Practice Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is true for both Hijras and Sworn virgins?

a) They are discriminated against in their communities

2. Two Spirit women are:

a) Present in Indigenous cultures of North America

3. Eunuchs are typically NOT found among the group of:

a) Castrati
b) Two Spirit people
c) Hijras
d) None of the above – They are commonly found in all those groups

4. Which culture did not typically use local population as eunuchs?

a) Baroque Italy
b) Imperial China
c) Ottoman empire
d) Byzantine Empire

5. What is true about the castrati?

a) People loved them for their voices and ignored physical realities of their bodies.
b) Only the best of the castrati could sing in opera and achieve fame.
c) They were an exaggerated idea of an ideal female lover.
d) Castrati had voices like women.
6. What is an example of an intersectional explanation?

a) “Traditionally, there were categories of women in the West who worked – women of colour,
working class women, etc.”
b) “Men who have sex with other men are gay”.
c) “Genital cutting has a goal to oppress women”.
d) “Not taking a man’s last name after marriage is a feminist choice”.

7. Perceptions of old age:

8. What is true about menopause in these cultures?

a) Japanese women experience more hot flashes than women in other parts of the world
b) Greek women regard only premature menopause as unhealthy
c) Western women generally have positive attitudes toward menopause
d) Mayan women report feeling old when they reach menopause

9. Indigenous grandparents in Canada:

a) Cannot be Elders
b) Transfer specific types of knowledge to their grandchildren
c) Can easily get access to informal care on the reserve
d) Are less likely to provide childcare for their grandchildren than other Canadian grandparents

10. What is true about caregiving and living arrangements for the elderly?

a) The type of care an old person needs has an influence on their living arrangements.
b) The elderly across most cultures prefer to live in their own home and to receive formal care.
c) Old people generally prefer independence in terms of living arrangements and caregiving.
d) Once an old person needs a caregiver, they cannot live in their own home anymore.

Short Answer Questions

1. Briefly describe the main consequences of colonization for Indigenous gender diversity in
North America.
2. What are the most common reasons for female genital cutting and why are these practices so
difficult to stop?

3. Describe an intersectional approach to discussing Muslim women and their experiences.

4. How is the role of grandparents similar and different than the roles of Elders?

5. What are cultural perceptions of menopause? Provide examples from three cultures.

Bonus Questions
1) Strongly patriarchal societies do not perform male genital cutting. T/F
2) Caregiver was a common occupation for Two-Spirit people. T/F
3) Indigenous gender roles and gender categories were both changed as a result of
colonialization. T/F
4) Heroes and lovers were typical roles for castrati singers in baroque operas. T/F

Answers

Multiple choice:
1. c
2. d
3. b
4. c
5. b
6. a
7. d
8. b
9. b
10. a

Short Answer:

1. (This is just a hint on what to write – your answers have to be in full sentences):
Colonialization destroyed traditional gender systems in North America and forced people into
gender binary. Mention why (European ideas about gender – gender binary.) Indigenous
communities are still recovering from that. Because of colonialization, some Indigenous people
do not know about their own traditions. Some subscribe to Western ideas about gender (gender
binary.) Mention the opposite (Two-Spirit people) and gender diversity today.
2. Hint: List the most common reasons that we mentioned (marriageability, cultural ideals about
femininity, genital cutting as affirming one’s femininity, etc.) Why are they difficult to stop?
Because they make an important part of culture and have symbolic/ideological importance.
Sometimes even as a backlash against the West (what is perceived as West trying to force its
cultural norms.)
3. Hint: You may quickly describe non-intersectional (ethnocentric) approach: seeing Muslim
women through Western eyes, as a group that needs saving because they are oppressed by their
men, their religion and their culture. (And that they need to be more like Western women,
because Western norms are seen as universally good and superior.) Then, mention the opposite:
an intersectional approach: an approach that take Muslim women’s cultures into question, their
own experiences, norms and values. Emphasize the need to actually allow these women to talk
(to have a voice in discussion) so they can say what they want – do not assume that Muslim
women want this or that without actually talking to them. Accept that some ideas might not
match Western feminist ideas and that’s OK. (Note: You do not have to mention ethnocentric
approach first, but it might be easiest to explain what intersectional approach is.)
4. Hint: In cultures that have Elders as a category, these people are highly respected and
important for the community. Most commonly, such cultures will also have a respect for old
people in general. Grandparents are respected members of their families in such cultures. Similar
to Elders: respect, being asked for an advice, typically transfer knowledge. Different than Elders:
grandparents often provide childcare, which is not expected of Elders. Elders are typically an
official category (have a specific role in a community as a whole, with specific duties), while
grandparents’ duties are more focused on the family.
5. Hint: Perceptions of menopause are culturally-specific. Symptoms and attitudes vary from
culture to culture. Three cultures to mention: Mayan, Greek and Western women (you don’t have
to use these three, but these are the ones we talked about in detail.) Menopause for Western
women: seen as a bad thing, a sign that you are getting old and that you are past your prime.
Many negative physical and emotional symptoms. Greek culture: An ambivalent attitude. On one
hand, menopause brings more freedoms, but it also means that you are getting old and that you
are away from main social circles. Some symptoms of menopause, but less than Western women.
Mayan women: see menopause as a positive thing, a relief from numerous pregnancies, feel
young again. Few if any symptoms of menopause.

Bonus: 1) F 2) T 3)T 4)T