Distinguish between gender equality, gender equity and women's empowerment. Why is it important to take gender concerns into account in programme design and implementation?

Theme

T65 Gender concepts, patriarchy & women's social status

What UPSC asks in this theme

Cross-paper: UPSC asks gender equality vs equity vs empowerment, patriarchy's effect on working women, whether women's movements ignored lower strata, patriarchal social attitudes, young women's suicides, and women's social capital.

What to cover

• Concepts: equality, equity, empowerment, gender mainstreaming
• Patriarchy in family and workplace
• Women's movement: phases and its class/caste limits
• Mental health and suicide among young women
• Social capital: SHGs, networks

Writing the answer

• Define concepts precisely first, then apply to Indian examples

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 7 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.