Each time there is violence against women or discrimination or injustice, national media goes into a rage with prime-time debates and discussions. But the sparks die out soon. Worse, nothing really changes. And nothing will, unless everyone, both men and women, are sensitised to gender justice. And this begins with education. But the sparks die out in a day or two, and women across the country are forced to go out into the world at their own peril. As more Indian women complete university-level education and enter the workforce, the need for gender sensitisation is imperative. In a first of its kind in the country, a textbook on gender sensitisation, Towards a World of Equals: a Bilingual Textbook on Gender , is being will be taught at the undergraduate level in engineering and pharmacy colleges affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) in Hyderabad for 2015-16. The reader-friendly curriculum material in the textbook has articles, stories, statistics and personal accounts that raise of people, all raising gender questions, says Shailaja Ramaiyer, in-charge vice-chancellor in-charge of JNTU.
“Gender sensibility is an important issue. After the new textbook was introduced, there was healthy deliberation by on the part of the university faculty. Some even suggested that issues concerning harassment of men too also need to be addressed. This kind of reaction is a healthy sign; it would have been a problem if they did not react. Everybody is in the engaging process now,” says Ms. Ramaiyer. Acclaimed writer and women’s rights activist Susie Tharu, one of the authors of the textbook, says such initiatives stem from growing concerns about the way society perceives women.
Excerpts from an interview:
What has been the response to the new textbook?
I had not imagined there would be such consensus on this issue. I am surprised the textbook and the JNTU course have received such a resounding welcome.
To what extent can a textbook change mindsets?
I get asked this question all the time. The answer is obvious: no book can ever change a mindset. All we can do is introduce students to new ideas, get them thinking about equality, and create a classroom culture where such issues can be comfortably discussed. For instance, one of the chapters in the textbook is titled ‘My mother does not work’. It deals with the ‘invisible labour’ that women engage in everywhere. Why are men expected to only ‘help’ women with household chores and not ‘share’ the work? The book has been designed to give scope for such discussions.
Why is the book being introduced only in engineering colleges? Why not in all undergraduate colleges?
Well, JNTU made the decision to introduce a course and prescribed this book. But I am sure similar courses will soon be taught in other colleges too. It also has to do with employment opportunities. Global companies are looking for people who can work comfortably in a ‘flat’ rather than hierarchical cultures. No employer wants the adverse publicity a sexual harassment case can bring them.
Do you feel this subject should be introduced in schools too?
I am not sure. But if you look carefully at the new school textbooks, gender-related issues are now being discussed in language and literature books. My own sense is that schools need to deal with issues of equality in practical ways. There should be activities in which girls and boys work together as equals. School rules should not discriminate between them. In short, schools and families help by setting up a culture that makes gender equality feel natural.
Did parents have any role in the process of syllabus preparation for the JNTU course?
We did not actually go out and consult parents while preparing the book. But nearly all the authors are parents too, and we brought our perspectives as parents into the making of the book. I am delighted to learn that parents are reading our textbook and the issues are being discussed over meals.
What kind of orientation is being given to teachers who handle the course?
This is a real problem. We like to think that those who volunteer to teach this course are already invested in these issues. Orientation courses can provide them with in-depth information and help them manage classroom discussions. I should also say that I am surprised at the support the course has received from teachers of different subjects. And it has also generated a lot of interest outside the university.
Is it safe to say that society is ready for a transformation in traditional gender roles?
Gender roles have already changed a great deal. Nearly half the students (42 per cent) in colleges today are women. Parents from all socio-economic groups are sending their daughters to school and college. Women have entered almost every sphere of work and are at the top in many professions. They are out on the streets, driving vehicles, travelling late, and taking calculated risks. They are working hard, but also having fun. More men today share household work and are involved in bringing up children. I am not saying everything is fine. There is a dark side too. But the bright side looks promising.
