Gender Sensitization in Schools
In the changing
scenario of the modern world where men and women work together and interact in the
professional, the social and the domestic front, gender equality is an
essential criterion to be observed by responsible human beings. Gender
sensitization is about making people aware of the need to bring about a quantum
change in our mindset which sees man as the bread winner and woman as the house
keeper. The home- bound woman of yester- years has metamorphosed into the
smart, dynamic modern woman who is adept at balancing her professional and
domestic lives. She has successfully carved a niche for herself in the scheme
of things. Given the increasing number of women who work alongside with men for
long hours in the professional field, the need of the hour is to develop a
cordial and amiable working environment where there is mutual respect and trust
between the sexes, without sexual innuendoes and obstructive chauvinism to mar
the atmosphere. The foundation for this changing mindset should be laid right
from childhood and that is why the school plays a pivotal role in gender
sensitization.
The school being a miniature society, the
first step of gender equality should begin at the school level. The safety of
woman has been a matter of concern right from the days of yore. In the absence
of effective legislation and punitive measures for the wrong doers, the safety
of the girl child is a topic that plagues the mind of every parent. That is why
we make a bee line for exclusive schools for boys and for girls, special seats
reserved for women in buses, special compartments for ladies in trains etc. But
in life, instead of such escapist tendencies to safe guard women, our effort
should be to make the society and the country a safe and comfortable place for
ladies as well as for men.
Many women who have inveigled themselves into
key positions in society still feel insecure and find their positions precarious. Some are filled with extreme competitive
spirit. ‘What men can do ,women can do better’ is a motto that the modern woman
is bent on proving over and over again. In the process she is unconsciously
generating jealousy, inferiority complex and other negative emotions in men.
This will do more harm than good. Right from the primary level, boys and girls
should understand that though they have gender differences, both the male and
the female species of human kind have an important and worthy role to play in
the great drama of life. There should be healthy relationship based on respect,
understanding and concern. In the matter of brain power, skill and talents,
some may be superior or inferior but that has nothing to do with the gender.
Parents are to a
great extent responsible for such discrimination. Right from a young age, they
expect the girl child to conform to the role of the meek, submissive and lesser
human being while the boy in the family gets away without punishment for his
cruel pranks. The school provides the right environment to do away with such
rigid social mores. The teacher takes the pride of place as mentor and guide,
showing the child its place in society. The days of damsels in distress and
knights in shining armour are over. Let us embolden our girls to stand their
ground and fight for their rights. Let us sensitize our boys to the fact that a
six pack is not all that defines masculinity and that brain power is mightier
than brawn power. Value education should be a part of the school curriculum so
that girls and boys can imbibe values and have an insight into the intricate
fabric of society in which each has an important role to play. Let them
understand that thoughtfulness, regard, respect and concern for others will
pave the way for smoother running of society than aggressiveness, impudence and
gross disregard for others’ feelings.
As citizens of a
democratic country, we cannot turn a blind eye to our duties and
responsibilities to the society and the country. What happened to a hapless
girl in the capital city on 16 Dec
2012 has given a jolt to the Indian psyche. It has made us wonder
what could have turned ordinary people into such cruel beasts devoid of any
humane qualities. Something has gone wrong with the very fabric of society
which is bound to protect every one who comes within its frame work. It is
worthy to note that it was the youth of India India India
Shailaja Chandran,
PGT(English), St. Thomas Central
School Trivandrum
( This article has been published in CBSE's quarterly magazine CENBOSEC Jan-March edition)
