972 by Ela Bhatt, SEWA is a trade union for poor, self-employed women in the unorganized sector.

D. Quit India Movement (QIM) - II. Aruna Asaf Ali: A prominent figure in the 1942 Quit India Movement, Aruna Asaf Ali is known for hoisting the Indian National Congress flag during the movement and later earning the title "Heroine of 1942."

Chronological order based on the year of establishment of the given institutions:

A. National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NI-MSME) - 1960: Originally set up as the Central Industrial Extension Training Institute (CIETI), later renamed as NI-MSME.

B. National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) - 1983: Established under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to promote entrepreneurship through training, research, and development.

D. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) - 1990: Created as the principal financial institution for the promotion, financing, and development of the MSME sector.

C. Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) - 2018: Launched by NITI Aayog as a unified access platform for women entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate, and grow.

Hence, the correct chronological sequence is: (A), (B), (D), (C).

These are all forms of folk and alternative media used extensively in community mobilization and gender sensitization.

Street plays (nukkad natak) and role plays are interactive, low-cost, and impactful methods to engage people, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

Folk dance and dramas carry cultural narratives and are often adapted to spread awareness on women's rights, domestic violence, health, and education.

Unlike mainstream media, alternative media uses indigenous art forms to reach marginalized populations and promote participatory communication.

Functions of gender representation in media include:

В. То remove demeaning, degrading, and negative stereotypical images of women: A key role of gender-sensitive media is to eliminate harmful portrayals that reinforce gender bias, objectification, or stereotyping.

C. To promote gender-specific content for different media platforms: This includes creating inclusive and diverse content that reflects the real experiences of all genders and encourages equitable representation.

(A) Increasing women in traditional roles and (D) prioritizing men's achievements do the opposite of gender-equitable representation and are part of the problem, not the solution.

The development of Women's Studies as an academic discipline in the late 1960s was heavily influenced by:

• The Civil Rights Movement, which inspired critiques of institutional inequality and promoted equal rights.
• The Anti War Movement, which encouraged critical questioning of authority, violence, and the role of the state.

These movements created a space for second-wave feminism, which demanded the inclusion of women's voices and experiences in academia.

Women, involved in both movements, began to challenge the male dominance in activist spaces and pushed for a separate academic recognition of women's issues.

Customs are long-established practices or norms shared by a community or society.

These are socially şanctioned behaviours, passed down through generations, and serve as guides for acceptable conduct.

Though some customs evolve positively, many act as barriers to women's development, especially when rooted in patriarchy (e.g., dowry, gender roles).

Hence, while custom may reflect tradition, it is not inherently progressive or developmental unless it adapts to egalitarian values.

The statement in option 1' defines custom correctly, whereas the other options mistakenly equate it directly with positive change or development.