CBSE Notes Class 7 Social Science Civics Chapter 4 - Growing Up as Boys and Girls

Gender and society: The chapter explores the concept of gender and its impact on the lives of boys and girls. It discusses how society shapes expectations, roles, and behavior based on gender.

Gender stereotypes: The chapter addresses the issue of gender stereotypes and how they influence the way boys and girls are perceived and treated. It emphasizes the importance of challenging stereotypes and promoting gender equality.

Changing roles: The chapter discusses how gender roles have been changing over time. It explores the evolving expectations and opportunities for boys and girls in various spheres, including education, work, and household responsibilities.

Discrimination and bias: The chapter highlights the existence of discrimination and bias based on gender. It explores instances of gender-based violence, unequal access to resources, and opportunities faced by girls and women.

Gender and education: The chapter focuses on the importance of education in empowering both boys and girls. It highlights the need for equal access to education, eliminating gender-based discrimination in schools, and promoting girls' education.

Empowerment and agency: The chapter emphasizes the importance of empowering boys and girls to make their own choices and decisions. It encourages them to challenge societal norms and contribute to creating a more equal and inclusive society.

Role of individuals and society: The chapter highlights that individuals have a role to play in promoting gender equality and challenging discriminatory practices. It emphasizes the need for collective efforts by society to create a gender-just society.

Growing up in Samoa in the 1920s

The Samoan Islands are part of a wide group of small islands in the Pacific Ocean's southern hemisphere. Children did not attend school in the 1920s and learnt many things from older children and adults, such as how to care for children and complete domestic chores. Fishing was a popular pastime on the islands, and young people learned how to go on extended fishing trips. As soon as babies could walk, their mothers or other adults were no longer responsible for them, and both boys and girls were responsible for their younger siblings. When a boy was nine years old, he joined the older boys in learning outside jobs like fishing and coconut planting. Girls had to continue looking after small children or do errands for adults until they were teenagers, but once they became teenagers they had much more freedom. After the age of fourteen or so, girls also went on fishing trips, worked in the plantations, learned how to weave baskets, and cooked in special cooking-houses. 

Growing up male in Madhya Pradesh in the 1960s

The boys' school did not have a courtyard, and their playground was simply a large area attached to the school. Every evening after school, the boys observed hundreds of schoolgirls crowding the tiny streets. The streets were utilized by the lads to idle around idling, play, and practice tricks on their bicycles. The girls appeared to be walking with purpose, in contrast to the boys, who used the streets to stand around idling, play, and practice tricks on their bicycles. This distinction is generated in the tiniest and most mundane aspects, such as how girls must dress, what activities boys should play, how girls must speak softly or boys must be quiet. Later in life, this affects the subjects we can study or the careers we can choose. In most societies, the roles men and women play or the work they do are not valued equally. Men and women do not have the same status.

Valuing housework

Women are primarily responsible for caring for the home and performing other caregiving duties, such as taking care of the family. However, the job that women do at home is not acknowledged as work. It is also believed that women are more naturally adept at this profession. As a result, society undervalues women's domestic work because they are not paid for it.

Lives of domestic workers 

Numerous duties are involved in household chores. Many of these tasks demand significant physical labor. both in urban and rural areas:

• Girls and women carry water.
• Carry large firewood loads on your head.
• Perform bending, lifting, and carrying-intensive jobs including sweeping, picking up, and washing clothing. 

Women’s work and equality

The Indian Constitution places a strong emphasis on equality, which forbids discrimination on the basis of gender. However, gender inequality actually does exist. As a result, it needs to be addressed by the government as well as individuals and families. The following are some of the government's actions:

• It supported the education of girls.
• Anganwadis, or child-care centers, have been established by the government in a number of villages around the nation.
• The government has enacted rules requiring childcare facilities from businesses with more than 30 female employees.
• A crèche is a place where parents can leave their kids while they work and where kids are cared for.