Social Science [2 Mark Questions]

Creation of Stereotypes: Fixing people into an image is called stereotypes. We create stereotypes when we call people on the basis of their country, religion, sex, race or economic background, stingy, lazy, criminal or dumb.

The steps are-providing a quota system to the backward classes for jobs and seats in\public and private educational institutions. Further, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 prevents atrocities against member of the Dalit community and other backward castes.

People of different religions and faiths have freedom to practice and follow their religion.

Historical and geographical factors give way to a rich variety of vegetation and wildlife. Tigers are found in forest regions, cattle in the rural areas and camel in deserts; orchids grow in wet and cold regions, while cactus and date palms grow in dry places. Geographical diversity affects food habits and clothing and gives way to cultural diversity. Cultural diversity refers to the different ways of living in terms of dresses, food, customs, etc.

The important element of our unity is that we all live together peacefully and respect one another in all the spheres of life.

The many things that make us what we are; are:
Our way of life, languages, food, clothes and our games.

Village people are, in everyone’s opinion, supposed to be ignorant and superstitious while city people are supposed to be greedy, lazy and money minded. These opinions create negative impression in a human’s subconscious mind and are called prejudices.

Caste system which is an ancient practice in India divides people into groups called Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and shudra based on their occupation. Shudras are termed Scheduled Castes and salits today and they struggle for equality and their rights.

Prejudice is a negative opinion about people and things without knowing all the facts we develop them regarding the dark skin of south Indians, the accent of Punjabi and Biharis etc.

Gender discrimination affects the girl child through social evils such as female foeticide or infanticide, dowry system, patriarchal system and child marriage which have a dreadful effect on the girl child?s growth, health, education, and thus her entire life.

Differences in appearance-dark - skinned/ fair, height - tall/ short, interests - sports/ reading, religious beliefs - Hinduism/ Christianity, dress, sari/ salwar kameez, etc. are some examples of diversity in our daily life.

Diversity adds variety and enjoyment to our life. It gives us a chance to live with people who may be quite different. We learn to recognise the different characteristics of each individual, appreciate the differences and learn other?s culture, ideologies traditions, etc.

The examples of discrimination in Indian society are discrimination against women at workplaces and at home, some look down upon rag pickers and shoo those aways, people with HIV are kept away from others for no reason, many club have restrictive membership policies, etc.

The location and environment of a place impact diversity by affecting the different ways of living in terms of dresses, food, customs, etc. For example, coastal areas like Kerala, Goa and West Bengal have a flourishing fish industry as plenty of fish is found in the water and hence fish is an important food in these areas.

Reasons for Muslim girls not attending the schools are:- Early marriages Poverty.

People’s religious beliefs, their colour, accent and dress makes people prejudice of others.

In our neighborhood there stays Mr. John, a Christian; just next door is the house of a Muslim family, the Khans, across the road lives a Hindu family, Mr. and Mrs. Sharrna. This is certainly an example of diversity.

Right to equality before law, prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of religion, race caste, sex, or place of birth, provide religious freedom to all citizen of India. Right against exploitation prohibiting all form of forced labor, child labor and traffickig of human beings.

Many Dalits organized themselves to gain entry into temples, women demanded for right to education, peasants and tribals fought to release themselves from the grasp of the moneylenders.

City life can be summarized as follows :

• City life is very easy. People of cities enjoy good roads, transport, electricity, schools, health facilities etc.
• Most of the people of city are working. They have their own business or working in the offices.
• Smooth development occurred in cities because government offices and business hubs are situated there.
• In many families, women also join the job.
• They spend more time at the workplace and thus, spend very little time with family members.

When we fix people into one image, we create a stereotype. When people say that those who belong to a particular country, religion, sex, race or economic background are stingy, lazy, and criminal or brave, they are using stereotypes. Many times, discrimination happens on the ground of prejudices or stereotypes.

To judge other people negatively or see them as inferior is prejudice. We can be prejudiced about many things: people’s religious beliefs, the colour of their skin, the region they come from, the accent they speak in, the clothes they wear etc. Sometimes our prejudice about others is so strong that we don’t want to associate with them, even act in ways that hurt them. Discrimination happens when people act on their prejudices or stereotypes.

(1) Difference :

Discrimination	Stereotype
1. Discrimination is the state in which one person is discriminated from others due to his poor and bad economic condition.	1. Fixing people into one image is called a stereotype.
2. Untouchables, Dalits etc.	2.Stingy, lazy, criminal etc.

(2) He might feel hurt and might revolt against society.

These characteristics are applied to girls because they are born soft, gentle. They are well behaved.
• The girls possess these qualities at birth most of them. They also leam such behavior afterward, remaining in the house or school.
• The girls who are not soft and gentle and who are naughty, acquire these qualities from society.

Prejudices are our opinions which we make about certain people. Some examples are.
• Village people are dirty, lazy, and ignorant.
• City people are cunning and corrupt.
By prejudice we mean,“to judge others negatively and with inferiority.”