MWG-002 IGNOU Handwritten Assignment 2026-27

Course Scope and Syllabus Overview for MWG-002: Gender and Power Intro

MWG-002: Gender and Power Intro is a foundational course within IGNOU’s Master of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies (MAWGS), designed to critically analyze the intersections of gender, power, and social structures. This course explores theoretical frameworks, historical contexts, and contemporary debates, equipping students with the analytical tools to dissect gendered power dynamics in diverse societal spheres. Through interdisciplinary lenses, it examines how power manifests in familial, political, economic, and cultural domains, fostering a nuanced understanding of systemic inequalities and resistance strategies. The syllabus aligns with the CBCS framework, ensuring a rigorous academic engagement with primary texts, case studies, and participatory learning methods to prepare students for both theoretical and applied gender studies.

Key Syllabus Units and Topics

• Block-1: Concepts: Introduces core definitions of gender, power, and their historical evolution, distinguishing between biological sex, gender identity, and societal constructions. It explores foundational theories such as feminist epistemologies, intersectionality, and postcolonial critiques to contextualize power as relational and hierarchical.
• Block-2: Gender and Power in the Family: Analyzes the micro-level dynamics of gendered roles within familial structures, including patrilineal traditions, domestic labor divisions, and the psychological impacts of gendered expectations. Case studies from South Asian contexts are examined to illustrate how power operates within intimate spaces.
• Block-3: Gender and Political Power: Investigates the representation of women in political systems, electoral politics, and governance, critiquing the gendered exclusions in policy-making and leadership. The unit also explores feminist movements as agents of political change and the challenges of institutional resistance.
• Block-4: Gender, Economy, and Development: Evaluates the economic disparities between genders, focusing on unpaid care work, wage gaps, and women’s access to resources. It links gendered economic inequalities to broader development paradigms, emphasizing feminist economic theories and participatory models.
• Block-5: Gender, Culture, and Representation: Examines the role of media, literature, and visual arts in constructing gendered narratives, analyzing stereotypes, and the agency of counter-discourses. The unit includes a study of feminist art and media activism as tools for challenging hegemonic power structures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the marking scheme for the MWG-002 Term-End Examination, and how are internal assignments weighted?
A: The MWG-002 Term-End Examination carries 70% of the total marks, divided into objective and descriptive sections, while the remaining 30% is allocated to continuous internal assignments, including handwritten assignments and online quizzes as per IGNOU’s evaluation policy.

Q: Are there any specific pass marks or minimum criteria for submitting the MWG-002 handwritten assignment?
A: The handwritten assignment must adhere to IGNOU’s submission guidelines, including proper formatting, legibility, and adherence to the prescribed word limit. While there are no fixed pass marks for the assignment itself, it contributes directly to the internal assessment, and incomplete or poorly presented submissions may affect the overall evaluation.