Equal Opportunity Cell

Expert Talk on Gender Equality
Date: 28 August 2026
The session on Gender Equality explored gender as a social and psychological concept and discussed how family, culture, media and everyday experiences shape gender identities and expectations. Through examples from popular culture, including Peppa Pig, Dora, Chhota Bheem, Motu Patlu and Frozen, students examined how characters, appearances and behaviours can reinforce gender stereotypes. The session also addressed traditional gender roles, such as men being viewed as breadwinners and women as homemakers, and connected these expectations to power, privilege, mobility, vulnerability and the division between paid and unpaid labour. It emphasized that practices that are repeatedly accepted by society may become normalised, even when they are unequal or discriminatory.

The session also introduced intersectionality, highlighting how gender inequality can overlap with caste, class, religion, race, age and disability, resulting in different experiences of discrimination and marginalisation. Historical examples such as Savitribai Phule, Fatima Sheikh, Nangeli and Rani Gaidinliu demonstrated the role of education, resistance and social change in challenging inequality. The discussion further explored how socialisation influences education, career choices and occupational roles, along with the unequal impact of events such as COVID-19 on different communities. Overall, the session encouraged students to construct and deconstruct gender norms, question stereotypes and recognise the importance of education and awareness in promoting equality, dignity and social justice.