Growing up Boys and Girls - Class 7

Q1. What were the main problems in Samoa society? Ans: In the 1920s, according to research reports on Samoan society, there were some problems, which are as follows: i) children did not go to school. ii) They learnt many things, such as how to take care of children or do household work from older children and from adults. ii) Young people, therefore, learnt to undertake long fishing expeditions. But they learnt these things at different points in their childhood. iii) As soon as babies could walk, their mothers or other adults no longer looked after them. v) Girls had to continue looking after small children or do errands for adults till they were teenagers. Q2. What did the girls of Samoa society do after the age of fourteen? Ans: After the age of fourteen or so, girls also went on fishing trips, worked in the plantations, learnt how to weave baskets. Cooking was done in special cooking-houses, where boys were supposed to do most of the work while girls helped with the preparations. Q3. Which kind of discriminations are found among the boys and girls in Madhya Pradesh? Ans: From Class VI onwards, boys and girls went to separate schools in Madhya Pradesh. Some discriminations are found among the boys and girls, which are as follows: i) The girls’ school was designed very differently from the boys’ school. ii) Girls had a central courtyard where they played in total seclusion and safety from the outside world. But, the boys’ school had no such courtyard and playground was just a big space attached to the school. iii) Every evening, once school was over, the boys watched as hundreds of school girls crowded the narrow streets. iv) The street was a place for doing everything to the boys. But, for the girls, the street was simply a place to get straight home. Q4. Do you think that discriminations are present in our modern society among the male and female? Ans: Yes, because- In most societies, including our own, the roles men and women play or the work they do, are not valued equally. Men and women do not have the same status. Across the world, the main responsibility for housework and  care-giving tasks, like looking after the family, especially children, the elderly and sick members, lies with women. Yet, as we have seen, 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 devalues  this work. Q5. What problems were faced by Melani as house hold worker? Ans: A domestic worker – Melani was faced so many problems in Delhi, which are as follows: i) She was doing work from 5am in the morning to till night. ii) She did not get sufficient food for breakfast. iii) She couldn’t wear chappals even in the winter season. iv) Some times her master of the house gets angry with her. Q6. How do you want to reduce discrimination problems among the boys and girls or males and females? Ans: It is part of a larger system of inequality between men and women. It, therefore, has to be dealt with through actions not just at the level of the individual or the family but also by the government.  In reality, inequality between the sexes exists. The government is, therefore, committed to understanding the reasons for this and taking positive steps to remedy the situation. For example, it recognises that burden of child-care and housework falls on women and girls. EXTRA QUESTIONS   1. Explain the life of the Samoan people in 1920s. 2. What did children of Samoan learn? 3. Write a short note on gender discrimination. 4. What are the factors which are responsible for inequality in society? 5. What do boys do every evening, once the school was over? 6. How does society make clear distinction between boys and girls? 7. What is the living condition of domestic workers? 8. Write a short note on works of women. 9. Why did Samoan children not go to school in 1920s? 10. What are actions taken by the government for equality of women?