GENDER STUDIES

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO GENDER STUDIES
Gender studies …Gender Roles….Gender Differences…Inter/Intra Differences
Inter differences based on biological differences & social identities
Intra differences are based on class, race, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, age, (dis) ability to
power, citizenship, nationality etc.
Indicators Of Biological Sex/Status
Chromosomes, genitals, gonads, hormones, secondary sex characteristics
Social construction of gender
Sex Gender
biological cultural
Natural Social constructed
Universal Changes
Policies are wro physical body Policies are wro stereotype and traditional role

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENDER AND WOMEN STUDIES

Women Studies
i. Women studies as area of academic studies came into being in 1960-2ns wave of feminism.
ii. First course developed in late 1960s, USA. San Diego State University, California 1969
(Based on 54 pages work “A Changing Political Economy as it affects women” created by Mary
Ritter Beard in 1934).
iii. First MA in University of Kent, UK 1980.
iv. PHD in Emory University, Georgia, USA 1990
Purpose
i. Raising conscious …
o Gender stereotypes
(personality traits, appearance, occupation, domestic behavior)
o Language (weaker, sex oriented, abusive language)
o Patriarchy
o Feminism (Feminist theories: Psychoanalysis, radical feminism, Marxist feminism,
liberal feminism, post colonial feminism)
ii. Women empowerment
iii. Social justice
iv. Relationship between gender and society (historically and culturally)
v. Equality
vi. Promotion of their contribution (past and present)
Men Studies 1970s
Gender Studies 1980s
i. Feminism remains central perspective
ii. To make better relationship b/w men and women
iii. Wider term includes LGBT
Critism Last 40 years struggle of women
Women studies Gender studies

Prepared by Mr. Zahoor Elahi (CSP) 03004578032 Page 1

Off shot of 2nd wave of feminism
Criteria and method of assessing women status
Teaching and research on women’s issues to
break down hierarchies
Women’s participation in men’s trade
Women’s and men’s studies
Women studies and queer theory
Cross cultural studies of gender
Overcome social differences and sex differences

MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF GENDER STUDIES

i. Every aspect of life
ii. Wide range of disciplines (Anthropology, Sociology, Economics, Pol. Science, Economics,
Religion, Psychology, Literature, History, Biology)
iii. Includes all identities
AUTONOMY VS INTEGRATION DEBATE IN GENDER STUDIES
• Autonomy : separatist approach for women personally successfully act exactly according to
norms and values in self-directive mode
• Integration:
i. Integrate strategies of women’s development.
ii. Lure of ongoing beyond studying and theorizing change
iii. Education reforms and social movement for both male and female

STATUS OF GENDER STUDIES IN PAKISTAN

i. Ministry of Women Empowerment
ii. NCSW
iii. Women’s studies as discipline (Achievement, pinpoint hinders, development of introductory
courses)
iv. National Plan of Action (Public and private sector, coordination, women studies centers)
Women/Gender Studies as Discipline
i. Institute of Women Development Studies—University of Sindh, Jamshoro 1994
ii. Women’s Studies Department—AIOU 1997
iii. Women’s Research and Resource Center—FJWU, RWP
iv. Women’s studies center—QAU, Isl
v. Center of Excellence for Women Studies—University of Karachi
vi. Women’s studies center—University of Baluchistan, Quetta.
vii. Department of women’s studies—PU, LHR
viii. Department of women’s studies—Peshawar University
ix. Gender and Development Studies Department—LCWU.LHR
x. Govt. Fatima Jinnah College, LHR
Funding
MoWD, HEC, ILO, UNICEF, British Council etc
Professional Achievement and Objective
Pakistan’s women studies association
Idea conceived by Ms Sabeeha Hafeez in 1987
Idea implemented by Ms Tahira Aftab 1991
Role of Pakistani media
• Article in Dawn : Gender Relation by Amin valliani
• Women and children issues by Rafia Zakria

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