UPSC Mains 2015 GS1 Q10 — Social Sex Ratio
How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes ? (Answer in not more than 200 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- How do you explain
- Scope keywords
- sex ratio in Tribes in Indiafavourable to womensex ratio among Scheduled Castes
- Implicit sub-parts
- Socio-cultural factors within Tribal societies that empower women (e.g., absence of dowry, bride price).
- Economic contribution and labor participation of Tribal vs. SC women.
- Institutionalized patriarchy and Sanskritization within SC communities compared to Tribes.
- Impact of physical isolation vs. proximity to mainstream urban patriarchal norms.
- Common pitfalls
- Discussing general problems of SCs and STs instead of focusing specifically on the sex ratio differential.
- Failing to mention the 'Sanskritization' effect where SCs adopt upper-caste patriarchal norms (like dowry) to improve social standing.
- Ignoring the role of female economic autonomy in tribal subsistence economies compared to the often landless labor status of SCs.
- Only describing 'what' the statistics are instead of explaining 'why' the gap exists.
- Dimensions required
- Sociological (Kinship and Marriage)Economic (Labor Force Participation)Cultural (Sanskritization vs. Tribal autonomy)Geographical (Isolation vs. Integration)
- Marks allocation hint
Devote 40 words to establishing the statistical gap and the concept of gender-egalitarian tribal structures. Use 120 words for the core comparative analysis (Sanskritization, dowry vs. bride price, and economic agency). Reserve the final 40 words to mention emerging trends like the declining tribal sex ratio due to modern contact.
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