Needed is feminizing of science and technology courses in India, suggests research

The paper 'De-sexing Science and Technology Education" of this blogger, Jaipur based educator and researcher, Dr lalit Kishore was accepted for an international conference in Australia in 2007. Since he could not go to present the paper, the abstract is being disseminated through this blog for reference in research in the related area.

Abstract

In India, there is a severe under-representation of girls and women in science and technology education and employment. The gender roles are quite entrenched in society and teaching-learning methods are highly masculinised. The issue of gender equity needs to be addressed in the areas of education, employment, advocacy and social policy. A beginning at the school level needs to be made for de-sexing science and technology education. Hither to, some attention is being paid to make gender sensitivity and equity as a cross-cutting issue in the primary education projects. The paper advocates a multi-pronged strategy to address the most glaring gender disparity in science and technology education and employment

.Keywords: :de-sexing science and technology, gender roles, gender equity, gender sensitivity, gender disparity