Class 7- Women Change the World - Q and A

Women Change the World – Class 7 CBSE

1. What is a stereotype? What is the meaning of stereotypes in general? Give good examples.
   A stereotype is a fixed idea or belief that all people in a group are always the same, even when they are not. Stereotypes mean thinking that people must have certain qualities or do certain jobs only because they belong to a particular group, like being a girl or a boy. For example, many people wrongly think that only women can be good nurses because they are caring and gentle, or that only men can be engineers or scientists because they are “better at technical things.” But these are not true for everyone.
2. Give one example of a stereotype about women’s work.
   One example of a stereotype is that people think women can only be nurses because they are patient and caring, but these qualities can also be found in men, and women can do many other jobs too.
3. How do stereotypes affect women’s right to equality? (Long answer, pointwise)
   1. Stereotypes stop women from choosing any job or career they want.
   2. They make people believe that women cannot do technical, leadership, or skilled work.
   3. Families may not support girls to study or train for certain jobs.
   4. This leads to fewer chances and less respect for women in society.
4. What percentage of working women in India are engaged in agriculture?
   About 83.6% of working women in India work in agriculture, doing jobs like planting, weeding, harvesting, and threshing.
5. Even though many women work in agriculture, why do we usually imagine a man as a farmer?
   We usually imagine a man as a farmer because stereotypes make people think farming is men’s work, even though many women are also farmers.
6. Who is Laxmi Lakra?
   Laxmi Lakra is the first woman engine driver for Northern Railways in India, and she belongs to a poor tribal family in Jharkhand.
7. How did Laxmi Lakra break stereotypes?
   1. She chose a job (engine driver) that people thought only men could do.
   2. She studied electronics and passed railway exams.
   3. She believed in living life as she wanted, without caring about stereotypes.
8. Give one example of social pressure boys face.
   One example is that boys are often told not to cry, because people say “boys should not cry” or “crying is for girls.”
9. In Xavier’s story, why did his parents want him to take Science or Maths?
   Xavier’s parents wanted him to take Science or Maths because they thought these subjects would help him get a good job and a better future.
10. Why were girls not allowed to learn to read and write in earlier times?
    Girls were not allowed to learn to read and write in the past because people wrongly believed that education for women would bring bad luck and was not useful for them.
11. Name three women who fought for women’s education in history.
    Three women who fought for women’s education are Rashsundari Devi, Pandita Ramabai, and Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain.
12. Why was learning the alphabet important for Rashsundari Devi?
    Learning the alphabet was important for Rashsundari Devi because it allowed her to read religious books and share her life story.
13. What is the name of Rashsundari Devi’s autobiography?
    The name of Rashsundari Devi’s autobiography is Amar Jiban.
14. How did Rashsundari Devi learn to read and write?
    1. She secretly took a page from a religious book when no one was watching.
    2. She also took her son’s alphabet book and matched the letters.
    3. She practised reading and writing for a long time, even though it was difficult and risky.
15. Why was Ramabai given the title ‘Pandita’?
    Ramabai was given the title ‘Pandita’ because she could read and write Sanskrit, which was a big achievement at a time when women were not allowed to learn it.
16. What was special about the Mission Ramabai set up?
    1. The Mission in Khedgaon near Pune taught widows and poor women to read and write.
    2. Women also learnt skills like carpentry and printing, which were uncommon for women.
    3. The Mission helped women to become independent.
17. What is the story Sultana’s Dream about?
    Sultana’s Dream is a story where a woman, Sultana, visits a place called Ladyland, where women are free, educated, and invent new things, and men live in seclusion.
18. How did Rokeya help other girls after getting her education?
    After getting her education, Rokeya started a school for girls in Kolkata in 1910, helping more girls to get educated.
19. What was the literacy rate for men and women in 1961 and in 2011?
    In 1961, about 40% of men and only 15% of women could read or write. In 2011, about 82% of men and 65% of women were literate.
20. Why do many poor girls leave school?
    Many poor girls leave school because:

    1. Many poor families cannot pay for their daughters’ education.
    2. There are often no schools or teachers nearby.
    3. There is no transport to help girls reach distant schools.
    4. Some girls face discrimination at school.
    5. Families sometimes give preference to educating boys.
    6. Parents and girls often worry about security issues and safety while traveling to and from school, which can make families hesitant to send girls to school, especially if the route is long or unsafe.
21. According to the Average Annual Drop-out Rate in School Education (2014–15), at which level of education is the highest percentage of children leaving?
    The Secondary level (Classes 9–10) has the highest percentage of children leaving school, with a total drop-out rate of 17.06%.
22. According to the 2011 census, how many years does a Muslim girl stay in school on average?
    Around three years.
23. According to the 2011 census, how many years do girls from other communities stay in school on average?
    Around four years.
24. Which groups of girls complete primary school more often than Muslim girls, according to the 2011 census?
    SC and ST girls.
25. According to the 2011 census, which group of girls is least likely to complete primary school?
    Muslim girls.
26. What is Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign ?
    It is a government effort (launched in 2014) to save girl children’s lives, educate them, and ensure they get equal opportunities in society, helping to create a better future for girls and women in India.
27. What are Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
    SDGs are a set of 17 global goals decided by the United Nations in 2015. They aim to solve big world problems like poverty, hunger, lack of education, inequality, and climate change by 2030.
28. What is the ‘women’s movement’?
    The women’s movement is a group effort by women and some men to fight for equal rights and opportunities for women in all parts of life.
29. What is sexual harasament?
    This refers to physical or verbal behaviour that is of sexual nature and against the wishes of a woman.
30. What are the methods of the women’s campaign?
    The methods are:

    1. Campaigning: It means organizing activities to fight against unfair treatment and demand changes in laws. Women’s groups campaign to stop discrimination and violence against women, such as by working for laws against domestic violence and dowry.
    2. Raising Awareness: Women spread information about their rights using street plays, songs, public meetings, and media. This helps people understand women’s problems and supports the fight for equality.
    3. Protesting: When women face injustice or unfair laws, they hold rallies, demonstrations, and public protests to draw attention to the problems and demand justice.
    4. Showing Solidarity: Women stand together and support each other’s struggles. For example, on International Women’s Day (8 March), women all over the world come together to celebrate and renew their fight for equal rights.
31. What are campaigns in the women’s movement?
    Campaigns are efforts to fight against discrimination and violence faced by women.
32. How have campaigns helped women?
    Campaigns have led to new laws and rules to protect women.
33. Which law was made in 2006 for women?
    A law was made to give legal protection to women facing physical or mental violence at home (domestic violence).
34. What did the Supreme Court do in 1997 to protect women?
    It made guidelines to protect women from sexual harassment at workplaces and educational institutions.
35. What are ‘dowry deaths’?
    Cases where young brides are killed by their husbands or in-laws for more dowry.
36. How did women’s groups fight against dowry deaths in the 1980s?
    They protested on the streets, went to the courts, and spread information to the public.
37. What happened after the protests against dowry deaths?
    It became a public issue, and dowry laws were changed to punish families who ask for dowry.
38. What is campaigning and how is it done?
    Campaigning means running activities to fight against unfair treatment and to demand change. In the women’s movement, campaigning is done by talking to people, sharing information, holding protests and rallies, going to the courts, and using newspapers or other media. It helps to make an issue public so that laws can be changed. Example: Women’s groups campaigned to change laws about dowry deaths and domestic violence.
39. What is ‘showing solidarity’?
    Showing solidarity means standing together with other people and supporting their struggles and causes. For example, women coming together on International Women’s Day to celebrate and renew their fight for equality is a way of showing solidarity.
40. Why is the statement “Poor girls drop out of school because they are not interested” wrong?
    The statement is wrong because:

    1. Most poor girls want to study but are forced to leave because of poverty.
    2. Sometimes there are no schools or teachers in their area.
    3. There may be no transport to get to schools far away.
    4. Girls can face discrimination at school.
    5. Some families send only boys to school if they are poor.
41. How have women changed the world of work and education?
    Women have changed the world of work and education in following ways:

    1. Women have started doing jobs that people thought only men could do.
    2. Many women fought for the right to go to school and get an education.
    3. Women set up schools and training centers for other women and girls.
    4. Women wrote books and gave speeches to inspire others.
    5. Women joined together to change rules and make new laws for equality.