Read the passages and answer the items based on them. You are required to select your answers based on the content of the passage and opinion of the author only. Post colonial cultural analysis has been concerned with the elaboration of theoretical structures that contest the previous dominant western ways of seeing things. A simple analogy would be with feminism, which has involved a comparable kind of project : there was a time when any book you might read, any speech you might hear, any film that you saw, was always told from the point of view of male. The woman was there, but she was always an object, never a subject. From what you would read, or the films you would see, the woman was always the one who was looked at. She was never the observing eye. For centuries it was assumed that women were less intelligent than men and that they did not merit the same degree of education. They were not allowed a vote in the political system. By the same token, any kind of knowledge developed by women was regarded as non-serious, trivial, gossip or alternatively as knowledge that had been discredited by science, such as superstition or traditional practices of childbirth or healing. All these attitudes were part of a larger system in which women were dominated, exploited, and physically abused by men. Slowly, but increasingly, from the end of 18thcentury, feminists began to contest this situation. The more they contested it, the more it became increasingly obvious that these attitudes extended into the whole of the culture; social relations, politics, law, medicine, the arts, popular and academic knowledge.
What does '....she was always and objects, never a subject' mean ?
women were not given any right equal to men
Understanding the Meaning of 'Object' vs. 'Subject' in Cultural Analysis
The passage uses the analogy of feminism to explain post-colonial cultural analysis. It describes a time when women were consistently portrayed or treated from a male point of view. The key phrase we need to understand is, "she was always an object, never a subject."
In this context, the terms 'object' and 'subject' relate to perspective, agency, and power:
- Subject: A subject is an individual who has their own perspective, consciousness, and agency. They are the 'doer', the one who observes, thinks, and acts. They have their own voice and point of view.
- Object: An object is something that is seen, acted upon, or defined by others. It lacks its own independent perspective or agency within the dominant framework. It is something that is looked at, rather than the one doing the looking.
The passage states that women were always "the one who was looked at. She was never the observing eye." This reinforces the idea of women being treated as 'objects' - defined and viewed by others (specifically, men in this context) rather than being recognized as 'subjects' with their own independent viewpoint and agency.
The passage then lists consequences of this perspective:
- Assumed to be less intelligent.
- Did not merit the same degree of education.
- Not allowed a vote in the political system.
- Knowledge developed by women regarded as non-serious, trivial, or superstition.
- Part of a larger system where women were dominated, exploited, and physically abused.
These points illustrate what it means to be treated as an 'object' and not a 'subject'. It means being denied fundamental rights, agency, and recognition equal to that of the dominant group (men).
Analyzing the Options based on the Passage
Let's evaluate each option in light of the passage's explanation:
- Option 1: women were given respect and worshipped
This option directly contradicts the passage. The passage describes women being dominated, exploited, denied rights, and having their knowledge dismissed. This is the opposite of being given respect and worshipped.
- Option 2: women were not given any right equal to men
This option aligns strongly with the examples given in the passage as consequences of women being treated as 'objects'. Denial of equal education, voting rights, recognition of knowledge, and experiencing domination and exploitation are all instances of not having rights equal to men. Being treated as an 'object' rather than a 'subject' is the cultural manifestation of this denial of equal rights and agency.
- Option 3: women were treated at par with men
This option is false according to the passage. The passage explicitly details the ways in which women were treated unequally, such as being denied the same education, voting rights, and recognition for their contributions.
- Option 4: women liked to be treated inferior to men
The passage mentions that feminists began to contest this situation from the late 18th century. This active contestation shows that women (or at least some women, the feminists) did not like being treated as inferior. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
Conclusion on the Meaning of 'Object, Never a Subject'
Based on the detailed explanation and examples provided in the passage, the phrase "she was always an object, never a subject" most accurately reflects the condition where women were denied equal rights and agency compared to men. Their perspective was not valued, they were acted upon rather than having the power to act, and their status was inferior in the dominant social and cultural systems.
| Concept | Meaning in Passage Context | Relation to Women's Status |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | One with agency, perspective, who observes and acts | Women were denied this status |
| Object | One viewed, acted upon, defined by others, lacking independent agency | Women were relegated to this status |
| Inequality / No Equal Rights | Lack of equal political, educational, social rights and recognition | This is the practical outcome of being treated as an 'object' rather than a 'subject' |
Revision Table: Key Terms from the Passage
| Term | Context/Meaning in Passage |
|---|---|
| Post colonial cultural analysis | Concerned with contesting dominant Western perspectives. Compared to feminism. |
| Feminism | Contested the traditional subordinate status and portrayal of women. Used as an analogy. |
| Subject | One with agency, perspective, the 'observing eye'. |
| Object | One looked at, defined by others, lacking own perspective/agency. |
| Contested | Challenged, argued against (what feminists did against the subordinate status of women). |
Additional Information: Objectification and Agency
The idea of being treated as an 'object' rather than a 'subject' is a core concept in critical theories, including feminism and post-colonial studies. Objectification occurs when a person is treated merely as a thing or an object, lacking recognition as a person with their own thoughts, feelings, and agency.
In the context of gender, objectification often involves reducing a woman to her physical appearance or her role relative to men, ignoring her capabilities, intellect, and independent identity. The passage describes this through the denial of educational opportunities, voting rights, and the dismissal of women's knowledge.
Agency refers to an individual's capacity to act independently and make their own free choices. The passage implies that by treating women as 'objects', the dominant system denied them agency – the ability to participate fully in the political system (no vote), to have their knowledge respected (dismissed knowledge), and to be recognized for their intellectual capacity (assumed less intelligent).
Understanding the object/subject distinction is crucial for analyzing power dynamics in various social and cultural contexts.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
