Apart from awareness on menstruation, boys at TSWERIS are taught about rights of girls, their choice of dress, gender equality. Secretary of TSWERIS, R.S. Praveen Kumar said that when they conducted field study, they got to know that boys continued to hold misconceptions about menstrual cycles, not being able to understand aspiration of girls.
Stating that they wanted to break stereotypes in a systemic manner, he said they came up with Boys4Voice module where boys are taught about biological changes one undergoes on entering adolescence, biological system of women, their right to dress, their aspirations. The interactive sessions are conducted by Voice4Girls organisation.
“We help them understand menstruation and how they can be a ‘Padman’, we teach them how to prevent violence and not to perpetuate violence against women. We teach them their rights but also give them information about the legal rights to protect women and girls and the punishments involved if they are violated. This helps boys understand the gravity of actions that can emerge from the patriarchal roles that they are being groomed for and defy it by becoming gender advocated,” said Anusha Bharadwaj, executive director, Voice 4 Girls.
Mr Praveen Kumar said that as part of Summer Samurai project, boys are encouraged to talk about importance of sanitary napkins, importance of understanding aspirations of girls, treating boys and girls equally, their aspiration to pursue higher education, with their family members.
The first session of the module was conducted in 2018 for 400 boys from the Residential welfare schools. “We conducted it for 1,600 boys this year, and we are planning to hold it for 5,000 boys next year,” Mr. Praveen Kumar said.
