Gender School And Society | Gender and Society | School Gender and Society | Gender and School

Gender is a social construct that impacts attitudes, roles, responsibilities and behaviour patterns of boys and girls, men and women in all societies. Increasing attention has been given to the importance of achieving gender equality in education.

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Gender School And Society subject B.Ed, b ed, bed, b-ed, 1st, 2nd,3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth semester year student teachers teaching notes, study material, pdf, ppt,book,exam texbook,ebook handmade last minute examination passing marks short and easy to understand notes in English Medium download free

What do you mean by Gender?

Gender refers to the roles and responsibilities of men and women that are created in our families, our societies and our cultures.

The concept of gender also includes the expectations held about the characteristics, aptitudes and likely behaviours of both women and men (femininity and masculinity).

Gender has been defined as: "The commonly shared expectations and norms within a society about appropriate male and female behaviour, characteristics and roles. Gender can be considered a social and cultural construct that differentiates females from males and thus defines the ways in which females and males interact with each other. These roles and expectations are learned and they can change over time as well as vary within and between cultures."

Difference between Gender and Sex

Sex

The word ‘sex’ comes from the Latin word ‘Sexus’, which is determined by a person’s reproductive organs.
It is a biological term; people are termed either male or female depending on their sex organs, i.e., reproductive organs and genes.
“There are two sexes, male and female.

One’s sex is determined by an algebraic sum of all these qualities and as is obvious, most people fall under one of two separate bell curves, the one of which is called ‘male’ and other ‘female’.” – Robert Stoller

Gender

The word ‘gender’ comes from the Latin word ‘genus’, which means kind or race.
Gender is a psychological and cultural term referring to one’s subjective feelings of maleness and femaleness.
Gender may also refer to society’s evaluation of behaviour as masculine or feminine.

The social and cultural definitions of men and women are called gender. For example, it is a society that makes rules that a girl will stay in the house, while a boy can go out.

Gender Dynamics

Gender dynamics include the relationships and interactions between and among boys, girls, women, and men.
Gender dynamics is nothing but the way in which men and women are treated or behave differently in society, either with their own gender or with each other.

Gender Roles

A gender role, also known as a sex role, is a social role encompassing a range of behaviours and attitudes that are generally considered acceptable, appropriate or desirable for people based on their actual or perceived sex.

The World Health Organization describes gender roles as “Socially constructed roles, behaviours and activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women”.

Our culture recognizes two basic gender roles:

Masculine (having the qualities attributed to males)
Feminine (having the qualities attributed to females)

Factors Determining Gender Roles/Stereotypes

Personality Traits
Domestic Behaviours
Occupations
Physical Appearance

GENDER BIAS

Gender bias is a preference or prejudice toward one gender over the other.

GENDER EQUALITY

Gender equality, also known as sex equality, gender egalitarianism, sexual equality, or equality of the genders, is the view that everyone should receive equal treatment and not be discriminated against based on their gender.

Gender equality is achieved when women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society, including economic participation and decision making, and when the different behaviours, aspirations and needs of women and men are equally valued and favoured.

HISTORY AND CURRENT SCENARIO OF INDIAN WOMEN

“If you educate a man you educate an individual, however, if you educate a woman you educate a whole family. Women empowered means mother India empowered. --- Jawaharlal Nehru

Over the ages in India women have been treated as the sole property of her father, brother or husband, not been given any choice or freedom of her own.

Problems faced by women in Medieval India

Sati
Jauhar
Child Marriage
Restriction on Widow Remarriage
Purdah System
Devadasis

Current / Modern Indian Women

As compared with past women in modern times have achieved a lot but in reality, they have to still travel a long way.

There are many problems which women in India have to go through daily, some of which are:

Malnutrition
Poor Health
Maternal Mortality
Lack of Education
Mistreatment
Overworked
Lack of power
Marriage
Dowry
Female infanticide/foeticide
Divorce

Issues Related to Indian Women or Girl Child

Selective abortion and female infanticide
Sexual harassment
Dowry and Bride burning
Disparity in education
Domestic violence
No property Rights
Child Marriages
Inadequate Nutrition
No Military Service
Status of widows
Honour Killing
Child Marriage
Property Rights
Divorce

LearningClassesOnline B.Ed Notes

Gender Socialisation

We will observe that students reflect the beliefs and practices of their families, community, neighbourhood, and society at large. This process of acquiring gender-related behaviours and attitudes through the intervention of society is called gender socialization.

Cynthia Vinney (2019) defines it as “Gender Socialization is the process by which we learn our culture’s gender-related rules, norms and expectations”.

Gender Discrimination

Gender discrimination is discrimination based on the gender of the person. Usually, women are treated differently and unequal than men in their education, career, economic advancement, and political influence.

We can define gender discrimination as, ‘‘any action that specifically denies opportunities, privileges, or rewards to a person (or a group) because of gender”.

Areas of Gender Discrimination

Denial of Birth
Denial of Fundamental Needs
Discrimination in Education
Discrimination in Employment
Wage Discrimination

Causes of Gender Discrimination

Poverty
Illiteracy
Lack of Employment Facilities
Customs and Traditions
Social Attitude
Lack of Awareness Regarding Rights among Women

Gender Identity

Gender identity is the personal sense of one’s own gender. Gender identity can correlate with assigned sex at birth or can differ from it.

All societies have a set of gender categories that can serve as the basis of the formation of a person’s social identity in relation to other members of society.

Children express their gender identity in the following ways:

Choice of toys and games
Clothing
Hairstyle
Preferred name or nickname
Social behaviour
Manner and style of behaviour
Physical gestures
Social relationships

Factors Influencing Formation of Gender Identity

Biological Factors
Social Factors
Environmental Factors

Types of Gender Identity

There are more than two genders, even though in our society the genders that are most recognised are male and female.

Types of Families in India

We can classify families into the following categories:

Basis of Size or Structure

Nuclear family
Extended family

Basis of Marriage

Monogamous family
Polygynous family
Polyandrous family

Basis of Succession

Patriarchal
Matriarchal

Nuclear family: It is a unit generally composed of a married couple (in the status of husband and wife) in the role of ‘mother’ and ‘father’ or ‘parent’ and their unmarried dependent children, either natural or adopted, living together.

Extended family: When the nucleus of the conjugal family is extended with the addition of other closely related kin (grandparents, aunts, uncles, nephews, brothers and their wives, cousins, sisters, etc.), it is called an extended family.

Monogamous family: This type of family consists of one husband and one wife.

Polygynous family: When a man has more than one wife and lives along with their children, the family is known as a polygynous family.

Polyandrous family: It is a kind of family, which allows a woman to marry more than one man. The woman lives with her husbands and is shared by them or she lives with each of them by turns.

Patriarchy:

Patriarchy is a social system in which males hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of the property.

In the domain of the family, fathers hold authority over the women and children.

A patriarchal system is a social system in which the father is the head of the household.

This, however, is not confined to the household alone. It can be extended to the entire society where males dominate in all social, political, economic, legal and cultural roles. For instance, in most patriarchal society’s women were very much confined to the domestic sphere, where they were completely cut off from the realities of society.

Matriarchy:

Matriarchy is a social system in which females hold primary power, predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of the property at the specific exclusion of men, at least to a large degree.
A matriarchal system is a social system in which the mother is the head of the household.
In a matriarchal society, the governance of the society is also in the hands of women.

In Indian families, gender roles are well-differentiated, which influence the socialisation process from birth onwards. From early in life, children begin to experience gender-based differentiation in their relationship with others, in the distribution of family resources, and entitlement to family members like nutrition, healthcare, and education. Both boys and girls, grow up with the knowledge of the special value attached to the male child.

Gender Concerns Related to Access, Enrolment, Retention, Participation, and Achievement

Gender Concerns Related to Access and Enrolment

It is a widely observed fact, especially in a rural area many girls are deprived of the opportunity to attend school for various reasons. As a result, the percentage of female literacy is always lower compared with boys.

It is necessary to analyse the underlying causes so that intervention can be done in bringing the girls back to school.

Poverty
Family responsibility
Safety
Insecurity
Hidden costs of education

Gender Concerns Related to Retention

Due to the persistent interest shown by the government and the educational department, girls are admitted to the school. But one observes that many girls, owing to various reasons, a dropout from schools at different points of time. There are again several causes for their dropout, which pose a challenge to schools in bringing them back.

Some of the reasons are:

Safety
Sanitation Facilities
Discriminatory norms
School-related gender-based violence
School infrastructure
Teacher availability and attitude
Migration
Poor teaching-learning environment
Domestic responsibilities
Child marriage

Gender Concerns Related to Participation

The difference in their willingness to ask questions
The restlessness of boys attracts more attention than that of girls
Boys are more vocal
Girl’s opinion ignored
Biased teacher interaction
Public versus private talk
Distribution of praise and criticism

Role of Schools in Reinforcing Gender Equality

Undertaking gender sensitisation of parents, community leaders and members, teachers, and girls and boys in order to raise their awareness and understanding of the need to support girls’ education.
Training teachers in the skills for making the teaching and learning processes are responsive to the specific needs of girls and boys.
Empowering girls with skills for self-confidence, assertiveness, speaking out, decision making, and negotiation to help them overcome gender-based constraints to their education.
Empowering boys with skills to de-link from gender oppressive attitudes and practices such as machoism, bullying, and sexual affronts, and to develop the self- confidence needed to accept gender equality positively.
Training the school community to manage sexual maturation issues of both girls and boys with particular emphasis on menstruation management.
Training teachers and students in guidance and counselling skills.
Establishing guidance and counselling desks in order to provide services for the social and psychological development of girls and the boys.

Gender Jurisprudence

Laws Related to Women

Different laws in India protect women against discrimination and violence.

Laws Related to Rape - Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860
Laws Related to Dowry - Section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, as amended by the Dowry (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 1984 and 1986
Laws Related to Remarriage - The Hindu Widow Re-marriage Act of 1856
Laws Related to Property Inheritance - The Indian Succession Act, 1925

Constitutional and Legal Aspects

The rights available to a woman (ladies) in India can be classified into two categories as

Constitutional Rights
Legal Rights

Constitutional rights are those which are provided in the various provisions of the Constitution.

Legal rights, on the other hand, are those which are provided in the various laws (Acts) of the Parliament and the State Legislatures.

Constitutional Privileges

Article 14 - Equality before law for women
Article 15 (i) - The State will not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them
Article 15 (3) - The State will make any special provision in favour of women and children
Article 16 - Equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State
The State will direct its policy towards securing for men and women equally the right to an adequate means of livelihood [Article 39(a)]; and equal pay for equal work for both men and women [Article 39(d)].
Article 39 A - To promote justice, on the basis of equal opportunity and to provide free legal aid by suitable legislation or a scheme or in any other way to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities
Article 42 - The State will make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief
Article 46 - The State will promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people and protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation
Article 47 - The State will raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people
Article 51(A) (e) - To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India and to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women
Article 243 D (3) - Not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by the direct election in every Panchayat to be reserved for women and such seats to be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat
Article 243 D (4) - Not less then one- third of the total number of offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats at each level to be reserved for women
Article 243 T (3) - Not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by the direct election in every Municipality to be reserved for women and such seats to be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Municipality

Legal Provisions

Crimes Identified Under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)

Rape (Sec. 376 IPC)
Kidnapping & Abduction for different purposes (Sec. 363-373)
Homicide for Dowry, Dowry Deaths or their attempts (Sec. 302/304-B IPC)
Torture, both mental and physical (Sec. 498-A IPC)
Molestation (Sec. 354 IPC)
Sexual Harassment (Sec. 509 IPC)
Importation of girls (up to 21 years of age).
Crimes identified Under Special Laws (SLL)

Although all laws are not gendered specific, the provisions of law affecting women significantly have been reviewed periodically and amendments carried out to keep pace with the emerging requirements. Some Acts, which have special provisions to safeguard women and their interests, are

The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948
The Plantation Labour Act, 1951
The Family Courts Act, 1954
The Special Marriage Act, 1954
The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
The Hindu Succession Act, 1956 with an amendment in 2005
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (Amended in 1995)
Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971
The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1976
The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1983
The Factories (Amendment) Act, 1986
Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
Human Rights and Women’s Right

The following are the essential legal rights every Indian woman should know:

Right to equal pay
Right against harassment at work
Right to anonymity
Right against domestic violence
Right to maternity-related benefits
Right against female foeticide
Right to free legal aid
Right to dignity and decency
Right to property
Right not to be arrested at night

TEACHING STRATEGIES TO TEACH GENDER ISSUES

Film
Advertisement
Biographies
Autobiography
Roleplaying
Lecture Strategy
Narration Strategy
Group Discussion
Problem Solving
Project Strategy

INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS FOR TEACHING GENDER ISSUES

Films
Advertisements
Biographies
Autobiographies
Roleplays
Videos
Books
Textbooks
Print media
Information Boards
Pictures and Photographs
Charts
Cartoons
Posters
FlashCards
Filmstrips and Transparencies

CLASSROOM TRANSACTION IN RELATION TO GENDER ISSUES

Classroom transaction and interaction form an important part of education. Every student and teacher come face to face in a classroom set-up.

The students get influenced by the teacher in more than one way inside the classroom. Hence it is very important for a teacher to choose her words and actions which have a positive effect on his/her students.

Gender Issues in Classroom Transaction

Stereotyping
Gender Bias in Classroom Language
Gender bias through Body Language
Gender unfriendly seating arrangement
The stereotype in the transaction of subjects
Gender Stereotypes in addressing students

How to Make Gender Friendly Classroom Transaction

Establish Gender Friendly Rules
Have a classroom seating plan that supports equal participation
Using Group Work
Addressing Students Equally
Provide enough wait time to answer questions
Use Gender-Neutral Language
Body Language
Discipline

WAYS AND STRATEGIES FOR TEACHERS TO BE AGENTS OF CHANGE IN RELATION TO GENDER ISSUES

Ensure that you have a positive attitude towards gender-free society
Check your awareness of gender issues
Understand that gender is a social construct
Transform Curriculum
Focus on textbooks
Focus on the use of language
Avoid General misleading vocabulary
Plan Co-curricular Activities
Select gender-free instructional materials
Develop a gender-neutral attitude
Use neutral language
Use materials promoting gender equality
Impart sex education at the proper time
Present yourself as a real role model
Plan gender-free Career Counselling
Be careful not to reverse stereotypes
Avoid stereotyping children
Self-regulate your own interaction with the children
Avoid assigning tasks in traditional style
Change the stereotypes that enter school
Try to change stereotypes perceptions

Author Remarks:

Gender School And Society Is A Subject Taught In B.Ed And In Some Other Teaching Courses Also. On This Page, You Will Find Gender School And Society Short Examination Notes And Downloadable Free PDF Book In English Medium For B.Ed First Year And Second Year and Semester 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Here We Have Covered Some of The Main Topics and Important MCQ Questions of Gender and Society Which Will Really Help in Your Exam Preparation and Also You Can Make Your Assignment Report and File for BEd Very Easily with The Help of These Notes. These Notes and Free PDF Book on Gender School Society Subject Will Be Helpful for All the Students and Teachers of Any College or University. We Have Also Suggested Some of the Best Reference Books and Study Material PDF for Gender School And Society That you can Also Go Through. Students and Teachers Preparing for All The Teaching Exams Like CTET, TET, UPTET, HTET Can Also Learn With The Notes Provided Above.

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Gender School And Society