NOIDA INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL

CLASS VIII
CIVICS
LESSON 5 (Women Change the World)

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1.How do you think stereotypes, about what women can or cannot
do, affect women’s right to equality?
Solution:  Stereotypes about what women can or cannot do affect
women’s right to equality because they are termed weak and incapable
of doing strong work. It is because of this reason that women are called
inferior to men. They are paid fewer salaries/ wages than their men
counterparts.
2. List one reason why learning the alphabet was so important for
women like Rashundari Devi, Ramabai and Rokeya.
Solution: It was by learning the alphabet that women like Rashundari
Devi, Ramabai and Rokeya were able to write letters, stories and
autobiographies which describes their own struggle against inequality
prevalent in society.
3. “Poor girls drop out of school because they are not interested in
getting an education” explain why this statement is not true.
Solution: Poor girls drop out of school because they are not interested in
getting an education —is not true.
There are several reasons behind it:-
(i) In many parts of the country, especially in rural and poor areas,
there are neither proper schools nor teachers who teach them on
a regular basis. 
(ii) There is no transport facility. If a school happens to be far from
people's home, parents show unwillingness to send their girls to
school.
(iii) Many families are very poor. They are unable to bear the cost
of educating all their children. In such a situation boys get
preference and girls are forced to stay indoors. .
4. Can you describe two methods of struggle that the women
movements used to raise issues.
Solution: The women’s movement used several methods to raise issues.
Three of them are:

Protesting: In this method public rallies and demonstrations were held

by women to raise their voice against violations of law affecting them.

Raising awareness: This helped in creating public awareness on

women’s rights issues through street plays, songs and public meetings.
EXTRA QUESTIONS:

What is the percentage of women engaged in agricultural work in

our country?
Answer: 83.6% of women are engaged in agricultural work.
2. How did Laxmi Lakra break the stereotype that only men could
be engine drivers?
Answer: She became the first woman engine driver for Northern
Railways.

3. When we think of a farmer we only think of a man. Why?

Answer: It is because a major portion of the agricultural work is done
by man. Women only assist them.

4. Why was Ramabai given the title ‘Pandita’?

Answer: It was because she could read and write Sanskrit. It was a
remarkable achievement as women were not allowed such knowledge in
those days.

5. How did women support men in the pottery trade?

Answer: They collected the mud and prepared the earth for the pots.

6. Mention any one stereotype about what women can or cannot do?
Answer: Women can be good teachers but they are incapable of dealing
with technical things.