September 2025
Namaste,
In today’s discussion session with the Awaj Child Group, we began by reviewing the previous meeting and then moved into today’s topic on Gender Equality and Co-Development.
To open the discussion, I asked the children, “What is gender?” They looked at each other, and some just smiled, indicating that they really didn’t know. Although this may be a sensitive and heavy topic, children need to be aware of these issues. Therefore, I started by asking about their home dynamics—specifically, who does what around the house. The children came up with many examples. Each participant shared their responses, and after listening to them, I added my own thoughts to guide the conversation.
I explained that although a person may be biologically born as a boy or a girl, it is the society and culture in which they are raised that often teaches or defines how they should behave. The destiny of a newborn child is not decided by the sexual organs they are born with, but rather by the social and cultural environment they grow up in. Gender is not about biology – it is about how we are taught to think and act, based on positive values and behaviors.
Next, I asked them: “What is gender analysis?” Everyone shared their ideas, which I noted down on newsprint. I then explained further by dividing gender analysis into two parts:
(a) Biological or Natural Differences
These are the natural differences such as the biological sex of male and female, the ability or inability to give birth, physical structure, and features. Nature itself has distinguished two sexes through these differences.
(b) Social Differences
These differences are created by society based on biology. For example: who should do what kind of work, what they should or shouldn’t eat, what roles and responsibilities they should carry, and even how much value or respect they receive. Society creates these norms, which shape the identity, status, and existence of boys, girls, men, and women.
After this explanation, I asked the children to discuss in pairs and present how society differentiates between men and women. The responses included:
- Women are expected to do household or kitchen work, while men work outside.
- Women take care of children, while men earn money.
- Women are expected to have long hair, while men have short hair.
- Women are associated with staying at home and being the symbol of family honor, while men are seen as free to move, enjoy, and participate in social activities.
From this, we realized that such socially constructed differences have created even more problems. Because of deep-rooted patriarchal traditions, women and girls often face discrimination, violence, neglect, and negative perceptions.
Therefore, it is important for all of us—even as children—to start breaking away from these harmful practices. We must learn that any work can be done by both men and women. Opportunities should not be given based on gender but on ability and potential. Women can work equally well as men, and often even better. Men, too, can share household responsibilities such as cooking. This is the core learning from today’s session.
We also discussed that the roles, relationships, and values of both men and women must be looked at equally, without bias. Schools, families, communities, media, government, and even religious institutions all need to play a part in ending discrimination and setting the right examples.
From today onward, we, as children, should also commit to treating our sisters, mothers, and female friends equally—without discrimination. Girls too should believe that they can dream big and achieve beyond the roles society expects them to play.
Finally, I asked the children to make this commitment, and we ended with a fun game that reinforced today’s lessons. Before closing, we also set the date for the next meeting.
With best regards,
Binod Kumar Ram