Social Science · Civics Polity

Gender Studies and Sociology

2,732 Questions

Gender studies and sociology questions examine societal expectations, feminist theory, and concepts like intersectionality and gendered knowledge. The topics explore how queerness and aging impact gender identity in society. These questions are common in civil services and state PSC exams.

Feminist theory conceptsGender identity and expressionTraditional societal rolesIntersectionality in sociologyGendered knowledge in education

Gender Studies and Sociology Questions

Multiple choice general knowledge sports

Outside of the Western World, ___________________________________ .

  1. boys are socialized essentially the same as girls

  2. girls are rarely encouraged to learn how to do domestic chores

  3. children who do not follow traditional gender patterns in play and other activities are rarely labeled as marginal or deviant

  4. none of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In non-Western societies, gender socialization tends to follow traditional patterns where boys and girls are raised differently. Girls are typically encouraged to learn domestic chores, and children who deviate from traditional gender roles are often labeled as deviant. Since all statements A, B, and C are incorrect, 'none of the above' is the correct answer.

Multiple choice general knowledge

Outside of the Western World, ___________________________________ .

  1. boys are socialized essentially the same as girls

  2. girls are rarely encouraged to learn how to do domestic chores

  3. children who do not follow traditional gender patterns in play and other activities are rarely labeled as marginal or deviant

  4. none of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is 'none of the above' because options A, B, and C make absolute claims that don't universally apply to all non-Western societies. Gender socialization varies enormously across diverse non-Western cultures - some enforce strict traditional roles, while others are more flexible. Options A, B, and C are all overly broad generalizations that would fail across many non-Western contexts.

Multiple choice

According to evolutionary psychologists,

  1. women tend to be concerned with whether mates will devote time and resources to a relationship

  2. men place less emphasis on physical attractiveness

  3. women place more emphasis on sexual fidelity

  4. men are biologically driven to have multiple partners
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Evolutionary psychologists propose that women prioritize resource commitment in mate selection because of greater parental investment requirements. Women seek partners who will devote time and resources to relationships and offspring, reflecting different reproductive strategies shaped by evolutionary pressures.

Multiple choice

Glass ceiling relates to

  1. ergonomics

  2. gender bias

  3. recruitment

  4. promotion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Glass ceiling is an invisible barrier that prevents women and minorities from advancing to higher positions in corporate hierarchies despite their qualifications and achievements. The term originated in corporate contexts to describe how women could see executive positions but not reach them. Gender bias in organizational culture and promotion practices creates this systematic disadvantage.

Multiple choice
The fact that the word “hunk” has come to be utilized informally as a generic term for attractive men is a lamentable development in the English language. The original meaning of “hunk” is “a large piece of bread, meat.” Therefore, the utilization of “hunk” as a generic term for men is wrong and ought not to be encouraged.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the position above could be based?

  1. The only acceptable meaning of an English word is its original meaning.

  2. The word “hunk” has been used in the English language for hundreds of years.

  3. The utilization of “hunk” as a generic term for men is only a recent development in the language.

  4. Those speaking informal English are not required to use acceptable meanings of words.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

An assumption links the premises to the conclusion, so in order for the utilization of the term “hunk” as a generic term for attractive men to be wrong, the assumption must be that there is only one acceptable meaning of a word.

Multiple choice

Directions: A question word is followed by four possible illustrations. Choose the option that is suitable illustration of the question word.

BIGOTRY

  1. Non compliance for a particular order owing to certain inhibitions.

  2. Domineering attitude of a wife over her husband.

  3. Extreme rigidity of ideas and absolute unwillingness to change them.

  4. Fervency of character expressed at the slightest reason.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Bigotry' is the behavior, attitude, or beliefs of a bigot, intolerance, prejudice. Therefore, option (1) best illustrates the meaning of the given word.

Multiple choice

An 'insidious problem' would be the one that is caused seemingly

Directions: Read the given passage and answer the question that follows by selecting the most appropriate option.
Clearly the socialisation of gender is reinforced at school. "Because classrooms are microcosms of society, mirroring its strengths and ills alike, it follows that the normal socialisation patterns of young children that often lead to distorted perceptions of gender roles are reflected in the classrooms." (Marshall, 1997). Yet gender bias in education reaches beyond socialisation patterns, bias is embedded in textbooks, lessons, and teacher interactions with students. This type of gender bias is part of the hidden curriculum of lessons taught implicitly to students through the everyday functioning of their classroom.
Research has found that boys were far more likely to receive praise or remediation from a teacher than were girls. The girls were most likely to receive an acknowledgement response from their teacher. They give boys greater opportunity to expand ideas and be -animated than they do girls and that they reinforce boys more for general responses than they do for girls. Clearly the socialisation of gender roles and the use of a gender-biased hidden curriculum lead to an inequitable education for boys and girls. Gender bias in education is an insidious problem that causes very few people to stand up and take notice.

  1. deliberately

  2. harmlessly

  3. carelessly

  4. ignorantly
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

An insidious problem is one that proceeds in a gradual, subtle way with harmful effects, but in a manner that is not immediately apparent or noticeable. The passage notes that gender bias 'causes very few people to stand up and take notice' - meaning people are not aware of it, not acting deliberately.

Multiple choice

A word from the essay which is the opposite of 'demonstrated' is

Directions: Read the given passage and answer the question that follows by selecting the most appropriate option.
Clearly the socialisation of gender is reinforced at school. "Because classrooms are microcosms of society, mirroring its strengths and ills alike, it follows that the normal socialisation patterns of young children that often lead to distorted perceptions of gender roles are reflected in the classrooms." (Marshall, 1997). Yet gender bias in education reaches beyond socialisation patterns, bias is embedded in textbooks, lessons, and teacher interactions with students. This type of gender bias is part of the hidden curriculum of lessons taught implicitly to students through the everyday functioning of their classroom.
Research has found that boys were far more likely to receive praise or remediation from a teacher than were girls. The girls were most likely to receive an acknowledgement response from their teacher. They give boys greater opportunity to expand ideas and be -animated than they do girls and that they reinforce boys more for general responses than they do for girls. Clearly the socialisation of gender roles and the use of a gender-biased hidden curriculum lead to an inequitable education for boys and girls. Gender bias in education is an insidious problem that causes very few people to stand up and take notice.

  1. animated

  2. clearly

  3. implicit

  4. distorted
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The passage describes 'lessons taught implicitly to students' through 'hidden curriculum.' 'Implicit' means implied or indirect - the opposite of 'demonstrated' which means shown clearly or explicitly. 'Animated' (lively), 'clearly' (obviously), and 'distorted' (warped) don't contrast with demonstrated in meaning.

Multiple choice

A synonym for 'general' is

Directions: Read the given passage and answer the question that follows by selecting the most appropriate option.
Clearly the socialisation of gender is reinforced at school. "Because classrooms are microcosms of society, mirroring its strengths and ills alike, it follows that the normal socialisation patterns of young children that often lead to distorted perceptions of gender roles are reflected in the classrooms." (Marshall, 1997). Yet gender bias in education reaches beyond socialisation patterns, bias is embedded in textbooks, lessons, and teacher interactions with students. This type of gender bias is part of the hidden curriculum of lessons taught implicitly to students through the everyday functioning of their classroom.
Research has found that boys were far more likely to receive praise or remediation from a teacher than were girls. The girls were most likely to receive an acknowledgement response from their teacher. They give boys greater opportunity to expand ideas and be -animated than they do girls and that they reinforce boys more for general responses than they do for girls. Clearly the socialisation of gender roles and the use of a gender-biased hidden curriculum lead to an inequitable education for boys and girls. Gender bias in education is an insidious problem that causes very few people to stand up and take notice.

  1. customary

  2. diminutive

  3. precise

  4. special
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In the context, 'general responses' means ordinary, common, or non-specific answers. 'Customary' means usual or traditional, serving as a synonym for general in this sense. 'Diminutive' (tiny), 'precise' (exact), and 'special' (particular) are antonyms or unrelated to general's meaning here.

Multiple choice

In Science practicals, boys generally take control of apparatus and ask girls to record data or wash utensils. This tendency reflects that

  1. girls being delicate prefer such less energy consuming tasks

  2. girls are excellent observers and record data flawlessly

  3. stereotyping of masculine and feminine roles takes place in schools also

  4. boys can handle equipments more efficiently as they are naturally endowed for doing such things
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is C because gender stereotyping manifests when boys automatically take equipment handling roles while girls are relegated to passive tasks like note-taking or cleaning, regardless of individual capability or preference. This pattern reflects how societal gender roles are reproduced unconsciously in educational settings through everyday classroom practices. Options A and D incorrectly justify these stereotypes as natural or based on girls' preferences, while B wrongly rationalizes the situation by claiming girls are naturally better observers.

Multiple choice

Choose the word most similar in meaning to the word 'feminism', as used in the passage.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable answer according to the underlined word per corresponding number in the passage.

A woman’s role has been circumscribed within a narrow domain where she is in just the lead role of a wife and a mother. Her individuality remains secluded. Comparatively no man’s mission is to be a father or a husband alone. Why does the society have such double standards? If both sexes share the responsibility of upbringing their children why woman alone is assigned to play the key role? She is considered menial to a man, though not morally or legally. Her supreme duty is to love, marry and rear children. There are many such females who do not get all this in succession, but that does not declare a woman’s defeat in her individuality. The growing sensationalism has excited the issue further. Literature and media all portray love so passionately and woman at the central position of this emotion. This leads to an exaggeration of the sentiment and display of feminism. A life, hence, devoid of love seems a failure and deprivation of marriage a shortcoming. But is it that the emotion (love) we recall so often present in all the marriages?

  1. Women's delicateness

  2. Women's strength

  3. Womanly pursuits

  4. Women's rights
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Feminism refers to the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of gender equality. The passage mentions media portrayal exaggerating women's issues and rights. 'Women's rights' is correct. 'Delicateness', 'strength', and 'pursuits' don't capture the political movement aspect of feminism.

Multiple choice

While discussing gender bias against women in a male - dominated culture one must remember that ________ behaviors are learned early in life and are perpetuated throughout life in media depictions of women.

  1. intrinsic

  2. stereotypical

  3. flawed

  4. improper

  5. clichéd

  6. innate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(1) Incorrect; something 'intrinsic' or 'innate' is something that someone is born with. Hence, there is no need to learn such behaviors.

(2) Correct; the sentence talks of gender bias that is learnt early and perpetuated throughout the lifetime. 'Stereotypical' and 'clichéd' fit the bill.
(3) Incorrect; the sentence is explanatory, not analytical. Only an analytical sentence would try to give an opinion.
(4) Incorrect; the sentence is explanatory, not analytical. Only an analytical sentence would try to give an opinion.
(5) Correct; the sentence talks of gender bias that is learnt early and perpetuated throughout the lifetime. 'Clichéd' and 'stereotypical' both fit the bill. (6) Incorrect; something 'intrinsic' or 'innate' is something that someone is born with. Hence, there is no need to learn such behaviors.