Gender Stereotype Equity and Equality

About the Book Gender is a socio-cultural concept. According to the UNICEF regional office of South Asia (2017) "Gender includes the expectations held about the characteristics, aptitudes and likely behavior of both women and men (femininity and masculinity)". Gender roles and responsibilities are learned or acquired over some time. These roles and responsibilities are contrasts within and among the cultures and they can be changed. The social and structural systems such as class, caste, ethnicity, age, cultural practices, political and economic status, and geographical location, physical and mental state determine or modify the roles but biologically there are no such predetermined roles or characteristics.

As we all know men and women perform different roles and gain different knowledge, experiences, skills, attitudes but the issues that commonly exist in the society are gender inequalities, gender stereotypes, gender discrimination, and gender biases, and more, though the United Nations 1979 made convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, still these conceptions predominantly occur in women and they are the victims' of such beliefs and problems. These unhealthy practices are against human rights and fundamental freedoms in the social, political, cultural, and economic domains. Any form of violence and harmful practices against women may exacerbate or weaken the society. To remove such beliefs and practices, our nation has continuously made effort since independence and achieved success to many extents which brought enjoyment and freedom but still, women are struggling to get equal status to men.

In this context, this book is a compilation of various research and thematic papers contributed by academicians and research scholars published in the title of "Gender stereotypes Equity and Equality." Most of the papers are related to gender stereotypes, and some papers are in gender-related areas such as gender discrimination, equity, equality, women's education and their protection, culture, and identity of tribal women, tribal women in science education, the violence of Human rights and more.

About the Authors Dr. Ramesh. M presently is working as an Assistant Professor of Education at Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh. He did M.Sc. (Botany), M.Ed., UGC-NET, and Ph.D. (Education) from the Centre of Advanced Study in Education [CASE]. The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara. He worked as UGC Post-Doctoral Fellow at Pondicherry University. He is having more than six years of experience in Research and teaching Science Education, Teacher Education, Inclusive Education and Environmental Education. He has published 21 research articles in National and International journals, 7 chapters in edited books, and 44 papers presented in National and International seminars/conferences. He served as a resource person for the seminars, workshops, and module development. He completed 02 research projects funded by ICSSR and PMMMNMTT, Central University of Kerala and one is ongoing funded by NCERT.

Dr. Maria Josephine Arokia Marie S. presently is working as Assistant Professor of Education at Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh. She did M.Sc. (Chemistry), M.Phil. (Chemistry), M.Ed., Ph.D. (Education), UGC-NET, and SRF, and has more than six years of experience in Research and teaching Science Education, Teacher Education, Educational Technology, Blended Learning, and Educational Psychology. To her credit, she has published many research articles in National and International reputed journals, Scopus indexed and UGC Care listed journals. She contributed her research papers as chapters in many books. She has organized 2 National seminars and completed ICSSR-IMPRESS Major project and one project from RajyaSiksha Kendra, Bhopal. She is a member of various Academic bodies and a reviewer for research journals. Her aspirant tentacles try to reach even far-flung areas to promote education and developmental activities to scale new peaks in social development.

Prof. M.T.V. NAGARAJU is currently working as Dean, Faculty of Education, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak (MP), India.He has published 33 books, 38 research publications in National and International journals apart that he has presented papers in 10 International and 50 National Seminars/Conferences. Under his research supervision 17 M.Phil, and 6 Ph.D. Degrees in Education were awarded and currently guiding 4 Ph.D. Scholars. He has completed 2 minor and 2 major projects and one is ongoing funded by NCERT. He is a Life Member of the Indian Association of Teacher Educators (IATE) and a Life Member of the Indian Association of Applied Psychologists (IAAP). He has delivered several extension lectures and enlightened the participants.

Foreword Education transforms one's life and helps individuals in developing their human capabilities. Education is the fundamental right for every individual and the foundation of social empowerment and gender equality. The discourse over gender equality and equity has taken the center stage amongst academics, practitioners, and governments at various levels across the world. While most western thinkers laid emphasis on equality of treatment for both genders, traditional oriental societies have long been advocating the fairness of treatment according to gender-specific needs. The confluence of the eastern and western viewpoints has of late been accepted as the guiding principle.

Preface Gender is a social and cultural construct that distinguishes the characteristics or attributes of men and women in reference to some of their roles and responsibilities in society. Gender stereotypes are the generalized view that are ought to be possessed by both men and women. Also, gender stereotypes are preconceptions or practices which are specifically attributed to men and women. Gender stereotypes are the commonly prevailing phenomenon and practice in every society that often creates constraints for human rights and freedom. Such stereotypes and practices are very harmful and hinder the abilities and capacities of an individual which may lead to deconstructing a healthy society. The gender stereotypes are both positive and negative. It affects both men and women however gender-based stereotypes are mostly targeted at women, for example, occupational segregation, denial of promotions in leadership, trafficking, violence against women in different spheres, infanticides, the ceiling in different professions, gender pay gaps, etc. Women are the victims of gender. stereotypes, but who suffers from gender discrimination, gender inequality, gender biases, gender-based constraints, and gender-based violence.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages