Growing up as Boys and Girls

Q16. “The work women do is strenuous and physically demanding.” Explain why?

Ans.  Tasks like washing clothes, cleaning, sweeping and picking up loads require bending, lifting and carrying. Many chores, like cooking, involve standing for long hours in front of hot stoves. Thus, the work women do is strenuous and physically demanding.

Q17. How was the girls' school in Madhya Pradesh in the 1960s designed differently from boys’ school?

Ans. The girls’ school was designed very differently from the boys’ school. They had a central courtyard where they played in total seclusion and safety from the outside world. The boys’ school had no such courtyard and our playground was just a big space attached to the school.

Q18. Why does our society devalue the housework women do?

Ans. The main responsibility for housework and care-giving tasks, like looking after the family, especially children, the elderly and sick members, lies with women. But, the work that women do within the home is not recognised as work. It is also assumed that this is something that comes naturally to women. It, therefore, does not have to be paid for. And society devalues this work.

Q19. Why Harmeet think that her mother did not work?

Ans. The main responsibility for housework and care-giving tasks, like looking after the family, especially children, the elderly and sick members, lies with women. The work that women do within the home is not recognised as work. It is also assumed that this is something that comes naturally to women. It, therefore, does not have to be paid for. And that is why Harmeet think that her mother did not work.

Q20. If you have someone working as a domestic help in your house or locality talk to her and find out a little bit more about her life – Who are her family members? Where is her home? How many hours does she work? How much does she get paid? Write a small story based on these details.

Ans.  Sima has been working in my house for several years. She belongs to Jharkhand. She lives here in Noida with her husband and 5 yrs. old son. She daily comes for work early in the morning at 6 a.m. and leaves in the night at 8 p.m. She is very good at her work. We treat her as our family member. We pay her good salary. Her husband runs a small shop near his house.

Q21. Critically evaluate life of domestic workers.
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Discuss the hardships faced by the domestic workers.

Ans. Many homes, particularly in towns and cities, employ domestic workers. They do a lot of work – sweeping and cleaning, washing clothes and dishes, cooking, looking after young children or the elderly. Most domestic workers are women. Sometimes, even young boys or girls are employed to do this work. Wages are low, as domestic work does not have much value. A domestic worker’s day can begin as early as five in the morning and end as late as twelve at night! Despite of the hard work they do, their employers often do not show them much respect.

Q22. What role was assigned to young boys and girls in the Samoan islands?

Ans. Roles of boys and girls in the Samoan islands

                        i.        Both boys and girls looked after their younger siblings.

                       ii.        But by the time a boy was about nine years old, he joined the older boys in learning outdoor jobs like fishing and planting coconuts.

                      iii.        After the age of fourteen or so girls also went on fishing trips, worked in the plantations and learnt how to weave baskets.

                      iv.        Cooking was done in special cooking houses where boys were supposed to do most of the work while girls helped with the preparations.

Q23. Discuss the initiatives taken by the government to promote equality between the male or female.

Ans. Government recognises that burden of child-care and housework falls on women and girls. This naturally has an impact on whether girls can attend school. It determines whether women can work outside the house and what kind of jobs and careers they can have. The government has set up anganwadis or child-care centres in several villages in the country. The government has passed laws that make it mandatory for organisations that have more than 30 women employees to provide crèche facilities. The provision of crèches helps many women to take up employment outside the home. It also makes it possible for more girls to attend schools.