Read the passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage:
There has been greater recognition that both men and women are constrained by dominant gender identities. For instance, men in patriarchal societies feel they must be strong and successful. It is not manly, to express oneself emotionally. A gender-just society would allow both men and women to be free. This, of course, rests on the idea that for true freedom to grow and develop, injustices of all kinds have to end. The idea of a gender-just society is based upon two important factors - educated women with multiple roles and improved sex ratio. The programme of the Government of India, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana is an important effort in the actualization of a gender-just society.
Patriarchal society refers to:-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Dominant role of men
Option (1) Dominant role of men — Correct. A patriarchal family structure exists where the men exercise authority and dominance. The passage shows the same society from inside: men feel they must be strong and successful.
Option (2) Dominant role of women — Incorrect. A structure where the women play a similarly dominant role is called matriarchy, the opposite of patriarchy.
Option (3) Rule of residence — Incorrect. The rule of residence decides where a newly married couple lives: with the woman’s parents in a matrilocal society, with the man’s parents in a patrilocal one. It says nothing about who holds authority.
Option (4) Rule of lineage — Incorrect. Lineage is the line of descent and inheritance: matrilineal societies pass property from mother to daughter, patrilineal ones from father to son. Descent is a different matter from dominance.
Note: The passage is taken from the chapter ‘Social Movements’, but this question is based on the chapter ‘Social Institutions: Continuity and Change’. However, since it is a passage-based question, all the questions on this passage are tagged to the chapter the passage is taken from.
NCERT (2025-26): “The Diverse Forms of the Family … Studies have shown how diverse family forms are found in different societies. With regard to the rule of residence, some societies are matrilocal in their marriage and family customs while others are patrilocal. In the first case, the newly married couple stays with the woman’s parents, whereas in the second case the couple lives with the man’s parents. With regard to the rules of inheritance, matrilineal societies pass on property from mother to daughter while patrilineal societies do so from father to son. A patriarchal family structure exists where the men exercise authority and dominance, and matriarchy where the women play a similarly dominant role.…” |