873-Perspectives of Women Studies_VUsolutions.com

							      ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD
                   (Department of Gender and Women Studies)

                                    WARNING
 1.   PLAGIARISM OR HIRING OF GHOST WRITER(S) FOR SOLVING THE
      ASSIGNMENT(S) WILL DEBAR THE STUDENT FROM AWARD OF
      DEGREE/CERTIFICATE, IF FOUND AT ANY STAGE.
 2.   SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS BORROWED OR STOLEN FROM
      OTHER(S) AS ONE’S OWN WILL BE PENALIZED AS DEFINED IN
      “AIOU PLAGIARISM POLICY”.

Course: Perspectives of Women Studies (873)                  Semester: Autumn, 2011
Level: M. Sc                                                       Total Marks: 100
                                                                     Pass Marks: 40

GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING ASSIGNMENT
Assignment is a take home test; you are free to use materials from internet, books and
course books. Please understand the question and write in your own words by arranging
your answer with an introduction, main discussion with sub topics and conclusion.
Copying from books, internet etc is not allowed. Typed assignments are not accepted. If
reference of other research is being quoted, it should be properly acknowledged.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR STUDENTS ATTENTION
In the following four assignments you have to write short essays after reading the
material provided in the Allied Study Material for this course. Student’s opinion and
comments on the theme are the most important aspect for the tutor while marks are being
allocated.

                             ASSIGNMENT No. 1
                                     (Units: 1–4)

Q. 1 What is the importance of Women Studies discipline? What role it can play in
     changing attitudes in the society? (Consult readings pages: 5-57)       (20)

Q. 2 What factors influence on the gender stereotyping? Discuss in light of readings
     2.3, 2.4 and 3.4.                                                           (20)

Q. 3 Is it true that knowledge construction is sexist and women are excluded from
      knowledge production? Consult reading 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4.                  (20)


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Q. 4 What is the connection of social movements and feminist movement in Europe?
     Elaborate your answer with examples. (Reference reading 4.1 and 4.3).  (20)

Q. 5 What is your understanding of patriarchy? What measures need to be taken to change
     this misogynist stance of the society? (Consult Bhasin reading 4.2 also 4.7)   (20)

                              ASSIGNMENT No. 2
                                       (Units: 5–8)

Q. 1 Anne Oakley (Reading 6.1 & 6.2) argues about qualitative and quantitative
     paradigms of research but at the end says, there are no easy answers for choosing
     research methods when researching women experiences? Discuss what you
     understand out of these readings? Reading 6.7 is also helpful to understand the
     concepts.                                                                    (20)

Q. 2 Define the following: (Consult reading 5.1, 6.3, and 6.4)                    (10+10)
     –    Feminist epistemology.
     –    Feminist Research.

Q. 3 How Buddhist teachings based on four noble truths guide the status of women in
     their beliefs? (Consult reading 7.4 & 7.5)                                (20)

Q. 4 Discuss the rationale of women's oppression according to socialist philosophers
     Marx and Engles. (Consult reading 7.1 and 7.2).                            (20)

Q. 5 According to the Jewish and Christian Bibles the status of women is strongly
     influenced by man? Discuss in light of readings 8.1 & 8.2.               (20)

                              ASSIGNMENT No. 3
                                      (Units: 9-13)

Q. 1 Do you agree that the laws are misused by ruling classes to subordinate
     women and minorities? Contextualize your answer in Pakistani society?
     (Reading 10.1 & 10.2)                                               (20)

Q. 2 Read Al Faruqi's concept of understanding the phase wise muslim women's rights in
     context of history, family and society? In this context answer what is the practice in
     Pakistani society of women's rights? (Reference reading P 810-825, 846-874)       (20)

Q. 3 What should be the role of National Commission on the Status of Women in
     Pakistan? (P 943-954 & P 1267-1281)                                 (20)


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Q. 4 ILO is working to improve the workers situation at workplace. What are different
     forms of exploitation and discrimination in Pakistan? And how the situation can be
     improved? (P 977-1014)                                                        (20)

Q. 5 In the light of the new education policy and 2010 budget allocation for
     education do you think Pakistan can met EFA and MDG's targets? (Reference
     reading 13.2 p 1051-1056).                                            (20)

                              ASSIGNMENT No. 4
                                      (Units: 14-18)

Q. 1 Why women's movement in Pakistan is not that effective to address the women issues?
     Do you think the State has a role regarding this? (Reference reading 14.1 & 14.2) (20)

Q. 2 How media can be used as an educational tool to improve the status of women and
     undo the gender stereotypes? (Helping reading 13.3)                         (20)

Q. 3 What is the difference between Women in Development and Gender and
     Development? (Reading 15.1 should help also consult Gender & Development
     course)                                                              (20)

Q. 4 What is the importance of CEDAW? How it can benefit attaining women rights? (20)

Q. 5 How militarization is linked with masculinity? Discuss with examples.            (20)


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