The incident that came out recently as the boys locker room on social media, full of vile messages from school going boys degrading underage girls was extremely horrifying. But the sad reality is that it is not about a bunch of teenagers but an issue our entire country is dealing with. Social media is not the only place where sexualization, objectification or stereotyping happens. Our homes and our schools are very much advocates of this misogyny. How many parents talk to their children about sex or consent or respecting women? Rather, our parents ask their daughters to ‘take care’, ignore the harassment, delete social media accounts, not to go out alone, wear ‘full clothes’, cover their faces or just be at home.
Schools, where we are supposed to get an education. Here what am I trying to say is – Education doesn’t mean how many marks you score in exams or how smart you were in school. Education means being aware of your rights, being a responsible citizen, developing social values and understanding what is wrong and what is right.
What is wrong with our schools?
- Our schools are not inclusive at all. There is no open conversation on disability, gender equality or the LGBTQ+ community etc.
- Our schools are acute examples are sexism.
- There is hardly any moral science education given in the schools. Students lack a basic value called sensitivity.
- Sex education is still considered a taboo in schools.
- There is a sense of fear created among students about studies and exams. Our schools fail to tell students that life is beyond this.
- Do you know what measures schools take when a student is bullied? We don’t know. There is no anti-bullying policy in our schools.
- There are very few or absolutely no counsellors available in our schools.
These are just a few problems. The list is never-ending. Why wait for the systems to bring reforms? We can start now.
What can we do at an individual level?
- Understand gender, toxic masculinity, patriarchy
- Learn and educate yourself and others.
- Reflect on your actions and unlearn.
- Empathize and stand with what is right