MANE-004 IGNOU Solved Assignment 2026-27

MANE-004: Gender and Society Course Scope and Academic Rigour

MANE-004 Gender and Society is a core component of IGNOU’s Master’s in Anthropology (MAAN) curriculum, designed to critically interrogate gender as a social construct within institutional, cultural, and policy frameworks. This course bridges feminist theory, sociological analysis, and anthropological fieldwork to examine how gender shapes social hierarchies, labor dynamics, and cross-cultural identities. Through its structured blocks, students dissect theoretical paradigms (e.g., intersectionality, post-structuralism) while applying them to real-world contexts like workplace discrimination, familial roles, and state policies. The study material ensures alignment with IGNOU’s CBCS guidelines, equipping learners to articulate nuanced arguments in assignments and exams—critical for achieving high marks in the 30% TMA component.

Core Syllabus Units and Thematic Focus

• Block-1: Approaches to the Study of Gender: Introduces foundational methodologies, including feminist anthropology and critical discourse analysis, to deconstruct gendered narratives in ethnographic and policy research.
• Block-2: Theorising Gender: Explores key theorists (e.g., Judith Butler, Simone de Beauvoir) and their critiques of biological determinism, emphasizing how gender is performative and historically contingent.
• Block-4: Gender Relations in Social Institutions: Analyzes gender dynamics in marriage, kinship, and religious practices, using case studies from South Asia to illustrate institutionalized inequalities.
• Block-5: Gender and Work: Investigates unpaid labor, occupational segregation, and the gender pay gap, linking micro-level experiences to macroeconomic structures like neoliberalism.
• Block-8: Women in India and Some Insights: Focuses on gendered disparities in education, politics, and health, with a focus on marginalized communities and policy interventions like the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How are TMA marks allocated, and what is the word limit for each section in MANE-004?
A: TMAs carry 30% of the total marks, with Section A (500 words) and Section B (250 words) strictly enforced; adherence to word counts is mandatory to avoid deductions.

Q: Are there prescribed books for MANE-004, and how should I cite them in assignments?
A: The IGNOU syllabus lists Gender and Society (IGNOU, 2023) and Feminist Theory (Lorber & Moore) as key references; in-text citations must follow APA 7th edition, with full bibliographic details provided in the reference list.