NOTE:

1. First attempt PART-I (MCQs) on separate OMR Answer Sheet which shall be taken back after 30 minutes.
2. Overwriting/cutting of the options/answers will not be given credit.
3. There is no negative marking. All MCQs must be attempted.

Q.1.

(i) Select the best option/answer and fill in the appropriate Box on the OMR Answer Sheet. (20 × 1 = 20)

(ii) Answers given anywhere else, other than OMR Answer Sheet, will not be considered.

 

Multiple Choice Questions

 

1. Judith Butler’s concept of "performativity" argues that gender is not an internal reality but:

(A) A biological destiny determined by chromosomal patterns.
(B) A stylized repetition of acts sanctioned by social norms.
(C) A fixed psychological archetype inherited from ancestors.
(D) None of these.

2. The term "Glass Cliff" refers to:

(A) The invisible barrier preventing women from rising to top ranks.
(B) The phenomenon where women are promoted to leadership roles during periods of crisis or downturn, increasing the risk of failure.
(C) The rapid promotion of men in female-dominated professions.
(D) None of these.

3. In the context of Gender and Development (GAD), the "practical gender needs" differ from "strategic gender interests" in that the former:

(A) Challenge the subordinate position of women in society.
(B) Focus exclusively on legislative quotas and political representation.
(C) Address immediate necessities (water, shelter, food) without challenging labor divisions.
(D) None of these.

4. Michel Foucault’s History of Sexuality challenges the "repressive hypothesis" by suggesting that:

(A) The Victorian era successfully silenced all discourse on sexuality.
(B) Sexuality is a purely biological drive independent of power structures.
(C) Power produces discourse on sexuality rather than just repressing it.
(D) None of these.

5. The "Patriarchal Bargain," a concept explaining why women might uphold patriarchal norms to maximize their own security, was elaborated by:

(A) Deniz Kandiyoti
(B) Fatima Mernissi
(C) Asma Barlas
(D) None of these.

6. Which wave of feminism is most closely associated with the slogan "The Personal is Political"?

(A) First Wave
(B) Second Wave
(C) Third Wave
(D) None of these.

7. The notion that men suffer from "hegemonic masculinity," which restricts their emotional expression and forces them into dominance hierarchies, is attributed to:

(A) R.W. Connell
(B) Michael Kimmel
(C) Andrea Dworkin
(D) None of these.

8. Which UN Conference on Women resulted in the "Platform for Action," a key agenda for women's empowerment?

(A) Mexico City (1975)
(B) Copenhagen (1980)
(C) Beijing (1995)
(D) None of these.

9. The concept of "Strategic Essentialism" suggests that:

(A) Gender differences are biological and unchangeable.
(B) Minority groups may temporarily act as if their identities are stable to achieve political goals.
(C) Essentialist arguments should never be used in feminist discourse.
(D) None of these.

10. "Standpoint Theory" argues that:

(A) All knowledge is objective and neutral.
(B) Science should be abandoned as a patriarchal tool.
(C) Knowledge stems from social position, and marginalized groups offer a more complete perspective.
(D) None of these.

11. Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza coined the term kyriarchy to describe:

(A) A patriarchal system
(B) Interlocking structures of domination such as gender, race and class
(C) Legal guardianship
(D) None of these.

12. The "WID" (Women in Development) approach, which emerged in the 1970s, was primarily criticized for:

(A) Being too radical and anti-male
(B) Ignoring the economic contribution of women completely
(C) Both (A) & (B)
(D) None of these.

13. Which Pakistani legislation criminalized "Honour Killings" and closed the loophole of family forgiveness?

(A) Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2016
(B) The Women's Protection Act 2006
(C) Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2013
(D) None of these.

14. The "Bargaining with Patriarchy" concept explains how women strategize within constraints. This term was coined by:

(A) Naila Kabeer
(B) Judith Lorber
(C) Chandra Talpade Mohanty
(D) None of these.

15. Which UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) specifically targets "Gender Equality"?

(A) SDG 3
(B) SDG 4
(C) SDG 6
(D) None of these.

16. The reformist movement in the subcontinent that advocated for women's education and opposed Sati was led by:

(A) Anni Besant
(B) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
(C) Qasim Amin
(D) None of these.

17. "Doing Gender," a sociological perspective viewing gender as an accomplished interactional display, was proposed by:

(A) Davis and Moore
(B) Parsons and Bales
(C) West and Zimmerman
(D) None of these.

18. The "Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women" (CEDAW) is often described as:

(A) An international bill of rights for women
(B) A peace treaty between nations
(C) A trade agreement
(D) None of these.

19. "Sticky Floor" refers to:

(A) Women stuck in low-wage, low-mobility jobs
(B) High retention rates of female employees
(C) Domestic responsibilities
(D) None of these.

20. The concept of "Matrix of Domination" was developed by:

(A) Daniz Kandiyoti
(B) Angela Davis
(C) Bell Hooks
(D) None of these.

PART-II

NOTE:

1. Part-II is to be attempted on the separate Answer Book.
2. Attempt ONLY FOUR questions from PART-II. ALL questions carry EQUAL marks.
3. All the parts (if any) of each Question must be attempted at one place instead of at different places.
4. Write Q. No. in the Answer Book in accordance with Q. No. in the Q.Paper.
5. No Page/Space be left blank between the answers. All the blank pages of Answer Book must be crossed.
6. Extra attempt of any question or any part of the question will not be considered.

 

Q. No. 2. — (20 Marks)

Critically examine the theoretical arguments of social constructionism and queer theory regarding the categories of sex and gender. How do these arguments illuminate contemporary debates about transgender rights and the controversies over the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018 in Pakistan? Support your answer with examples from legal debates and activism.

 

 

Q. No. 3. — (20 Marks)

Trace the evolution of the Feminist Movement in Pakistan from the activism of the Women's Action Forum (WAF) against the Hudood Ordinances in the 1980s to the digital activism of the 2020s. How has the locus of resistance shifted from "Legal Rights" to "Bodily Autonomy"?

 

 

Q. No. 4. — (20 Marks)

Evaluate Pakistan’s performance in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025. Identify the socioeconomic and political factors contributing to Pakistan’s ranking, including labour force participation, education, health and political empowerment.

 

 

Q. No. 5. — (20 Marks)

Climate change has gendered impacts. Drawing on feminist environmentalism and ecofeminist perspectives, critically analyse how recent floods and heat waves in Pakistan have affected women differently.

 

Q. No. 6. — (20 Marks)

Critically examine the "NGO-ization" of the women’s movement in Pakistan. Has the donor-driven agenda of Gender Mainstreaming depoliticized the feminist struggle, converting it into a technocratic "project" rather than a social revolution? Use the WAD (Women and Development) critique in your answer.

 

 

Q. No. 7. — (20 Marks)

Using intersectionality as an analytical framework, examine the experiences of marginalized groups of women in Pakistan, including rural women, ethnic and religious minorities, and differently-abled women. How do overlapping systems of oppression shape their access to health, education and employment?

 

Q. No. 8. — (20 Marks)

Write short notes on the following: — (10 each)

(a) Gendered implications of digital transformation and the narrowing mobile gender gap in Pakistan (2024–2025), including the fact that eight million ~ more women came online and the mobile internet gender gap fell from 38% to 25%.

(b) The role of masculinity studies in understanding violence against women in Pakistani society.

 

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