1.
Gender Studies
Inter-disciplinary academic field
Analyze gender identity and gendered representation
Includes women studies- feminism- gender and Politics – men’s studies and queer studies
Emerged in in West after 1990s
Inclusive in nature
2. Women studies
Offshoot of second wave of feminism- 1980s
Academic discipline similar to gender studies
It is older than gender studies
Tries to address women’s predicament in a society and realistic solutions to improve their
conditions
Main focus= Women
Women studies courses are now offered in more than 40 countries
First women studies course= Marry Ritter Beard
First women studies Program= USA-San Diego state university Program (1970)
First MA in women studies= University of Kent
3. Gender studies versus women studies
Gender Studies Women Studies
1. Established on basis of Women studies 1. Older than Gender Studies
2. Multi-disciplinary 2. Inter-disciplinary
3. Deals theories – psychosocial, 3. Deals – feminism
constructive, queer studies, LGBT etc.
4. Deals man, women and queer 4. Deals only women
5. Inclusive in nature 5. Exclusive in nature
4. Status of Gender/ Women Studies in Pakistan
First institute – Institute of Women Studies (IWSL)- 1986 – major role played by women
activists
Women division established – 1989= introduced discipline under five year Project
Curriculum revision comitte on women studies = Feb24, 2003 / 1989
Establishment of centre of excellence in all over Pakistan- centre of excellence for gender
Studies (CEWS) = 1989 by the Ministry of Women Development, in 5 public sector
universities
First MA began at UOK – 1996
In 2002= MPhil, and PHD initiated
In 2007= 4 years Program
2010= evening Program (MA)
Pakistan association for women’s Studies= 1991= major role in introducing gender studies as an
academic discipline
Courses of Gender and women studies have been taught a:
AIOU, Islamabad
Islamia College BHWP
Qau, Isd
UIS, Jamshoro
UOP, Lahore
BZU, Multan
UOK, Karachi
5. What is gender?
Gender refers to socially constructed characteristics of women and men, such as norms, roles,
and relationships of and between groups of women and men. It varies from society to society
and can be changed – UN
Social and cultural construction of masculinities and femininities
Socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities and attributes that a particular society
considers appropriate for men and women
Allows us to see the dimensions of human roles and personalities as based not on
nature but on social factors
6. Sex versus Gender difference
Sex differences may be natural, but gender differences have their sources in culture-
Ann Oakley
Sexuality is who you want to be with. Gender identity is who you want to be in the
world – Hari Nef
Sex Gender
1) Biological and physiological 1) Social, cultural, behavioral and
differences on the basis of emotional differences between
reproductive structure men and women
Genitalia differences e.g. gonads in
male and eggs in female
Genetic differences e.g. men xy and
women xx
2) Two main categories- male and 2) Two categories- masculine and
female feminine
3) Sex role cannot be changed by time 3) Gender role can be changed by
and culture e.g. only women can give time and culture e.g. women can
birth perform men’s role and vice versa
4) Sex is natural, determined and 4) Gender influenced by social,
inherited by birth cultural and behavioral factors
5) Nature of sex is universal 5) Nature of gender is culturally
specific
6) Sex is result of reproduction needs, 6) Gender distinctions are created by
that is biological feature social norms
7. Suffragist movement
Word suffragette first time used in an article in a British newspaper in 1906
Women suffragist movement –
o Women campaigning/struggle for the right to vote and run for office
o In mid-19th century- women formed organizations to fight for suffrage in US
and UK
o In 1888- first international women’s rights organization formed = the
international council of women (ICW) – later reluctant to focus on suffrage =
as result new organization formed to solely work for suffrage = International
women suffrage alliance – IWSA= by British women rights activists = Millicent
Fawcett and others
Women suffrage in Europe:
Self-governing British colony= New Zeland
- First country to grant national level voting rights to women by passing
electoral Bill in September – 1893
Another British colony- Australia- Granted full suffrage in 1894
o Women took part in WW1 due to shortage of men which further bolstered their demand for
suffrage in Europe
Women suffrage in USA-
First women rights convention in the world- The Seneca Falls convention -1848 = 300 people
participated- only 1 woman- Charlotte Woodward survived to cast her vote in 1920
Convention was organized by- cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth
The National women suffrage Association-
1869 slavery ended – movement for suffrage started getting pace
Anthony and Stanton founded= National Woman suffrage Association – NWSA- campaigned for
universal suffrage through constitutional Amendement in America
Women suffrage movement succeeded due to effort of:
National women’s party- NWP
National American women suffrage Association – NAWSA
19th amendment = 26 August, 1920 = last state Tennessee to ratify
8. Feminism – 18th century
Feminism is ideology which propagates for fight against gender stereotypes, and establishing
educational, professional and interpersonal opportunities and outcomes for women that are
equal to those for men
Concept originated in West
Movement which is based on the principle that- women deserve to be treated equal to men
Theory or ideology which states that- men and women should be equal Politically, economically
and socially
Feminist theories:
Develop comprehensive account of women’s conditions, their causes, consequences along
solutions
Feminist theory attempts to describe women’s oppression, causes and consequences, and to prescribe
strategies for women’s liberation- Rose Marie Tong
Feminist theories help to understand the power differential between man and woman- Jane Flax
Famous feminists-
Marry Wollstonecraft
John Staurt Mill
9. Waves of feminism/ women’s movements
History of struggle of women for equality is described in context of wave
Tried to highlight issues of women
First wave of feminism: 1848-1920) term first wave coined by= Journalist= Martha Lear in NY times
magazine, March 1968
Main slogan- vote for women
Period – 19th and 20th century
Originated from USA and West
Movement for Political rights of women
Two important development during first wave of feminism
1. Seneca falls convention- 1848= first women’s rights convention – held in USA
2. 1920- 19th amendment = ended suffrage movement in US
Success of first wave of feminism:
Right to vote= 19th amendment
Right to exercise will’
Right to choose profession
Right to own property in their name
Educational opportunities
Prominent activists of first wave of feminism
Alice Paul
Carrie Chapman Catt
Anna Howard Shaw
Criticism / movement for white women
Consisted of white women and ignored black and other strata of women
When first wave was launched= Elizabeth cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott denied seat at the World Anti-
Slavery convention in London = 1840
Second wave of Feminism / rights for women more than enfranchisement – Body itself
o Second wave triggered by Publishing of Betty Friedan’s book- ‘The Feminine Mystique’’
o Term second wave- Martha Lear- NY Magazine – March-1968 title ‘’ the second feminist wave:
What to do these movements want?
Famous slogan – Women’s liberation
Began in 1960s to 1970s in USA
Referred as women liberation movement
Main focus of second wave
Radical voices of women empowerment
Sexuality and identity
Family roles
Workplace wage gap
Aborting rights
Lasted 2 decades
Critique of patriarchy and male dominant social stereotypes, institutions, and cultural practices
Wanted to highlight issues of domestic violence and martial rape
Focus on Public as well as Private injustices i.e. key struggle was the ‘’ female body itself
Third wave of Feminism
Major theme – consciousness rising – women getting together and talking about their
issues
Rebecca walker coined the term Third Wave Feminism in a 1992 essay
Began 1980s and 1990s and continued until rise of 4th wave in 2010
Led by – Generation Xers
Tried to fulfill unfinished agenda of second wave
Referred as Post-modern feminism
Established to overcome/ fill gap left by previous waves
Third wave became possible by the greater economic and Professional power status
achieved by the women of the second wave
Focus of third wave:
Wage gap- sexual harassment- body image-LGBT rights etc.
Queer theory
Abolishing gender role, expectations, and stereotypes
Changes in media portrays