A student argues that women's smaller share in family property has so…

A student argues that women's smaller share in family property has social, not biological, causes. Which pair of society and evidence, used to support her case, is correctly matched?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Many African societies - Women as successful farmers and traders

Option (1) Nairs of Kerala - A matrilineal society even today — Incorrect. The Nairs of Kerala used to be a matrilineal society. Their matrilineal system belongs to the past, so this pair gets the time wrong.

Option (2) Khasis of Meghalaya - Matrilineal in the past, not now — Incorrect. The Khasis of Meghalaya are still matrilineal today. Placing their matrilineal system only in the past reverses the fact.

Option (3) Many African societies - Women as successful farmers and traders — Correct. In many African societies women have managed to be successful farmers and traders. This shows that women's economic roles are not fixed by biology, so it supports her case that the inequality is social.

Option (4) Nairs of Kerala - Women as successful farmers and traders — Incorrect. The Nairs are an example of a matrilineal society, where women were inheritors and heads of families. Success as farmers and traders is the evidence drawn from African societies.

NCERT (2026-27): “5.3 Struggle for women’s equality and rights
Because of the obvious biological and physical differences between men and women, gender inequality is often treated as natural. However, despite appearances, scholars have shown that the inequalities between men and women are social rather than natural. For example, there are no biological reasons that can explain why so few women are found in positions of public power. Nor can nature explain why women generally receive a smaller or no share in family property in most societies. But the strongest argument comes from the societies that were different from the ‘normal’ or common pattern. If women were biologically unfit to be inheritors and heads of families, how did matrilineal societies (as the Nairs of Kerala used to be, and as the Khasis of Meghalaya still are) work for centuries How have women managed to be successful farmers and traders in so many African societies There is, in short, nothing biological about the inequalities that mark the relations between women and men. …”

A student argues that women's smaller share in family property has social, not biological, causes. Which pair of society and evidence, used to support her case, is correctly matched?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Many African societies - Women as successful farmers and traders