From Locker Rooms to Classrooms

Context: Various educational interventions are needed to move towards ensuring gender equality in society.

Gender based violence in digital domain:

• Non-consensual sharing of images: Online to threaten and shame girls and women have raised serious questions about the mindsets of all youngsters, and their use of social media. 

• A quick fix of deactivating social media handles or deleting so-called provocative photos are not proper responses to such situations.

• Influence of technology: Growing and nefarious influence of technology is promoting gender based discrimination. 
• Surge in violence: The National Commission for Women has reported during pandemic a surge in domestic violence and cybercrimes.

Way forward:

• Countering cyberbullying: UNESCO’s information booklet, ‘Safe online learning in times of COVID-19’, which supports the creation of safe digital spaces, is a step in the right direction.
• Action for Equality programme: It is a community-based behavioural change programme designed to provide young boys with the skills to challenge gender norms.
• School-Related Gender-based Violence programmes and curricula for healthy discussions in the classroom. 

• National Education Policy 2020 also provides a historic opportunity to shape the educational response to these challenges. 

• A Battle not to be fought in silos: Change needs to be effected through peaceful means when people come together to confront the dominant social norms. 
• Sensitisation: Societies across the world must sensitise children towards understanding the repercussion of their choices.