Gender sensitization is the process of creating awareness regarding gender equality issues and modifying the behaviour and views that people hold about themselves and other genders. This process helps in examining people’s “personal attitudes and beliefs and questioning the ‘realities’ they thought they know.”

This topic is important for Essay and GS papers of the Main IAS Exam. Aspirants preparing for the UPSC Main examination should have a good understanding of topics related to women empowerment, patriarchy, gender equality, safety of women etc.

Need for Gender Sensitization

Gender sensitization is very important in these changing times. Women and men both play a key role at home, office and in society. Therefore, it is important that both feel valued in society and lead a dignified life. Gender insensitivity and inequality in terms of difference in salary/wages, organisational culture, etc., are major factors that lead to a decline in productivity and increase absenteeism and staff turnover rate in an organisation. When both genders feel empathetic towards each other, it creates a positive culture at home, workplace and in society. Gender sensitization can lead to gender justice, equality and inclusion.

Gender Related Terminologies

In order to sensitise individuals regarding gender issues, it is important to first understand the difference between certain gender related terms like gender identity, gender stereotypes etc. 

Gender: According to the World Health Organisation, gender refers “to the characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially constructed.  This includes norms, behaviours and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy, as well as relationships with each other. As a social construct, gender varies from society to society and can change over time.”

Sex: As per WHO, the term sex refers to “the different biological and physiological characteristics of females, males and intersex persons, such as chromosomes, hormones and reproductive organs.”

Gender Identity: Gender identity refers “to a person’s deeply felt, internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond to the person’s physiology or designated sex at birth.”

Gender Role: These are “sets of behaviour, roles and responsibilities attributed to women and men that the

culture defines it as appropriate for men and women.”

Gender Stereotypes: These are “ideas that people have on masculinity and femininity: such as what men and women of all generations should be like and are capable of doing.” For example: Male stereotypes include considering men as providers and protectors while women stereotypes include considering women as the main caregiver in the family, restricting her to household chores etc.

Types of Gender Bias and Inequality

Gender bias can take different forms. Some of the forms of gender biases that are visible in the society are given below:

• Difference in wages or salary of men and women
• Colours used to decorate the room, type of toys and clothing styles for boys and girls
• Most of the time school textbooks show pictures of women doing household chores
• Advertisements and films featuring women taking care of children whereas men going out to work.
• Women should have long hair and men should have short hair
• Women are emotional and men are rational
• Boys and men should not cry

These are some of the examples of gender bias and inequality that are followed in various societies and communities.

India and the Gender Gap Index Report 2021

As per the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021, India slipped 28 places to rank 140th among 156 countries. In 2020, India had ranked 112th among 153 countries. As per the report, India has closed 62.5% of its gender gap till date. The report evaluates gender-based gaps based on four areas: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. In addition, it examines the factors that drive gender gaps and outlines the policies and practices that are required for a gender-inclusive recovery. 

Constitution of India and Gender Equality

The Constitution of India contains provisions that aim to create gender justice and equality. Some of the important Articles that ensure that all individuals are treated equally and with dignity are:

• Article 14: Equality before law- The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth
• Article 15:   Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth
• Article 19: (1)(g) ‘To practice any profession or to carry out any occupation, trade or business’.
• Article 21: Protection of life and personal liberty- No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law
• Article 42: Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief – The State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief.
• Article 51A:  It shall be the duty of every citizen of India: (e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women
• Article 32: Remedies for enforcement of rights conferred by this Part: 

(1) The right to move the Supreme Court by appropriate proceedings for the enforcement of the rights conferred by this Part is guaranteed

(2) The Supreme Court shall have power to issue directions or orders or writs, including writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari, whichever may be appropriate, for the enforcement of any of the rights conferred by this Part.

Supreme Court Judgements

The Supreme Court of India through its various judgements has upheld gender equality and justice time and again. Some of the important judgements delivered by the Supreme Court of India are given below:

• Vishaka and Ors. v State of Rajasthan (1997)

The case deals with various aspects of Sexual Harassment of a women at her workplace. The Supreme Court of India put together the very famous Vishaka guidelines, which made it mandatory for both private and public sectors to set up mechanisms to redress sexual harassment complaints.

• Vineeta Sharma v Rakesh Sharma 

Supreme Court of India’s judgement in the case of Vineeta Sharma v Rakesh Sharma took a step towards gender equality. In August, 2020, the Supreme Court passed a landmark judgement stating that the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005 will have a retrospective effect. The 2005 Amendment modified  Section 6 of the Act in order to align with the constitutional belief of gender equality.

• Joseph Shine v. Union of India

“The five-judge bench unanimously struck down Section 497 IPC saying that it was unconstitutional since the very basis for criminalising adultery was the assumption that a woman is considered as the property of the husband and cannot have relations outside the marriage. The said section violated the right to privacy as well as the liberty of women by discriminating against married women and perpetuating gender stereotypes.”

• The Secretary, Ministry of Defence v. Babita Puniya & Ors. (2020)

“Permanent Commission should be granted to women in the army regardless of their service, in all the ten streams where the Union Government has already taken a decision to grant the Short Service Commission for women.”

• Kakali Ghosh v. Chief Secy. A&NAdministration (2014)

“Central Government employee who is a woman and having a minor child could avail a maximum period of 730 days during the entire service period for taking care of her children.”

• Shayara Bano vs Union Of India (2017)

It is better known as the ‘Triple Talaq Case’, which declared the practice of Triple Talaq to be unconstitutional. 

Laws in India that Help in Gender Sensitization

The Government of India has taken several steps by passing various Acts to create gender equality and teach gender sensitivity. A list of important Acts passed by the parliament are given below: 

• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (POSH Act)
• The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
• The Hindu Succession Act, 1956
• The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 (Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 was amended)
• The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
• The Criminal Law Amendment Act,  2013

Government Policies and Schemes

The Government of India has introduced various schemes and policies for the development and empowerment of women, which will help in creating awareness about gender equality and inclusion are given below:

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): It focuses on the protection, survival and education of the girl child.
• Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK): It aims to empower rural women with opportunities for skill development and employment.
• The Working Women Hostel (WWH): It aims to provide a safe and secure place for working women.
• Scheme for Adolescent Girls: Focuses on empowerment of girls in the age group 11-18 and also improve their social status through nutrition, life skills, home skills and vocational training
• The National Crèche Scheme: It aims to ensure that women take up gainful employment by providing a safe, secure and stimulating environment to the children.
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandna Yojna: It focuses on providing maternity benefit to pregnant and lactating mothers.
• Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana: It aims to provide housing under the name of the woman also.
• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):  It aims to enable a large number of Indian youth including women to take up industry-relevant skill training in securing a better livelihood.
• Deen Dayal Upadhyay National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM): It aims to create opportunities for women in skill development, leading to market-based employment.
• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: Its aim is to empower women and protect their health by providing LPG cylinders free of cost.
• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna (SSY): Under this scheme girls have been economically empowered by opening their bank accounts.
• Skill Upgradation & Mahila Coir Yojana: It is an exclusive training programme of MSME aimed at skill development of women artisans engaged in the coir Industry.
• Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): It is a major credit- linked subsidy programme, which aims to generate self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector
• National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW): It aims to strengthen the overall processes that promote all-round Development of Women
• Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for Children of Working Mothers (including single mothers): It provides day care facilities for running a crèche of 25 children in the age group 0-6 years from families having monthly income of less than Rs 12,000.
• Female Entrepreneurship: In order to promote female entrepreneurship, the Government of India has initiated programmes like Stand-Up India and Mahila e-Haat (online marketing platform to support women entrepreneurs/ SHGs/NGOs), Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESSDP) etc. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) provides access to institutional finance to micro/small businesses.
• Several steps and initiatives have been taken up in the school education system such as National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2005 and flagship programmes like Samagra Shiksha and the subsequent Right to Education Act (RTE). Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) have been opened in Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs). Gender sensitisation is also done which includes gender sensitization Module – part of in-service training, construction of toilets for girls, construction of residential quarters for female teachers and curriculum reforms.
• In order to bring women in the mainstream of political leadership at the grass root level, the government has reserved 33% of the seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions for women. Capacity Building of Panchayat Stakeholders including Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj is conducted with a view to empower women to participate effectively in the governance processes.
• Gender Budget has been made a part of the Union Budget of India since 2005 that entails fund allocation towards programmes/schemes dedicated to women. 

With the help of these programmes and efforts, the Government of India is continuously encouraging gender parity/equality with a focus on alleviating the gender gap in all sectors and at all levels of governance. 

Benefits of Gender Sensitization

Gender sensitization can help in the following ways:

• Develops mutual respect and empathy towards the opposite gender
• Can help in decreasing violence and crimes against men, women, transgenders and other marginalised communities
• Helps in changing the attitude and mindset of individuals
• Boosts morale of employees in a workspace (especially women).
• Removes gender biases
• It will advance gender equality
• Improves women’s job market participation rate
• Create a more inclusive society
• Will give better decision-making power to women
• Helps in improving the mental health of individuals

How to teach gender sensitivity and inclusion?

Gender sensitization should take place from a young age. Parents and Teachers should pay special attention to ensure that children do not follow the gender biases that are generally followed in the community or society. Gender sensitivity and inclusion can be taught in the following ways:

• Conducting gender sensitisation sessions and workshops at schools, colleges, workplace etc
• Making topics related to gender equality and sensitisation part of the school and college curriculum
• Using gender neutral language at home, school/college, workplace etc
• Training parents and teachers (school and college) about what they should teach children directly and indirectly
• School and college textbooks should be free from gender biases
• To educate and empower both women and men to become more inclusive and empathetic towards each other by making them aware of how to tackle stereotyping and unconscious biases, gender inclusion in the workplace and even aspects of the POSH Act.
• Making use of gender neutral terms or variable or non-binary pronouns like ‘they’ at college, workspace etc. This not only helps in unboxing gender identity but also encourages empathy and makes colleagues non-judgemental.
• Setting up Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee (GSICC) at workplace, colleges etc
• Laying down policy to prevent gender discrimination and sexual harassment of any individual.

Gender sensitization is a need of the hour. With the changing times and changing gender roles, it is important to spread awareness about gender issues and take effective steps to create an enabling environment that is considerate towards the sentiments and choices of all human beings. Breaking gender stereotypes will help both men and women to live a dignified life. Gender inequalities are learned from a young age and that too at various levels i.e. at school, home/family, community etc. Therefore, gender sensitization cannot take place in a day and is a long term process, which requires consistent efforts. Education can play an important role in gender sensitization. Parents and teachers both have to play a key role in making children gender sensitive from a very young age.