Difference between women studies and Gender studies:

Women studies:
 It focused only on women’s right. Emerged as a discipline that generated certain knowledge
for the concerns of women’s right and issues of feminism. There were six types of feminism.
 Challenged male defined knowledge like chairmanship. There should not be monopoly of
man ideology and women be given equal opportunity on account of women.
 Women studies focusing more on women’s issue. Women to be empowered and there should
not be limited in any sphere. Men, as bread winner and women to be the home maker. The
role of men was considered to be productive in terms of earning. Whereas women’s role not
to be paid for domestic affairs which was considered to be non-productive. Women studies
highlighted why women in society gets exploited because of its non-rewarding role. It
encouraged women participation in men trades.
 Lack of freedom in sexual orientation. Heterosexuality is problematic as it is naturally in the
favor of men. Active (men)vs passive (women)sexually. Women feel inferior because of
biological differences. Hegemony starts from sexual activity so it talked about lack of
freedom in sexual orientation and talked about lesbianism.
 Conscious raising with the women; it talked about awareness in various subjects such as
divorce, property inheritance and studying various subjects like law and medicines. It
emphasized to awareness for the women’s right.
 It talks only about one identity that’s women.
 Women studies do not promote openness and was non inclusive in sexual orientations. It was
even against heterosexuality.
 Is going to highlight stereotype (biasedness) related to women. Stereotypes related to women
like women are weak, cannot participate in leadership, dependent on men. It talked about its
occupation or profession etc. women studies highlighted the women’s priority as per her
choice.
 Women language biasness: For example, Bachelors (How to do you feel being bachelor?)
considered as a blessed individual as you are going to enjoy freedom and do not have any
responsibility. Spinster; unmarried female, it is a considered as an insult, that a female is
considered as unlucky as not to be starting the real life. This biasness was highlighted in
women studies.
 It has a narrow scope.
 Starts as a discipline in 1960s San Diego University, California as course program, bachelors
later as PHD program.
Gender Studies:
 It is more inclusive which included women studies.
 Over all opportunities for all the gender without narrow approach. Based on sexual identity.
Chairman to be replaced with chairperson. Cultural studies were made to be the part of
gender studies.
 Gender studies did not identify any role specifically for men or women. Rather it called for
equal opportunities of all genders in to be fit in any role.
 More openness; you can’t direct individual to go for specific sexuality. It promoted the
individuals need and convenience for sexual orientation. Bi-sexual, intersex, heterosexuality,
lesbianism all must be the individual’s choice.
 Not only women, but men also get to aware about their rights. It talked about all humans and
no preference should be given at the cost of other. It talked about over all awareness
irrespective of being biased in sexual identities. Women can play with dolls and can play
football too.
 Gender cover multiple identities.
 It talked about all kind of sexual orientation whether as being Asexual, Grey Sexuality (lack
of sexual preference), heterosexuality or Pen sexuality. It was more inclusive.
 It broke the stereotypes related to all sexes. For example, it challenged patriarchal stereotypes
too. Like why always Men has to take the lead. The transgender are not provided jobs beside
his managerial qualities.
 It promoted the overall neutrality in vocabulary by promoting words like chairperson, doctor
etc.
 Wider, inclusive and don’t include limitation like women studies.
Multidisciplinary nature of the gender studies:
1) Gender studies includes a multi-disciplinary approach. Example; girls getting married early.
Reasons can be the own will, lack of law, limited role of women in society. Addressing the
issue can be through opting multiple approaches in social, economic, religious and political
all dimensions by providing awareness, education promotion, legal action.
2) Intersectionality; it also relies on various factors and reasons. Gender cannot be understood in
isolation from identifiers like class, race etc.
3) Multifaceted concept: male. Female and transgender are included rather it include all sexual
identity.
4) It talks about the flip side too. Whatever the factor is that the individual role is played by
individual it should be respected. USA; Henri Clinton could not become the president by the
elimination of limitation.
5) De-construction: concept to be broken and re interpret. Male cannot tie the laces of the
women in typical society. Example; Iliad. How to perceive men and women? Men are strong
women are delicate.
6) Gender studies talks about
Objectification of women
Generalization; good deeds are done only done by males. My daughter is a son
Ethical realm; judgments by society based on ethical value. Image of girls in Gown vs
western dressing judged by society
Autonomy vs integration debate:
Autonomy; self-governed, independent
Integration: consolidation, together, linked
Whether Women study should be an autonomous study or should be integrated.
Two schools of thought:
1) National women suffrage association: women studies as discipline to be independent or not.
Pros of women studies as independent study:
 Focused approach; Women issues would be compressive and include all the issues related to
women in all domains.
 It over come sexist attitude and eliminates the decimation towards the women and promoted
the equal role of women in society.
 Women will self-lead; women will be empowered.
 There will be true representation of women.
 Specific sex-based issue; women’s separate representation and encounter men hegemony.
 Discrimination of women based on class, sects and society. Issues of each woman should be
addressed separately.
 Way of thinking to opt life as per her own priority.
Integration debate: when women study will be merged with other discipline
 Women study is too a multidisciplinary study. If women study is merged with other studies it
will give more clarity with a broader and merger approach.
 Issues can be solved in a better way that time when other disciplines get merged with women
studies.
 Cost saving: Economic costs and social cost be tackle easily.
Questions can be Autonomy vs integration debate both in gender studies and women
studies.
Women studies in Pakistan.
1989- ministry of women development developed by Benazir. Hadud ordinance imposed by Zia
in 1980 it was complicated for women in Pakistan. Zina bil jabar and Zina bil Raza. Rape victim
has to bring the witness for her rape case. Safia bibi was a blind girl and she got pregnant. Sex bil
jabar converted in to sex bil Raza. BB became PM, the first thing she did was making women
development shortlisting 5 universities. Only Karachi University became successful to continue
women studies rest 4 could not become functional.
 1992- women studies start as course programme in KU.
 1996- it was initiated as master degree in KU.
 2002 as PHD program in KU.
 In KU it later merges with Gender studies.
 NGO by Nighat Said, privately starts women studies as course in 1997.
Current status of women and gender studies in Pakistan:
Scope of gender studies:
 Gender studies is introduced as a degree program. (various universities of Pakistan)
 Recruitment on various departments.
 Awareness (scholarships, rights)
 Intellectual debate on women rights through UN Conference
 Acknowledges the individual’s potential. Example; Transgender to be provided a job
 Economic based will be diversified.
significance of gender studies:
 Making all genders as active participant of society. Women and trans to be constructive in
society development Sara gill; first trans Doctor. Rimal Ali. Model, Misha Rao, Jannat Ali,
Aisha Mughal,
 Increases the efficiency; eliminates the male monopoly. Asma Jahangir, Malala, Bindiya
Rana, Benazir Bhutto
 Ensuring the effectiveness: ghost employers- open competitions leads to justification of
opportunities
 Rule of law; leads to peace to society
Factors behind the recognition of women and gender studies in Pakistan:
 Political factors: Benazir Bhutto initiative
 Social factors: marginalization of women
 Economic factors: not represented equally
 Legal factors: legislation; tarns act
 Educational factors: women studies in universities
 Judicial factors: Trans CNIC 2008. Vote
 Media Factor:
 Impact of globalization:
Chapter 2: Social Construction of Gender:
Historicizing constructionism:
Heterosexual (sexual orientation in opposite sex), Bisexual (sexual orientation in both male and
female), intersex (individual, not be associated with male neither with female based on genitals-
sexual identity), Transgender (identity given and role is not performed by individual- based on
role)