Women and Reform

Which social reform, according to you, can bring about these outcomes? Respect and dignity for women, Opportunities for employment and contribution to the economy, Decline in harmful social practices like female infanticide, Wellbeing of a family

• The abolition of sati

• Widow remarriage

• Women's education

• The abolition of child marriage

Women were discouraged from getting an education in pre-independent India, because it was believed that: (More than one option can be correct.)

• women were not intelligent enough to study

• women could not think for themselves

• once educated, women would not do household work

• once educated, women would not obey their husbands unquestioningly

The social reforms first started in Bengal, because:

• the people of Bengal had always opposed orthodox ideas

• this region had maximum exposure to Western Ideas and education

• the social reformers were mostly from Bengal

• harmful social customs existed in Bengal more than in any other region

Which of these would have continued because the British made no serious effort to enforce the Sharda Act?

• Sati

• Limited access to women for education

How were widows treated in pre-independent India?

• They could remarry but were humiliated for their decision to do so.

• They were not allowed to marry, but could serve society and take on powerful positions in the government.

• They were not allowed to remarry and were forced to practice austerity in what they wore and what they ate.

• They were allowed to remarry, and were given an honoured position in their houses.