The Undergraduate Course on ‘Gender Sensitization: Society, Culture and Change’ aims to address the prevailing notions of gender issues in the society and ways to address the same. It also aims to provide ways to bring about changes in the society by addressing values like equality and equity. Culture, Society and State constructed certain norms, customs and stereotypes to look into women, men and their issues. Due to patriarchal social construction, women are not treated on par with men. Women face challenges to realize their rights, aspirations and potentials. It is important to deconstruct the prevailing patriarchal notions about women, men and other sexualities. Family, Society and State also construct and reinforce roles and responsibilities for men and women. The existing power relations between men and women play an important role in controlling and dominating women. The disciplines of Women’s and Gender Studies and Gender and Development Studies have theoretically addressed these issues. Relationship between men and women, their roles and responsibilities and myths related to other sexualities need to be deconstructed. The Course on “Gender Sensitization: Society, Culture and Change “specifically aims to build understanding of women’s status in our society and identifying ways to address the same. It requires a new understanding of construction of gender to reconstruct ‘gender just society’.

Course layout

Week-1 

Unit 1: Understanding Gender and Related Concepts  

Unit 4: Gender in Everyday Life 

Week-2 

Unit 1: Understanding Gender and Related Concepts   

Unit 8: Gender of Work 

Week-3 

Unit 1: Understanding Gender and Related Concepts   

Unit 4: Gender in Everyday Life 

Week-4

Unit 2: Gender and Sexualities 

Unit 3: Masculinities   

Week-5 

Unit 5: Family, Love and Power 

Week-6 

Unit 6: Marriage 

Unit 7: Motherhood

Unit 8: Gendering Work

Week-7 

Unit 8: Gendering Work 

Unit 9: Gender and Employment 

Unit 10: Gender Issues in Work and Labour Market 

Week-8 

Unit 10: Gender Issues in Work and Labour Market 

Week-9 

Unit 9: Gender and Employment 

Week-10 

Unit 11: Health in Social Contexts 

Week-11 

Unit 12: Reproductive Health and Rights

Unit 13: Gender and Disability

Week-12 

Unit 16: Sexual Harassment at the Workplace

Unit 15: Gender- Based Violence

Week-13  

Unit 15: Gender- Based Violence

Week-14 

Unit 15: Gender- Based Violence

Week-15

Unit 17: Gender and Language

Unit 19: Reading and Visualising Gender 

Unit 18: Gender and Media 

Week-16 

Unit 20: Conclusion: Towards Gender Equality   

Books and references

1. IGNOU  : Gender Sensitization: Society, Culture and Change ( 2019) BGSE001, New Delhi IGNOU 

2. Jane Pilcher and Imelda Whelehan ( 2005) : Fifty Key Concepts in Gender Studies 

Instructor bio

Prof. Nilima Srivastava & Dr. G. Uma

Indira Gandhi National Open University

Dr. Nilima Srivastava is a  Professor with School of Gender and Development Studies, IGNOU. She is Programme Coordinator of MA in Women’s and Gender studies, Ph.D in Women’s Studies and Gender Sensitization initiative.

Dr. G. Uma is Assistant Professor with School of Gender and Development Studies, IGNOU and is closely associated with Ph.D and MA in Gender and Development Studies offered by the School. 

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Not Applicable
Duration :	16 weeks
Start Date :	01 Sep 2021
End Date :
Exam Date :
Category :	Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit Points :	8
Level :	Diploma