Key recommendations from the audit include the adoption of gender-neutral language and illustrations, balanced representation of male and female contributors, and the elimination of stereotypes.Traditional depictions of women performing household chores have been updated to include men, while subjects like mathematics now feature gender-neutral examples. The revised home science curriculum depicts both men and women in professional roles, challenging conventional gender norms.
SCERT officials emphasize that textbooks alone cannot shift societal attitudes, highlighting the need for gender sensitization through school activities. Additionally, the curriculum now includes discussions on transgender individuals’ achievements, substance abuse, and ‘good touch versus bad touch’ to enhance student awareness.
Key Findings and Recommendations
The recommendations of SCERT align with the National Education Policy’s focus on gender equality and inclusive education, marking a significant step towards fostering a more equitable learning environment and shaping students’ values and attitudes towards gender roles. Here is a look at the findings and recommendations.
Gender Bias and Stereotypes Identified: The gender audit of Delhi government school textbooks uncovered significant gender biases, including male-dominated content, submissive portrayals of women, and the lack of representation of transgender individuals.
Inclusive Revisions Implemented: SCERT has adopted several recommendations to eliminate gender biases, including using gender-neutral language and illustrations, balanced representation of male and female contributors, and updating traditional gender roles, such as depicting men in household duties and women in professional roles.
Transgender Representation and Gender-Sensitive Content: The revisions include the incorporation of transgender persons and their contributions, as well as the inclusion of topics like substance abuse and understanding ‘good touch’ versus ‘bad touch’ to enhance student awareness.
Promoting Gender Sensitivity Beyond Textbooks: Officials emphasized that textbooks alone cannot change attitudes, so gender sensitization activities will be introduced in schools. For example, tasks traditionally assigned to female students, like decoration, will now be given to male students to challenge stereotypes.
10 gender-biased terms and their neutral alternatives
Here’s a list of 10 gender-insensitive terms commonly found in the school textbooks, along with their neutral counterparts.
With inputs from PTI
