NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Civics Chapter 4 - Growing up as Boys and Girls

(a) True. More importance is given to the work done by boys instead of the ones done by girls.

(b) False. Right from the outset of their growing phase, our society makes it a point to distinguish between boys and girls. From an early age, boys are taught to be tough and serious while girls are taught to be coy and soft. Toys like guns and cars are given for boys to play, while girls will be given dolls.

(c) False. A woman who stays at home does housework. A lot of it. They wash clothes, sweep, clean, cook food and pretty much keep the entire house in order.

(d) True. Despite the fact that women do a lot of work, their work goes undervalued. Part of the reason is that, because there is no monetary value attached to it, there is a social conditioning that household work comes naturally to women and that it is expected of them.

i. Invisible. It means the work is most often not noticed and acknowledged by others. The primary responsibility for housework and care-giving tasks such as taking care of children and the elderly lies with women. Due to the fact that such tasks are not acknowledged as work, it remains invisible.

ii. Physically demanding. House work is very tough and difficult. Women do a lot of heavy-duty work like washing the clothes of the entire family, and gathering and carrying heavy loads of firewood, among others.

iii. Time-consuming. Household chores take up a lot of time. For example, women’s routine begins from early morning and continues late into the night. During this period, they are seen busy fulfilling the tasks of their family members. At times, the time consumed in finishing the chores depends on the size of the family. The larger the family, the longer it takes for completion.

List of toys and games that boys play with:

• Cars

• Guns

• Action figures

• Sports items like football, volleyball, cricket, basketball, etc.

List of toys and games girls play with:

• Dolls

• Cooking items

• Dollhouses

• Fashion Toys

It is clear from the list above that society makes a distinction between boys and girls, apparent right from their growing phase itself. Boys are taught to be tough and strong, which highlights their manly features but girls are expected to remain in the confines of their ‘feminine’ virtues. In the end, it pushes home the message that they have specific roles to play when they grow up into adult men and women. Later in life, this may even have adverse effects when it comes to choosing careers.

Shanthi has been working in my house for several years as a domestic help. She hails from a village on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border. She lives here in Bangalore with her husband and a daughter in her early twenties, who is currently pursuing B Com from a reputed institute.

She comes at around 7:30 in the morning and finishes her work by 6:00 in the evening. She does her work with diligence and skill, never even once making a fuss or complaining about the work she does.

She gets Rs 5000/- per month with all other amenities like food, clothing, etc. Her husband is involved in making wax mannequins for clothing stores which also earns him a decent amount every day. Still, Shanthi is leading a tough life working more than 10 hours daily at our home, then doing her own household chores and looking after her family members.