We often think of the injustices that are currently prevailing in our society, but, do we think of the causes behind such discrimination? The discrimination we see now came to life since our birth. The prevailing gender injustices have their roots in our childhood experiences. We do not tend to believe in pre-natal psychology which could teach children many things.
We tend to believe that our regular actions can’t teach children many things. We do not tend to believe that we are constantly engaged in discrimination. Had we been able to, many problems won’t have actually arisen. Talking from the perspective of education, do we think of imparting a gender-neutral education? Or, do we even take any effort to teach the same things to all children? The answer is, of course, no. Schools that have only girls or only boys tend to achieve something which is beyond my rationale and imagination.
The teaching levels are also not equal. When it comes to teaching about menstrual literacy, the first thing is that schools do not teach it and if they do, they only do so for one specific gender. Sending the boys out of the class, in a co-ed school, leaves many unanswered questions in their minds.
Shouldn’t boys also be taught about menstruation? Why send them out of the class?
This is, one of the instances, where I believe bias becomes the cause of discrimination. This bias, of not teaching students together, leaves many unanswered questions and does not make one gender as sensitive enough to consider a normal biological process as a normal one. At least teach them together and teach the same thing. This is where sensitivity could creep in and make everyone comfortable with the absolutely normal processes, and not make that ‘red spot’ a matter of shame or mockery.
This could eventually lead to the opening up of communication within the family, and communication always shows a way forward.