The document discusses gender sensitization and its importance in creating a more equitable society. It defines gender sensitization as raising awareness about gender equality and modifying behaviors to afford equal treatment and opportunities to men and women. The key aspects that need development for gender equality are more open-minded and unbiased thoughts, dismantling orthodox beliefs, and better work-life balance for both women and men. Schools and educators play an important role as agents of change, and gender sensitization training for teachers is recommended so they can help shape non-discriminatory attitudes in students from a young age.

1. By: Dr. Aaradhana Bandhani
Assistant Professor Sociology

2. Gender sensitization concentrate over Gender
Sensitivity which refers to the modification of behavior
by raising awareness of gender equality concerns.
Gender sensitization theories claim that modification
of the behavior of teachers and parents (etc.) towards
children which can have a causal effect on gender
equality.

3. The aim of gender sensitization is to make people aware
of the power relations between men and women in
society and to understand the importance of
affording men and women equally opportunities
and treatment.

4. SEX AND GENDER
Sex refers to physical or physiological differences between
males and females, including both primary sex
characteristics (the reproductive system) and secondary
characteristics such as height and muscularity.
Gender is a person’s deeply held internal perception of his or
her identity, which is based on social factors such as values,
perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes.

5. Difference Between Sex & Gender
Sex (Biological difference) Gender (Social difference)
 Difficult to change (we are
born male or female)
 Throughout history and
across cultures, sex
differences exist.
 Policies respond to sex
differences in areas to do
with the physical body.
 To put it in another way,
“Male” and “Female” are
sex categories.
 Can be changed since gender
identity is determined by
society.
 At different times in history
and in different societies,
gender roles are different.
 Policies can respond to gender
stereotype and traditional
gender roles.
 while “masculine” and
"feminine” are gender
categories.

6. EXPECTED ROLE
WOMAN MAN
 Home & Hearth
 Caring & subservient
 Patient
 Obedient
 Loving
 Giving
 Selfless
 Dedicated to satisfy Family
needs
 Not to express desires & Sexual
Satisfaction
 Women Witches are BOSSEY
 Working Mothers a CURSE
 Bread Winner
 Masters
 Dominating
 Demanding
 Strong
 Controlled Emotions
 Centrifugal
 Procure
 Commanding & free to seek
away from home
 Real Men Bosses
 Household Cures UNMANLY

8. EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR

10.  "Why do men and women act and think in
different ways?"
• Two possible explanations have been put forward, one relative to
biology and the other to culture.
• The scientists adopting the biological explanation usually consider the
behavioural differences between men and women as being linked to
hormones and brain differences. Experiments performed on rats have
shown that there is a link between hormones and certain types of
behaviour, such as between androgens and aggressive behaviour.
Therefore, following this line of thinking, it is believed that differences
in behaviours are fixed in biology. It is considered natural for men to be
more assertive and aggressive than women due to their higher level of
testosterone.
• However, these explanations have been widely criticized and it is
difficult to make any conclusive observation from animal experiments
that can be applied to human beings. Moreover, researches carried out
with people have also been opened to doubt.

11. • The most popular explanation among sociologists
remains the cultural one. Gender roles are viewed as
being learnt through socialization.
Culture is thus put forward as the key to understanding why men
and women hold different attitudes and behaviours and why
society actually expects them to behave in different ways and
accept these differences as ‘natural'. This is why the term ‘gender'
has been coined. It is asserted that men and women are not born
with behavioural differences, despite their anatomical
differences. They rather learn, as from an early age, that because
they belong to a particular sex, they must behave in a specific
way. Their gender identities and gender roles are assigned to
them, not by biology, but by society's norms and values
regarding the different sexes.

12. Conditioning
 As a child, boys get toys like trucks, guns and super
heroes while the girls are given dolls and cooking sets.
•This conditioning manipulates young minds into
believing that they must act within their “given place”
in the society.

13. Challenges
• Girls who do not conform to stereotypical expectations
can experience criticism, ostracism and even violence.
• This also puts unwarranted pressure on boys who love
to read, dislike fighting, or dislike sports or mechanics.

14. IMPORTANCE OF GENDER SENSITIZATION
 Gender Sensitization is one basic requirement for the
normal development of an individual. Without being
sensitive to the needs of a particular gender, an individual
may refrain from understanding the opposite gender and in
some acute cases even him or herself. The need for this
sensitivity has been felt and realized through times
immemorial and in almost all kinds of human existence,
across the globe.

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 Particularly in a country like India, with the vast
diversity existing in terms of its customs, traditions,
rituals, social values, family beliefs and individual
perception, the need for a More Systematic, Well
Planned and More Professional Approach is desired to
inculcate this sensitivity and primarily highlight the
contribution of both the genders in creation and
development of a well balanced society.

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To overcome the various disparities existing in lieu of gender
equality the following aspects have to be developed:
 Individuals need to be more open-minded, rational and
unbiased in their thoughts and actions.
 There is an urgent need to shatter the load of our Orthodox
Beliefs and Biased Values to accentuate the Progressive
Existence of both the genders.
 Better reconciliation of work and private life for both
women and men is essential to gender equality.

17. A country that does not value gender sensitization, will never be
safe. If we have to make our society safer for women, it’s time to
demand gender sensitization.

18.  Schools and homes are the basic sources of development of the
understanding of gender and gender relations. The influence of
teachers and educators as change agents in this area cannot be
underestimated. The broader goal of gender equality is a societal
goal to which educational institutions must contribute to.
 Our education system needs to be gender sensitive and gender
friendly. Schools can play an important role in inculcating
gender sensitivity in etiquettes and manners of the students.
 A detailed action plan with a definite road map is required in the
school curriculum to achieve gender equality. One of the best
possible strategies to minimize gender discrimination in society
is to promote gender awareness in parents and teachers.

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 Teachers play a very important part in the early upbringing
of the child and their ideas and beliefs can change the
thought processes of young students. Children in the
formative years easily nurture values and virtues which are
taught at school. Gender sensitization will change the
perception that men and women have of each other. It will
create a mindset in which men will no longer see women in
stereotypical image. They will no longer consider women as
weak and unequal entity. Men will see their female
counterparts as responsible and equal partners in socio-
economic development.

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 Teachers are important agents of change because of the key
role they play in the processes of education as major
executors of the teaching and learning processes. A teacher
must therefore constantly be aware of the fact that his or
her action / attitude / behavior / mindset / outlook will
help to shape a child's gender role. He/she may use
multiple strategies and interventions to ensure that
students have equal opportunities to both create and
obtain their goals . For the teachers to bring about a change
in the society they should be given a pre hand knowledge of
the issues . Teachers not only need gender sensitive
curriculum and textbooks but also gender equality
education . Academic contents with lessons on gender
sensitivity and moral traditions will unconsciously mould
the character of the tender minds. It is time to transform
India's patriarchal norms.

21. Recommendations/Suggestions:
Stressing on zero tolerance on indecent behavior towards
women, Hon'ble MHRD Mr. Pallam Raju while addressing
media said that gender sensitization will be made an
integral part of the school curriculum.
 1. It is necessary that the school curriculum should be free
of gender inequality .
 2. Pictures in the textbooks should be gender sensitive to
promote gender equality .
 3. Education system should be gender friendly and gender
sensitive .

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 4. Gender neutral language should be promoted in the schools at
all levels.
 5. Gender sensitivity training programmes to be made
mandatory for all teachers.
 6. School parents partnership should be strengthened to address
gender issues at homes.
 7. Gender sensitive counseling by gender experts for teachers and
students.
 8. Gender sensitive , empowered women can serve as role models
for girls and pass on new values to all their students.
 9. All policies , programmes, interventions need to be gender
sensitive.
 10.Classroom interaction , academic delivery and teaching
methodologies should be gender responsive.