Why Indians want Schools to have Gender Sensitisation

“Boys like to play with cars,
And they are strong and tough
Girls like to play with dolls,
And they love make-up.

Daddy says boys shouldn’t cry,
Mummy says girls should be shy.
I thought we all should share housework
But Mummy is just the housewife, and Daddy the breadwinner.

Meera can run any race the fastest,
Mohit can cook food that’s the tastiest;
I am a girl and I want to be an electrician.
I am a boy who wants to be a beautician.
As kids we learn what boys and girls can or can’t do
From grown-ups who say things without proof.
As kids we learn biases that seal our fate,
And we grow up to be adults, realising everything a second too late.“

Women and men are often restricted to particular roles in society depending on their gender. Under our Power of 49 manifesto, we had brought out the need for Gender Sensitization to tackle such beliefs which pertain to gender bias.

To help understand the need for gender equality through gender sensitization, we interviewed teachers, parents and students about their thoughts on the issue.The interviews were compiled into a video which was published on our facebook page and website. The Logical Indian also republished our video, and we have received some very interesting comments on all our platforms.

Take a look at a few of the most interesting comments:

Schools are an integral part of a child’s life where their mindsets and attitudes are learnt and shaped. Implementing curriculums on gender sensitization would enable children to learn that gender roles are interchangeable and that they are free to choose what they want to become or do depending on their likes rather than their biological make-up.

We would love to hear your views or experiences on gender issues. If you know about a school that conducts gender sensitisation workshops for the children, or has incorporated it into their syllabus, do let us know!

Please write to us at jaagorein@gmail.com or tweet to us @JaagoRe. You can also comment on our facebook page - JaagoRe