Rhetoric means the various ways by which somebody wants to win his or her argument. Discourse means lecture, a discussion generally verbal. A contract may not depend on verbal speech. Niche means a special place or position. We can see that neither discourse nor niche fits into the grove. Rather it is the rhetoric that was employed by the lawmakers to make it look as though these measures would help achieve gender equality. But the measures 'in fact' were counterproductive and they were a drawback for women in the long run. We can’t claim these provisions totally betrayed meaning ‘let down’ or they benefited. Hence, the choices are 1. Rhetoric and disadvantaged