Gender neutrality’s an amazing concept to be familiarized with in kerela’s school.

Highlights:

• Kerala has introduced the concept of gender-neutral uniforms in the lowest primary schools.

• Their approach to familiarising the concept of gender neutrality was appreciated by the General Education Minister.

 

Kerala is one of the states of India with the highest literacy rate. And no doubt, it has achieved the literacy rate for a good number of reasons. Recently, the state has gathered the spotlight to itself as it gave out laws to ensure that people are provided with gender justice. When it comes to Government implementing laws regarding ensuring gender justice, one often focuses on the crimes or construction of gender-neutral toilets.

However, Kerala took a step ahead and introduced gender-neutral uniforms in schools. Kerala has put emphasis on a holistic approach to make the people understand the concept of gender neutrality. Moreover, the state wants to approach the important section of the society that would contribute to the future generations-the Children. 

While the entire country is celebrating the triumphs of different gendered terms to be included in the textbooks by the nation’s schools, Kerala has also gained a proclamation for merging the concept of academics and actions. The reforms made by the Kerala Government are indeed unthinkable. 

Before we move forward with the article, let us first understand what is gender neutrality and why is it such a big deal.

What is Gender Neutrality and why is it such a big deal?

Gender Neutrality is also referred to as gender neutralism. It is the idea that policies, language, and any other social norms should avoid differentiating roles based on people’s gender. The concept has been introduced to abolish the discrimination of people based on their gender in their respective workplaces or any other social institutions. It is also to remove the disparity that one role is suitable to someone because of his or her gender. 

Gender neutrality is such a big deal because the introduction of this concept will provide support designated to eliminate the policies that are designed to remove gender distinctions. This has also given equal privileges to men that they would also be provided custody in the case of divorce. Moreover, the group of people who are referred to as transgender could find a sense of belongingness because of the introduction of the concept of gender neutrality. 

California was the state in the United States of America to recognize the need for gender neutrality. Moreover, on October 15, 2017, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a new policy that allows persons the option to select gender-neutral in their identification cards.

Kerala Government to introduce gender-neutral uniforms:

Valayanchirangara government Lower Primary School that is established near Perumbavoor in the district of Ernakulam which has a capacity of 754 students has taken the first initiative to gender neutrality and introduced a new type of uniform for the students that include a three-fourth short and shirt irrespective of their gender.

The dress code was first planned in the year 2018 and later introduced in the lower primary school after the school resumed after two years of the pandemic. The information has been informed to all the students. 

The General Education Minister V Sivankutty has appreciated the move taken by the lower primary school and promised that he will promote such gender-inclusive activities in the schools

Wrap Up:

The Kerala government is appreciated for the actions taken by them to ensure a gender-inclusive surrounding in the school and familiarise the children with the idea of gender neutrality. However, there exist many such places in India where people’s rights are discriminated against or looked down upon because they do not fall under the conventional categories of the identified genders. There are certain places in India where they do not understand the concept of transmen and prevent them from enjoying their rights as the citizens of the country. 

Maybe, Kerala’s story can prove to be an inspiration to all those places and make people aware of the term “Gender Neutrality”. Because the things in books will be a waste if we do not advocate the ideologies in our day-to-day lives.

edited and proofread by: nikita sharma