Q.1 In cultural anthropology, the concept of 'gender' primarily refers to:
A person's biological sex
Societal roles and expectations associated with being male or female
The number of males and females in a population
An individual's sexual orientation
Explanation - Anthropologists distinguish gender as a social construct, separate from biological sex, emphasizing cultural norms, roles, and expectations.
Correct answer is: Societal roles and expectations associated with being male or female
Q.2 Which anthropologist is known for studying the construction of gender in different cultures?
Margaret Mead
Claude Lévi-Strauss
Bronisław Malinowski
Franz Boas
Explanation - Margaret Mead conducted pioneering work on gender roles in cultures such as Samoa and New Guinea, showing that gender behaviors are culturally shaped.
Correct answer is: Margaret Mead
Q.3 The term 'two-spirit' in some Indigenous North American cultures refers to:
A person who identifies as both male and female
A type of spiritual ritual
A religious leader
A tribal elder
Explanation - Two-spirit is a contemporary umbrella term used by some Indigenous North American communities to describe people embodying both masculine and feminine spirits.
Correct answer is: A person who identifies as both male and female
Q.4 Which of the following best illustrates the difference between 'sex' and 'gender'?
Sex is a social role, gender is biological
Sex is biological, gender is socially constructed
Sex and gender are the same
Sex refers to orientation, gender refers to identity
Explanation - Sex refers to anatomical and physiological differences, while gender refers to roles, behaviors, and expectations defined by culture.
Correct answer is: Sex is biological, gender is socially constructed
Q.5 The study of how sexuality is shaped by cultural beliefs is known as:
Biological anthropology
Cultural anthropology
Linguistic anthropology
Archaeology
Explanation - Cultural anthropologists explore sexuality within social and cultural contexts, analyzing norms, taboos, and roles.
Correct answer is: Cultural anthropology
Q.6 Which of the following is an example of a society with flexible gender roles?
The Nayar of India
The !Kung of Southern Africa
Victorian England
Ancient Sparta
Explanation - The Nayar society allowed women greater sexual freedom and flexible domestic roles, challenging rigid gender norms.
Correct answer is: The Nayar of India
Q.7 Which concept describes how individuals internalize society’s gender expectations?
Gender performativity
Sexual orientation
Kinship
Ritualization
Explanation - Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity argues that gender is enacted through repeated behaviors that align with cultural norms.
Correct answer is: Gender performativity
Q.8 In some cultures, male same-sex relationships are socially accepted while female same-sex relationships are stigmatized. This illustrates:
Universal gender equality
Cultural variability in gender norms
Biological determinism
Fixed sexual roles
Explanation - Anthropology shows that attitudes toward sexuality differ widely across cultures and are influenced by social, religious, and historical factors.
Correct answer is: Cultural variability in gender norms
Q.9 The concept of 'hegemonic masculinity' refers to:
The biological superiority of men
The culturally dominant ideal of male behavior
The marginalization of women
A type of ritual dance
Explanation - Hegemonic masculinity is a concept from gender studies describing how certain male traits are idealized to maintain male dominance in society.
Correct answer is: The culturally dominant ideal of male behavior
Q.10 Which anthropological method is commonly used to study gender and sexuality in communities?
Participant observation
DNA analysis
Radiocarbon dating
Satellite imagery
Explanation - Anthropologists often live in communities and observe daily life to understand social roles, norms, and practices related to gender and sexuality.
Correct answer is: Participant observation
Q.11 In some Pacific Island cultures, individuals who do not conform to traditional gender roles may be:
Celebrated as third-gender individuals
Exiled from the community
Ignored and invisible
Adopted by other tribes
Explanation - Cultures such as Samoa recognize 'fa’afafine,' individuals with gender expressions outside the binary, often respected in society.
Correct answer is: Celebrated as third-gender individuals
Q.12 Which of the following statements reflects the anthropological understanding of sexuality?
Sexual behavior is the same across all cultures
Sexual norms are culturally constructed and vary across societies
Sexuality is purely biological
Sexuality cannot be studied scientifically
Explanation - Anthropologists recognize that sexual behaviors and taboos are shaped by cultural context rather than universal biology.
Correct answer is: Sexual norms are culturally constructed and vary across societies
Q.13 Which term refers to the process by which societies define acceptable sexual behavior?
Sexual regulation
Kinship patterns
Ritual liminality
Cultural diffusion
Explanation - Sexual regulation includes norms, taboos, and laws that societies use to control sexual behavior and relationships.
Correct answer is: Sexual regulation
Q.14 The Hijra community in South Asia is an example of:
A traditional third-gender category
A religious sect
A political party
A matriarchal society
Explanation - Hijras have a recognized social and ritual role in South Asian societies, distinct from binary gender categories.
Correct answer is: A traditional third-gender category
Q.15 Which term describes the study of how societies assign meaning to male and female bodies?
Body politics
Archaeology
Linguistic analysis
Cultural diffusion
Explanation - Body politics examines how social norms, power, and culture influence perceptions of the body, gender, and sexuality.
Correct answer is: Body politics
Q.16 What does intersectionality highlight in the study of gender and sexuality?
The interaction of gender with other social categories like race, class, and sexuality
The biological basis of gender
Universal gender roles
Economic determinism of gender
Explanation - Intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, helps anthropologists analyze overlapping systems of oppression and privilege.
Correct answer is: The interaction of gender with other social categories like race, class, and sexuality
Q.17 Which of the following best describes 'patriarchy'?
A system where men hold primary power in society
A matrilineal kinship system
A society without gender distinctions
A form of government led by elders
Explanation - Patriarchy is a social system in which men dominate political, economic, and social spheres, often affecting gender relations and sexuality.
Correct answer is: A system where men hold primary power in society
Q.18 The anthropological concept of 'kinship' can influence gender roles because:
It defines social relationships and obligations
It determines biological sex
It regulates agricultural production
It measures intelligence
Explanation - Kinship systems shape expectations for male and female behavior, inheritance, marriage, and caregiving roles.
Correct answer is: It defines social relationships and obligations
Q.19 Which anthropologist argued that gender roles are culturally learned rather than biologically fixed?
Margaret Mead
E. E. Evans-Pritchard
Franz Boas
Claude Lévi-Strauss
Explanation - Mead’s studies in Samoa and New Guinea illustrated that gender roles vary widely and are shaped by culture, not biology.
Correct answer is: Margaret Mead
Q.20 The term 'heteronormativity' refers to:
The assumption that heterosexuality is the norm
A type of marriage ceremony
The study of human evolution
A traditional economic system
Explanation - Heteronormativity describes societal norms that privilege heterosexual relationships and marginalize other sexual orientations.
Correct answer is: The assumption that heterosexuality is the norm
Q.21 Which cultural practice challenges Western binary gender norms?
Fa’afafine in Samoa
Nuclear family in the USA
Victorian etiquette
Ancient Roman patriarchy
Explanation - Fa’afafine are Samoan individuals whose gender expression does not conform strictly to male/female binaries, showing cultural diversity in gender concepts.
Correct answer is: Fa’afafine in Samoa
Q.22 The study of how gender and sexuality intersect with religion, politics, and economics is part of:
Cultural anthropology
Physical anthropology
Linguistics
Archaeology
Explanation - Cultural anthropologists study how gender and sexuality are shaped by broader societal institutions and cultural practices.
Correct answer is: Cultural anthropology
Q.23 Which of the following best reflects the anthropological view on transgender identities?
Transgender identities are culturally specific and historically diverse
Transgender identities are biologically predetermined
Transgender identities do not exist
Transgender identities are identical in every culture
Explanation - Anthropologists document that transgender experiences vary across cultures and time periods, challenging universalist assumptions.
Correct answer is: Transgender identities are culturally specific and historically diverse
Q.24 The term 'sexual scripts' refers to:
Culturally defined patterns of sexual behavior
The biological basis of attraction
Legal codes regulating marriage
Ancient myths about sexuality
Explanation - Sexual scripts are social norms and expectations that guide how people experience and express sexuality in a given culture.
Correct answer is: Culturally defined patterns of sexual behavior
Q.25 Which approach emphasizes the diversity of sexual and gender expressions across cultures?
Cross-cultural anthropology
Biological determinism
Post-colonial archaeology
Linguistic structuralism
Explanation - Cross-cultural studies allow anthropologists to compare and understand the variety of gender roles, sexual norms, and identities globally.
Correct answer is: Cross-cultural anthropology