This page gives you topic-wise solved CSS Gender Studies past papers from 2016 to 2025. Gender Studies became a CSS optional subject in 2016, so these are all its papers to date. The 77 descriptive questions and short notes are grouped under the nine areas of the syllabus, and each one links to its solved answer.

How to use it: choose a section below, read the questions asked under it, then open the solved answer. Many questions repeat, so one answer often covers several years.

Choose a Section

No. Syllabus area Questions, 2016-2025
I Introduction to Gender Studies 9
II Social Construction of Gender 8
III Feminist Theories and Practice 8
IV Feminist Movements 9
V Gender and Development 18
VI Status of Women in Pakistan 5
VII Gender and Governance 9
VIII Gender-Based Violence 8
IX Case Studies 3

Most Repeated Themes

Section I: Introduction to Gender Studies

  • CSS 2016: Write a note on the status of women’s studies in Pakistan and give your views on the autonomy/integration debate in Women’s Studies. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2017: Define and discuss the discipline of Gender Studies and also differentiate between Women’s Studies and Gender Studies. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2017: Write a comprehensive note on the autonomy versus integration debate in Gender Studies. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2018: What are the fundamental differences between Gender Studies and Women’s Studies? Substantiate your argument(s) with examples. Highlight the current status of Women’s Studies in Pakistan. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2019: How do you differentiate the discipline of Gender Studies from that of Women’s Studies? Historically trace the need for the establishment of Gender Studies as a distinct discipline and its scope and significance with special reference to Pakistan. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2021: Discuss the autonomy and integration debate in Gender Studies. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2022: Discuss in detail the multidisciplinary nature of Gender Studies. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2023: Differentiate between Gender Studies and Women’s Studies. Discuss in detail the multidisciplinary nature of Gender Studies. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2023: Write a note on the status of Gender Studies in Pakistan. Give your views on the autonomy versus integration debate in Gender Studies. Read the solved answer

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Section II: Social Construction of Gender

  • CSS 2016: What are the theories of social construction of gender? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2018: Write a comprehensive essay on the ‘sex versus gender debate’ in feminist philosophy and social sciences, reflecting the nature versus nurture argument. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2019: Write a comprehensive essay on the ‘sex versus gender debate’, reflecting the nature versus nurture argument. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2020: Gender has multiple meanings. How do you deconstruct the word ‘Gender’? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2020: ‘Language is gendered’. What does this imply? Explain with examples. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2021: Discuss various theoretical debates on the construction of masculinity and femininity to make it explicit whether the formation of both is a natural or a social reality. Support your arguments with real-life examples. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2023: Define the terms masculinity and femininity. In your opinion, where do traditional gender roles come from? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2024: Short note: Is ‘Sex’ also a social construct? Read the solved answer

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Section III: Feminist Theories and Practice

  • CSS 2016: What is feminism? In what way is Radical feminism different from Socialist feminism? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2018: What type(s) of feminism can elevate the social-cultural, economic and political status of women in Pakistan? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2019: Short note: Postmodern Feminism. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2021: Marxist feminism is a philosophical variant of feminism that incorporates and extends Marxist theory and analyzes the ways in which women are exploited through capitalism and the individual ownership of private property. Discuss the development of Marxist/Socialist feminism and the philosophical stance they hold to discuss gender issues and exploitation. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2021: Psychoanalytic feminism is a theory of oppression which asserts that men have an inherent psychological need to subjugate women. Give a detailed analysis of the gender oppression and women’s subordination promulgated by Psychoanalytic Feminism. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2022: Describe any two Western Schools of thought about Feminism in detail. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2024: Short note: Radical Feminism. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2025: Give a detailed analysis of the intersectionality of gender with other social identities. Read the solved answer

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Section IV: Feminist Movements

  • CSS 2016: Write a note on the women’s movement in Pakistan. What are its strengths and weaknesses? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2018: Short note: APWA and WAF. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2019: Outline and explain the three major waves of feminist movements in the West. Discuss the influence of these waves on feminist movements in Pakistan. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2019: Short note: Suffragist movement. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2022: Shed light on the first wave and third wave of feminism. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2022: Discuss in detail the feminist movements in Pakistan. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2023: Outline and explain the three major waves of feminist movements in the West. Discuss the influence of these waves on feminist movements in Pakistan. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2024: Write in detail the impact of Western feminist movements on the feminist movement in Pakistan. Compare the Pakistani feminist movements of the past with the emerging trends of feminist activism and their effects. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2025: Discuss the key principles, goals, and strategies of the different waves of feminism. How do these waves have an impact on women’s lives? Read the solved answer

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Section V: Gender and Development

  • CSS 2016: Critically review the Gender and Development Approaches: (a) Women in Development (WID) (b) Women and Development (WAD) (c) Gender and Development (GAD). Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2017: Short note: Gender and Development. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2017: “Powerful forces of globalization have highlighted various gender issues across culture and throughout the globe.” Discuss by quoting examples from developing countries. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2018: Short note: ‘Gender Strategic Needs’ and ‘Gender Practical Needs’. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2018: In the last two decades, globalization has had a huge impact on the lives of women in developing nations, including Pakistan. What are the impacts of the global political economy on Pakistani women? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2019: Explain the relevance of Modernization Theory and Dependency Theory to gender equality. Critically analyze the subordination of women in modern societies in the light of these two theories. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2019: Short note: Structural Functionalism. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2019: The process of globalization has connected nations worldwide and made the world a global village, yet it has also increased inequalities across nations. Discuss the gendered inequalities created and promoted by the process of globalization in contemporary societies worldwide. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2020: How did the colonial era influence the status of women in the subcontinent? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2021: Modernization Theory blames internal cultural factors for women’s subordination in the developing world. Discuss and elaborate the given statement in respect of Modernization Perspectives. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2021: Critically analyze the various approaches to women’s development focusing on Women in Development (WID), Women and Development (WAD) and Gender and Development (GAD). Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2022: What are the capitalistic perspectives of gender? Explain. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2022: Discuss in detail the gender critique of Structural Adjustment Policies (SAPs). Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2023: Write a detailed note on the colonial and capitalistic perspectives of gender. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2024: Write a note on the colonial and capitalistic perspectives of gender. Throw light on the thesis that development is the new name of coloniality, in context with the emerging perspectives of gender. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2024: Give a critical gender analysis of development theories. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2025: Critically analyze the Women in Development (WID) and Gender and Development (GAD) models. Discuss their basic principles and limitations in addressing women’s needs in developing countries. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2025: Critically evaluate the concept of gendered globalization, focusing on the World System Theory and how the globalization of capitalism has created new forms of patriarchal powers to increase gender inequalities. Read the solved answer

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Section VI: Status of Women in Pakistan

  • CSS 2017: What is the status of women’s health in Pakistan? How could it be improved within the available economic resources? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2018: What are the reasons responsible for ranking Pakistan as one of the worst countries in the world for gender inequality, despite Pakistan’s commitment to many international conventions and a strong commitment to gender equality in the 1973 Constitution? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2019: Women’s participation in the labor force has increased recently, yet women continue to perform their reproductive roles. Discuss the challenges encountered by women as a result of their paid employment worldwide, with special reference to Pakistan. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2023: Elucidate the current health status of women in Pakistan. What measures could be taken to improve women’s status as a whole? Support your arguments with suitable examples. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2024: An Egyptian doctor, Mahmoud Fathalla, uses the term ‘maternity death road’ while discussing issues of women’s maternal health. Discuss women’s health issues in the context of Pakistan’s social, cultural and demographic situation. Read the solved answer

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Section VII: Gender and Governance

  • CSS 2016: What are the pros and cons of gender quota in politics? Give your views on the impact of gender quota in politics in Pakistan. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2017: “Women’s active political participation could stabilize democracy and boost economic development.” Comment on this statement within the context of the socio-economic realities of Pakistani society. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2018: Believing in the statement that “women cover half the sky”, do you think we need an equal number of women in all spheres of the public domain, especially in politics? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2020: Women need to be in leadership positions to pull more women into leadership roles. Is this suggestion that women need to “pull each other up” a useful one, or is it inappropriate preferential treatment? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2020: “For realizing, in letter and spirit, the ideals of a democratic welfare state, it is necessary to institute a system which fully guarantees human rights…” Critically evaluate the statement with special reference to Pakistan. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2021: Despite the entry of women legislators into politics on a 17 percent quota in national and provincial assemblies, there are still voices asking “is Pakistan’s gender quota in parliament showing results?” Rethink and discuss how quotas can lead to the political mainstreaming of women in Pakistan. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2022: In your opinion, what are the main issues for women as representatives in Pakistan? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2024: Is political participation a human right? If so, what are the obstacles faced by women politicians of Pakistan in pursuing a career in politics? What is the impact of the political quota system on this? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2025: Elaborate on the historical context and evolution of women’s quotas in Pakistan, concerning key legislation and policies that have shaped the quota system. Read the solved answer

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Section VIII: Gender-Based Violence

  • CSS 2016: What are the sites and forms of violence against women in Pakistan and how, in your view, can this menace be eliminated from our society? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2017: What are the different forms of gender-based violence and, in your opinion, what could be the workable strategies to eliminate gender-based violence from Pakistani society? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2017: Short note: Honor Killing. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2018: Short note: Government initiatives for combating the menace of violence against women. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2020: Comment on the power and control relationship in gender-based violence. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2023: Define gender-based violence. Explain various forms of violence against women in Pakistan and devise some practical strategies which can be helpful in the eradication of gender-based violence from our society. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2024: What is gender-based violence? What forms of gender-based violence are given in the ‘Punjab Protection of Women Against Gender-Based Violence Act 2016’? What are the consequences of gender-based violence on women? Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2025: What are the root causes that lead to gender-based violence? How do these factors interact and perpetuate violence against women in Pakistan? Read the solved answer

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Section IX: Case Studies

  • CSS 2019: Explain the structural and direct forms of violence against women in Pakistani society by highlighting the case study of Mukhtaran Mai. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2020: Discuss the background of the two Oscar-winning documentaries by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Read the solved answer
  • CSS 2025: Critically examine and evaluate Malala Yousafzai’s achievements and activism for promoting girls’ education in the local and global contexts. Read the solved answer

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