Crime statistics reveal a stark reality for women in India, with 445,256 reported cases in 2022 alone. These numbers, encompassing cruelty, assault, and abduction, highlight the persistent challenges women face. Despite societal reverence for goddesses like Durga and Lakshmi, and the use of terms like “Nari-Shakti,” activists point out that this often doesn’t translate into genuine dignity or safety for women, with instances of public mistreatment by authorities not being uncommon.
A significant barrier to achieving gender equality lies in the deeply ingrained societal mindsets, often reinforced by educational materials. Textbooks frequently perpetuate stereotypes, portraying women solely as homemakers and men as the primary breadwinners. This limited perspective is evident even in school activities, where girls are depicted in cultural roles like dance while boys are shown excelling in science or sports.
However, there are promising shifts. Kerala’s initiative to introduce gender-neutral representations in schools, showing both men and women sharing domestic responsibilities like cooking, is seen as a positive step towards sensitizing young minds. Experts like Rakesh Chandra from Lucknow University emphasize the importance of such changes.
Roop Rekkha Verma, a gender equality activist, shared her nearly 15-year effort to reform school textbooks in Uttar Pradesh. While some progress was made during a previous government regime, her proposed changes for gender neutrality and a scientific approach were halted with the change in power in 2017, leaving her extensive work “in cold storage.” This underscores the urgent need for current textbook revisions to address gender representation.
Organizations like UNICEF, through its work with social policy specialists like Piush Antony, have actively provided governments with analyses and alternative content for textbooks. They’ve identified chapters where girls are confined to domestic roles while boys are shown as future breadwinners, or where textbooks subtly reinforce a preference for sons. These findings highlight the subtle yet pervasive ways gender bias is embedded in education.
Studies conducted by Lucknow University have further corroborated these issues, examining language, imagery, and stereotyping in textbooks for primary schools. The research indicates a trend where male achievements are frequently highlighted, while women’s contributions are often overlooked. Efforts have been made in the past, involving workshops and the inclusion of diverse role models like Serena Williams, to bring about some changes, such as depicting men assisting with childcare.
The push for gender equality in education is ongoing, with organizations like the Study Hall Foundation in Lucknow actively reviewing and amending textbooks to remove discriminatory language and stereotypes. While schools may have some flexibility in interpreting curricula, the systemic change requires broader adoption of inclusive content. As feminist advocate Sonia Teotia aptly states, it’s crucial for textbooks to champion equal rights, respect for all genders, and the importance of life skills and household chores for everyone, paving the way for equal opportunities in the workforce.