Father Can Cook: Kerala Government Introduces Gender-Neutral Textbooks (image: facebook.com/comvsivankutty)
As umpteen number of discussions held on gender-neutral outlook in public arena, Kerala government takes a remarkable stand to impart it in school education. CPI(M) government has introduced gender equality concept in the school textbooks and the new initiative, is receiving lot of praises now.
Last week, Malayalam medium textbook of Class III caught attention of netizens as State Education Minister V. Sivankutty shared a page from it in his Facebook post. In the page, pictorial representation of a kitchen where husband sitting on the kitchen floor and scraping coconut is given. Similarly, in the English textbook, Husband is seen as cooking snacks for daughter. The illustration of family members involved in cooking and household chores, irrespective of gender has drawn widespread attention. It has demolished the patriarchal representation of kitchen as a place only for women.
Both teaching and student community welcomed the gender equality concept and saw it as a “positive” move. As Textbooks often caught in controversy for inadequate representation of women, anomalies promoting gender stereotypes, and reaffirming orthodox views promoting patriarchal gender roles, Kerala government’s idea to incorporate gender equality concepts in school textbooks is noteworthy. Since from the formative years of children, misogynist ideals unknowingly creates impressions on their mind, novel efforts like this in curriculum and learning practices helps a great deal in contributing favourable impact.
Even before, left government in Kerala has been proactive in introducing strategic initiatives aiming at advancing civic sense and gender equality and were widely appreciated also. The schools in the State reopened last week after two-month long summer vacation.
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