Social Diversity and Politics in India Chapter

Overview

• Social diversity does not threaten democracy; political expression of social differences is possible and often desirable in a democratic system.
• This chapter examines social differences in India, focusing on gender, religion, and caste.
• The chapter explores the nature of these divisions in India and how they manifest in politics.
• It also considers whether differing expressions based on these characteristics are healthy for a democracy.

Gender and Politics

• Societal norms often dictate that women are primarily responsible for housework and childcare.
• This "sexual division of labor" is evident in families, with women handling domestic tasks like cooking, cleaning, and childcare, while men often focus on external work.
• Though women also participate in tasks outside the domestic sphere in villages and urban areas (e.g., fetching water, farming, or domestic help in urban areas), their contributions are often undervalued and unrecognised.
• Historically, women's political participation, such as voting and contesting for public office, has been limited in most societies.
• Women's political roles have improved with greater social recognition of the issue and increased organization advocating for equal rights in various countries.

Perceptions of Ideal Women

• Societal expectations and stereotypes influence how women are perceived.
• These perceptions often assign specific roles and qualities to women (e.g., house wife, beauty standards, or care-givers).
• These are reflected in media representations of ideal women, which can affect expectations and opportunities.

Time Use Survey

• Studies show that women generally work more hours (seven and a half hours) than men (six and a half hours) daily, but much of the woman's work is in the household and is not recorded or valued.
• This unpaid work, often seen as invisible or domestic labor includes activities like household and related work, childcare, chores, and taking care of other elders in the household.

Child Sex Ratio

• The child sex ratio (number of girl children per thousand boys) in India has declined, particularly in several districts.
• This decline is often linked to sex-selective abortions (where parents choose to have boys rather than girls).
• The unequal treatment of male and female children in terms of education, resources, and opportunities is also a factor.

Women's Political Representation

• Women's political representation in national parliaments is relatively low compared to the global average.
• India has one of the lowest levels of women's representation in legislative bodies.
• Various factors contribute to the low representation, including cultural traditions, social norms, and political structures.

Religion, Communalism, and Politics

• Religious differences can create social divisions and influence politics.
• In India, communalism is often expressed as the belief that religion is a primary basis for social community, leading to social and political conflicts.
• Gandhiji believed that religion and politics are intertwined and cannot be separated.
• It is also argued that a healthy democracy respects religious diversity and ensures equal participation for all citizens regardless of their religious beliefs.
• There is also the debate on how to make religion a healthy presence in the political context without allowing it to lead to the dominance of one group over another.

Caste and Politics

• Caste inequalities continue in India despite formal legal efforts to curb them.
• Caste is closely tied to economic status, and upper castes tend to be better off, while lower castes have higher levels of poverty.
• The practice and perception of 'untouchability exists in some parts of Indian society and is tied to caste inequalities
• Caste matters in elections, with caste-based appeals often used to build support.
• Candidates from certain castes (if that is believed to dominate the electorate) are sometimes sought to cater to community requirements, and electoral politics are affected.
• No parliamentary constituency in India has a majority of a single caste.
• It's important to note that caste and politics are intricate and complex, and not every voter is based on caste.

Social and Religious Diversity in India

• The Indian Census systematically collects data on religious identity, providing information about religious compositions throughout the country and changes over time.
• The proportions of religious groups, while not dramatically changing, do reflect some variation and, since independence, there are changes in the proportions of different groups.
• Data on population proportions for various religious groups are available in the census reports.

Caste Inequality Today

• Caste continues to be a significant source of economic inequality in India by affecting access to resources.
• Different castes have accumulated varying levels of advantages and disadvantages over centuries, which influences their access and opportunities for education, resources, and wealth.
• The average economic status of caste groups typically continues to follow pre-existing social hierarchies, despite laws and efforts to promote equality.
• Lower castes tend to experience higher poverty rates than upper castes.

Exercises

• The exercises given in the text contain questions relating to aspects and nuances of different types of social divisions and their impact and implications in India's democratic set-up.