Gender Sensitisation
What is gender?
Gender is generally confused with sex. According to biological and psychological definitions, there is a wide difference between sex and gender.
What is sex?
Sex, the term is a biological which refers to the functional differences between males and females and their reproductive potential. It can further be defined as
a. sex is determined by genes in chromosomes, and
b. male and female are biological terms.
What is gender?
Gender is a psychological term which refers to our awareness and reaction to biological sex. It can be further expanded as
a) Gender is determined by biological, psychological and sociological factors, and
b) Masculine and feminine are psychological terms which refer to a person's gender.
Gender role:
It may be defined as, adoption of masculine or feminine behavioural traits that are deemed appropriate or characteristic of a particular sex or as roles which are classified by sex, where this classification is social and not biological.
For example, if childbearing is classified as a female role, it is a female gender role, not a female sex role.
Gender identity:
It is a person's private, subjective sense of their own sex.
- Gender is not another word for woman.
- Gender is not another word for sexual difference.
- Gender awareness means the ability to identify problems arising from gender inequality and discrimination, even if these are not very evident on the surface.
Gender sensitization
Gender sensitization refers to the modification of behaviour by raising awareness of gender equality concerns. Gender sensitization theories claim that modification of the behavior of teachers and parents towards children can have a causal effect on gender equality. Gender sensitizing "is about changing behavior and instilling empathy into the views that we hold about our own and the other gender. It helps people in "examining their personal attitudes and beliefs and questioning the 'realities' they thought they know."
Gender sensitisation is a weapon towards Gender Equity, Equal Opportunity and Women Empowerment which is essential for creating sustainable development as enshrined in our Constitution. The State & Central Government are making continuous efforts to realize these promises through Policies & Programs. The progress achieved in this direction has a mixed outcome and there is still long way to realize the objectives of the Equitable Society, Gender Equity and inclusive Development without discrimination which can be achieved bringing awareness among the people about the Rights given under the Constitution and the pro- women Acts and laws affecting women’s right and empowerment in India involves a complex pattern of advances and setbacks.
Gender sensitization training is the practical tool for analysing gender relations and provides adequate information regarding major factors that influence and are responsible for maintaining or change the structure of gender relations. It is also a development intervention which aims at awareness, knowledge, skill and behaviour in relation to gender. It concerns with developing skills, capacity to translate such awareness into very specific tools that can be used into practice.
The pitfalls in development due to Gender inequalities, discrimination, denial/deprivation/in accessibility/violence against women are now cannot be overlooked or sidelined. The nations are well aware of the situation arising out of Gender inequalities and discrimination. The Civil Societies are making efforts by pressing the Governments in power to address these issues. But the magnitude of the problem is so high we cannot wait the situation to take its course as the danger due to neglect issues related to Gender is so phenomenal and colossal. The pro-active initiation towards Gender sensitisation is to ensure adoption of Gender Budgeting at all levels in the letter & spirit. Participation of Women in the processes of Governance is very strongly felt to fulfil the above aspirations. Commitment from the state to ensure women participation in Governance at all levels should be seen in action than in paper. The attitudinal problem of the society against women due to socio-cultural system detrimental to the safety and security of women are posing great threats. Women are pushed to be mute spectators in all the above situations living them in a hopeless situation. It is time to stop shedding tears for all the evils forced on women and get into more civilized and responsible acts leading women to a life with dignity, equity, opportunity and empowerment so that they play major role in building a strong nation. Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right. A woman is entitled to live in dignity and in freedom from want and from fear. Empowering women is also an indispensable tool for advancing development and reducing poverty. Empowered women contribute to the health and productivity of whole families and communities and to improved prospects for the next generation.
References
1. Indian Audit and Accounts Department, Courseware on Common Administrative Issues, Reservation Rosters, Vigilance and Disciplinary Proceedings
2. State Institute for Urban Development ATI Campus, Lalitha Mahal Road, Mysore-570 011
