Summer Program 2023: Critical Narratives on Gender

Shivangni, Curriculum Designer

An online summer program was conducted for our learners around the theme of gender. The purpose was to initiate dialogue around gender & and gender stereotypes and explore its cultural and social history with a specific focus on mensuration. The program was for 15 days, during which eight sessions were undertaken by the facilitators. Before commencing the sessions, a two-day orientation program was held for the learners that helped them get familiar with their peers and get introduced to the theme. In addition to that, gender workshops were also conducted for the facilitators to prepare them for the summer program. The program culminated with a showcase in the community that was attended by parents and other community members.?

The learners tried to explore their understanding of gender and how different social agents and bodies shaped one’s gendered ideas around various aspects of our lives.

Pictures of different settings, such as the playground, kitchen, office, and of various professions, were shown to the learners. They had to share which gender they thought could be part of them. It was followed by a reflective discussion on the equal rights of individuals.??

Various activities were conducted to recognize and address gender stereotypes around toys, colors, clothes, and games. The idea was to support the learners in identifying the dichotomy created around gender and reinforce the message that one can choose which toys to play with, what color to wear, and what games to play irrespective of one’s gender.??

The learners discussed the idea of safe spaces: what does it mean for them, who can be part of those safe spaces, whether the idea of safe spaces differs according to one’s gender, and if yes, then what are the reasons for it??

A discussion was held around puberty, and the learners had to share the physical changes that they have observed during puberty, the kinds of emotions they feel, ways to responsibly handle their emotions, and the challenges of growing up. It was observed that the activity was helpful as the learners were able to acknowledge their emotions, and it helped strengthen the bond with their peers as they shared their experiences.? ? ? ??

?The younger learners did a dance performance on a song called “Yes I Can” which talked about various things that they can do irrespective of their gender and they have limitless power to shape and design their own lives.?

Sanitary pads were distributed within the community to reiterate the importance of breaking taboos around menstruation and freely asking for sanitary pads. The idea was to create dialogue within the community around periods as an initial step towards normalizing it.?

For the showcase, the learners designed a play on mensuration through which they challenged the taboos around it. There were scenes encouraging both male and female individuals to ask for a sanitary pad, female figures in the family encouraging their daughters to practice hygiene during periods and advising them to use pads etc.?

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