SCERT audit uncovers gender stereotypes in Delhi school textbooks: Neutral alternatives for 10 gender-biased terms – Times of India

SCERT audit uncovers gender stereotypes in Delhi school textbooks: Neutral alternatives for 10 gender-biased terms – Times of India



In a welcome move to promote gender equality in education, Delhi’s State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has introduced substantial revisions to school textbooks following a comprehensive gender audit of 53 textbooks and curricula. The audit, conducted by a committee comprising experts from NCERT, Delhi University, central education institutes, and NGOs, revealed significant gender biases, including male-dominated content and portrayals of women in submissive roles, alongside a lack of representation for transgender individuals.
Key recommendations from the audit include the adoption of gender-neutral language and illustrations, balanced representation of male and female contributors, and the elimination of stereotypes.Traditional depictions of women performing household chores have been updated to include men, while subjects like mathematics now feature gender-neutral examples. The revised home science curriculum depicts both men and women in professional roles, challenging conventional gender norms.
SCERT officials emphasize that textbooks alone cannot shift societal attitudes, highlighting the need for gender sensitization through school activities. Additionally, the curriculum now includes discussions on transgender individuals’ achievements, substance abuse, and ‘good touch versus bad touch’ to enhance student awareness.

Key Findings and Recommendations

The recommendations of SCERT align with the National Education Policy’s focus on gender equality and inclusive education, marking a significant step towards fostering a more equitable learning environment and shaping students’ values and attitudes towards gender roles. Here is a look at the findings and recommendations.
Gender Bias and Stereotypes Identified: The gender audit of Delhi government school textbooks uncovered significant gender biases, including male-dominated content, submissive portrayals of women, and the lack of representation of transgender individuals.
Inclusive Revisions Implemented: SCERT has adopted several recommendations to eliminate gender biases, including using gender-neutral language and illustrations, balanced representation of male and female contributors, and updating traditional gender roles, such as depicting men in household duties and women in professional roles.
Transgender Representation and Gender-Sensitive Content: The revisions include the incorporation of transgender persons and their contributions, as well as the inclusion of topics like substance abuse and understanding ‘good touch’ versus ‘bad touch’ to enhance student awareness.
Promoting Gender Sensitivity Beyond Textbooks: Officials emphasized that textbooks alone cannot change attitudes, so gender sensitization activities will be introduced in schools. For example, tasks traditionally assigned to female students, like decoration, will now be given to male students to challenge stereotypes.

10 gender-biased terms and their neutral alternatives

Here’s a list of 10 gender-insensitive terms commonly found in the school textbooks, along with their neutral counterparts.

Gender Biased Terms
Gender Neutral Terms
Chairman Chairperson
Headmaster/Headmistress Principal
Manpower Workforce
Sportsman/Sportswoman Athlete
Brotherhood Community
Policeman Police Officer
Businessman Businessperson
Craftsman Artisan
Housewife Homemaker
Salesman Salesperson

With inputs from PTI





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