NIOS Class 12 Gender Studies Chapter 12 Gender and Access to Food

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NIOS Class 12 Gender Studies Chapter 12 Gender and Access to Food

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Gender and Access to Food

Chapter: 12

MODULE – IV: GENDER HEALTH AND NUTRITION

INTEXT QUESTIONS 12.1 

1. Explain Food Cycle? 

Ans: The food cycle is the complete process from agriculture production to food availability to the people. It involves various stages, such as growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, marketing, and distribution of food products.

2. Comment on the role of women in the Food Cycle.

Ans: Women are involved in various stages of the food cycle. They work in family owned farms and are responsible for the tasks such as sowing, weeding, harvesting, cleaning and packaging food items.

3. Discuss the mechanism of social protection with respect to access to food.

Ans: Social protection is ensured through Public Distribution System, which provides subsidised food and non-food items to the country’s poor. A network of outlets under the Public Distribution System (PDS) provides food such as cereals, oil and sugar at a rate much subsidised than the market. PDS provides household food security whereby all members always have access to enough food for an active and healthy life. In addition, it ensures that none of the members lives in hunger or fear of starvation.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 12.2

1. Define gender discrimination? 

Ans: Gender discrimination is prejudice or discrimination based on a person’s sex or gender. Women and girls are deprived of their right to live and educate due to gender bias against the female child.

2. What do you understand by access to food in the context of gender? 

Ans: Food is generally distributed in the family. Each member is given the food for his/ her age and likes/dislikes. Usually, the woman of the house cooks and distributes food among the family members.

3. Clarify how do women’s access to food differ from that of men?

Ans: Women’s access to food depends on two main factors: 

(i) Economic Access to Food: Women have comparatively lesser mobility outside the home, so their engagement with the market remains very restricted. As a result, their chance to participate in income-generating activities is reduced, so their bargaining power is reduced. This limits their say in access to and distribution of intra-household resources, including food. Subsequently, food, as a priority item of consumption, remains more accessible to other family members than the women.  

(ii) Socio-cultural Access to Food: Customs and culture dictate differential roles, privileges, and life options for women and men, especially favouring the latter. A woman’s access to food is primarily determined by the meal-eating pattern followed in the household. This pattern is based on multiple factors such as age, sex, social status and decision-making power of the member and the priority given to the same. With women at the receiving end, their share in available food is often compromised. They would voluntarily forgo their share in a particular food item for the love and concern of the other family member.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 12.3 

1. Why does Nutritional Deficiency occur? 

Ans: Insufficient food intakes deplete our body of essential nutrients. As a result, our body becomes weak and loses its ability to fight against infection and illness. Nutritional deficiencies occur when the quantity and quality of food intakes are below essential requirements. The Indian Council of Medical Research defines the recommended nutritional daily allowances.

2. What are the main types of common nutritional deficiencies? 

Ans: The common nutritional deficiencies are Protein, Calorie Malnutrition, Iron deficiency Anaemia, Vitamin A, B12 and Goitre due to iodine deficiency.

3. What is iron deficiency Anaemia?

Ans: Iron deficiency Anaemia is the most common type of Anaemia. It occurs when our body doesn’t have enough mineral iron, which is required to make Hemoglobin. Lack of iron in the bloodstream leads to insufficient oxygen in our body and we get symptoms like tiredness, dizziness and cold hands and feet.

Terminal Exercises

1. What is the role of women in the food cycle?

Ans: Women are an integral part of the Food Cycle. They work in agriculture production, from sowing and weeding to harvesting various crops, and are actively involved in processing, distributing, and marketing food products. Their work is largely on family land. Women are involved in various stages of the food cycle. They work in family-owned farms and are responsible for the tasks such as sowing, weeding, harvesting, cleaning and packaging food items.

Women are directly and indirectly involved in various food production, processing, packaging, and marketing stages. Women have a significant role and responsibility in the food sector. They contribute tremendously to food production, processing, distribution, and marketing. At home, they procure, store, prepare, distribute, and ensure that all members have ample food.