Unit 2

Achieving Equality

Learning Objectives

• Know the meanings of prejudice and stereotypes • Understand discrimination and inequality • Become aware of the negative consequences of discrimination

The society that we live in comprises people knowing much about them. It happens from various social groups who are different when people have false belief and ideas. in many ways. Since we believe in ‘Unity in Diversity’, we should have been living Prejudice Pre 1 Judge peacefully with one another irrespective The word ‘prejudice’ refers to of those differences. Often, we see that prejudgement. Prejudices can be based on diversity is not accepted, and people many things like people’s religious beliefs, harbour attitudes of hostility towards those the region they come from, the colour of who are ‘different’ from them. They form their skin, their accent or the clothes they opinions about the other groups and this wear. The types of prejudice are gender often leads to tension in the society. Such prejudice, racial prejudice, class prejudice, ‘opinions’ are often ‘prejudiced’. disability prejudice and so on. 1. Prejudice For example, urban people are more Prejudice means to judge other people civilised than rural people in attitudes in a negative or inferior manner, without and behaviour, is one such prejudice. 1.1 Causes for Prejudice dishwashers and others show a woman Some common social factors that as the main lead or user of that product. contributes to the rise of prejudice are On the other hand, all the stunts shown 1. Socialization in a bike advertisement is performed by 2. Conforming behaviours ferocious looking men. 3. Economic benefits 3. Inequality and Discrimination 4. Authoritarian personality Inequality means difference in treatment. 5. Ethno–centrism The different forms of inequalities such 6. Group closure as caste inequality, religious inequality, 7. Conflicts race inequality or gender inequality give 2. Stereotypes rise to discrimination. When prejudice gets Discrimination can be defined as stronger, it develops into negative actions towards people. a stereotype. Stereotype is a false view Discrimination can happen on the basis or idea about something. For example, of colour, class, religion, gender etc. girls are not good at sports. Stereotype is Treating dark-skinned people differently learned at a very early age, and children from fair-skinned people, giving more grow to have very strong ideas or opinions importance to people of higher than to about things, groups or ideologies. As those of lower caste and thinking boys children grow up, the lines of like and are smarter than girls are all thoughts of hate for other things, people, cultures, discrimination. beliefs, languages become sharper. Article 15(1) of the Constitution states Example that the State shall not to discriminate Ragu was hit in his eye against any citizen on grounds only of with a soft ball and to religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or everyone’s surprise, he any of them. started to cry. The others started to laugh at him; Mani felt sad for End of Apartheid him but started laughing along with others. After 27 years in prison, Now we understand that when we former South African fix people in our image, we create a President, Nelson Mandela, was freed stereotype. In the above example, we in 1990 and succesfully achieved the have a general opinion that girls cry and end of apartheid in South boys don’t cry. When Ragu cried out of Africa, bringing peace to pain, others laughed at him. a racially divided country Gender-based stereotypes are often and leading the fight for portrayed in films, advertisements and human rights around the TV serials. Almost all the advertisements world. related to detergents, washing machines, Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar • He is popularly known as Baba Saheb. • He was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer. • He earned his M.A. in 1915 and then obtained a D.Sc at the London School of Economics before being awarded Ph.D by Columbia University in 1927. • He served as the chairman of drafting committee of the constituent assembly and hence regarded as the father of Indian Constitution. • He was independent ’s first Law Minister. • He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1990.

3.1 Caste Discrimination dresses while boys in such families often Caste system is the most dominant wear modern dresses. reason for inequality and discrimination 3.3 Religious Discrimination in India. In the beginning, the society Religious discrimination is unequal was divided into different groups on the treatment of an individual or group based basis of occupation, known as Varnas. on their beliefs. Religious discrimination Many people in India have fought against has been around for a long time. There caste oppression. The most prominent have been problems between people of among them was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. He different religions for thousands of years. belonged to a such depressed family and Some people are not allowed to enter suffered discrimination throughout his in public places; especially the places of childhood. He fought actively for equality worship because they belong to another among the citizens of India. religion. Some religious people often end 3.2 Gender Discrimination up in conflict with each other because of Gender discrimination refers to health, their rituals and way of life. education, economic and political 3.4 Socio-Economic Inequality inequalities between men and women in In the socio-economic field, the benefits India. For example, A girl is not allowed to of growth have not been spread evenly. go to college after finishing her schooling. However, the income inequality is much Similarly, most of the girls are not allowed higher than the inequality in human to select a career of their choice rather they development. The low-income districts are forced into marriage. In some families, are associated with low industrial girls are not allowed to wear modern development, low agricultural productivity Dr. APJ ABDUL KALAM Mr. (1931-2015)

Literacy rate – 2011 Census High Low S.No. District Name Percentage S.No. District Name Percentage 1 Kanyakumari 91.75% 1 Dharmapuri 68.54% 2 Chennai 90.18% 2 Ariyalur 71.34% 3 Thoothukkudi 86.16% 3 Krishnagiri 71.46% Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was Viswanathan Anand was born in Chennai in a middle class 4 The Nilgiris 85.20% 4 Villupuram 71.88% born in a Tamil Muslim family in Rameswaram. family. His mother was a big fan of chess and taught him to play the game when he was just ve years old. She encouraged Source: Censusindia.gov.in He was the 11th President of India and who is fondly remembered as People’s President. and motivated him a lot and this laid the foundation for his future career as a chess player. He completed his schooling at Ramnad, graduation Sex Ratio – 2011 Census from St. Joseph’s College, Trichy, and went on to Anand has won the world chess study aerospace engineering at the Madras Institute championships ve times Number of females per 1,000 males of Technology (MIT) aer he joined the Defence (2000, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012). Research Development Organisation (DRDO). High Low Kalam’s family had He won the World S.No. District Name Sex Ratio S.No. District Name Sex Ratio become poor at his early Junior Chess Championship age; he sold newspapers to He was the rst recipient of the 1 The Nilgiris 1041 1 Dharmapuri 946 at the age of 14. supplement his family Award 2 Thanjavur 1031 2 Salem 954 income. in 1991-92, India’s highest He became India’s rst sporting honour. He was a recipient of several grandmaster in 1988. 3 Nagapattinam 1025 3 Krishnagiri 956 prestigious awards, including He received the nation’s second His outstanding work highest civilian award 4 Thoothukkudi 1024 4 Ramanathapuram 977 the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour in earned him the title of the Padma Vibushan in 2007. ‘Missile Man of India’. Source: Censusindia.gov.in 1997. Ms. S. ILAVAZHAGI Mr. MARIYAPPAN THANGAVELU and low human development. Similarly, 4. Be open to learning about other the Districts with literacy rate are found religions. to be with lower sex ratio.. 5. Promoting community dining in the classroom may help the students to 3.5 Remedial Measures for sit together without any bias of caste, Abolishing Inequality and religion or gender. Discrimination 6. Socialise with people of all types The remedial measures for abolishing S. Ilavazhagi came from a poor family at Mariyappan was born at Salem in . His outside home. Vyasarpadi, Chennai. His father is a daily mother raised her children as a single mother, carrying inequality and discrimination in Indian wage-earning auto-rickshaw driver. bricks as a labourer until becoming a vegetable seller, society are as follows. 7. Effective implementation of laws. earning about Rs.100 per day. She participated in the 2008 He suered permanent disability in his right leg. 1. Wider access to quality basic services 3.6 Constitution of India and World Carrom Championship When he was young despite this setback, at Palais Des Festivals, Cannes, he completed secondary She participated and won like healthcare and education for all. Equality France, and bagged her schooling. He says, “I didn't see the Indian National Carrom In 2016, At the Rio maiden women’s title. myself as dierent from Championship in the same Paralympics, he won the 2. Be aware of current gender bias. A Constitution is a set of rules and able-bodied kids.” year aer beating the former gold medal in the men’s 3. Make women more visible in public regulations guiding the administration of World Champion high jump T-42 event, Reshmi Kumari. with a leap of 1.89 m. life and institution to eradicate gender a country. Article 14 of the constitution disparity. of India provides equality before the law ACHIEVERS Dr. APJ ABDUL KALAM Mr.VISWANATHAN ANAND (1931-2015)

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was Viswanathan Anand was born in Chennai in a middle class born in a Tamil Muslim family in Rameswaram. family. His mother was a big fan of chess and taught him to He was the 11th President of India and who is fondly play the game when he was just ve years old. She encouraged remembered as People’s President. and motivated him a lot and this laid the foundation for his future career as a chess player. He completed his schooling at Ramnad, graduation from St. Joseph’s College, Trichy, and went on to Anand has won the world chess study aerospace engineering at the Madras Institute championships ve times of Technology (MIT) aer he joined the Defence (2000, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012). Research Development Organisation (DRDO).

Kalam’s family had He won the World become poor at his early Kalam has written many books. Junior Chess Championship age; he sold newspapers to Among them, very famous books He was the rst recipient of the at the age of 14. supplement his family are India 2020, Wings of Fire, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award income. Ignited Minds, e Luminous in 1991-92, India’s highest Sparks and Mission India.. He became India’s rst sporting honour. He was a recipient of several grandmaster in 1988. prestigious awards, including He received the nation’s second the Bharat Ratna, India’s His outstanding work highest civilian award highest civilian honour in earned him the title of the Padma Vibushan in 2007. 1997. ‘Missile Man of India’.

Ms. S. ILAVAZHAGI Mr. MARIYAPPAN THANGAVELU

S. Ilavazhagi came from a poor family at Mariyappan was born at Salem in Tamil Nadu. His Vyasarpadi, Chennai. His father is a daily mother raised her children as a single mother, carrying wage-earning auto-rickshaw driver. bricks as a labourer until becoming a vegetable seller, earning about Rs.100 per day. She participated in the 2008 He suered permanent disability in his right leg. World Carrom Championship When he was young despite this setback, at Palais Des Festivals, Cannes, he completed secondary She participated and won France, and bagged her schooling. He says, “I didn't see the Indian National Carrom In 2016, At the Rio maiden women’s title. myself as dierent from Championship in the same Paralympics, he won the able-bodied kids.” year aer beating the former gold medal in the men’s World Champion high jump T-42 event, Reshmi Kumari. with a leap of 1.89 m.

From the above examples, you will clearly understand that people from diverse backgrounds facing adverse conditions were still able to achieve greater success in their lives. • Prejudice means to judge other people in a negative or inferior manner, without knowing much about them. • Stereotype is a false view or idea about something. • Discrimination can be defined as negative actions towards people. Discrimination can happen the basis of colour, class, religion and gender. • Caste system is the most dominant reason for inequality and discrimination. or equal protection within the territory • Gender discrimination refers to health, of India and prohibits the unreasonable education, economic and political discrimination between persons. inequalities between men and women. Our Constitution says ours is a land • Religious discrimination is unequal of diversity; therefore, equality has treatment of an individual or group to be ensured for all. Two significant based on their beliefs. parameters to ensure equality in society are respecting diversity and ensuring freedom. The different kinds of freedom are freedom to follow their religion, speak their language, celebrate their festivals • Prejudice: Negatively judging other and express their views freely. people or seeing other people as inferior The Constitution is a legal framework • Stereotype: Creating a standard image of rules and regulations by which a • Discrimination: When people are not nation would function. Equality is where treated equally on the basis of caste, untouchability is seen as a crime. In colour, religion, sex etc., India, as per the Article 17 of the Indian Constitution, untouchability is totally • Inequality: Lacking equality, either abolished and it's any form is forbidden. economic or social or both Even today, different types of • Constitution: A constitution is a set of discrimination are reported across the fundamental principles or established country. Women, peasants, tribes and precedents according to which a state or people from lower social classes are still other organisation is governed. striving for equality in India. EXERCISES (a) 14(1) (b) 15(1) (c) 16(1) (d) 17(1) I. Choose the correct answer: 9. B.R. Ambedkar was 1. Which one of the following is not the conferred Bharat reason for Prejudice? Ratna in the year (a) Socialization (a) 1990 (b) 1989 (c) 1988 (d) 1987 (b) Economic Benefits 10. As per the 2011 Census the highest (c) Authoritarian personality literate district in Tamil Nadu (d) Geography (a) Namakkal (b) Salem 2. Discrimination done on the basis of (c) Kanyakumari (d) Sivagangai gender is referred to as (a) gender discrimination II. Fill in the blanks: (b) caste discrimination 1.People have false belief and ideas on (c) religious discrimination others is called ______. (d) inequality 2. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born in______3. Gender-based stereotypes are often 3. ______was the first recipient of Rajiv portrayed in Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India’s (a) films (b) advertisements highest Sport honour (c) TV serials (d) All of these 4. ______was the independent 4. Name the book/s written by A.P.J. India’s first Law Minister Abdul Kalam 5. As per the 2011 Census the lowest Sex (a) India 2020 (b) Wings of Fire ratio was in ______(c) Ignited Minds (d) All of these III. Match the following: 5. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was conferred 1. Prejudice - abolition of untouchability Bharat Ratna in the year 2. Stereotype - treating someone less (a) 1997 (b) 1996 (c) 1995 (d) 1994 fairly than others 6. Viswanathan Anand became India’s 3. Discrimination - equality before law first grandmaster in the year. 4. Article 14 -false view or idea about (a) 1985 (b) 1986 (c) 1987 (d) 1988 something 7. In which sport Ilavazhagi excels 5. Article 17 - judge other people (a) Chess (b) Wrestling negatively (c) Carrom (d) Tennis 8. Which article of the Constitution says IV. Answer the following questions: discrimination against any citizen on 1. What is Prejudice? grounds only of religion, race, caste, 2. What is stereotype? sex, place of birth or any of them is 3. What is discrimination? not permitted?