Boys can cook, girls can play cricket, respect third gender: UNESCO, NCERT new comic book for schoolchildren breaks stereotypes

unesco books on gender balance

The colorful comic book covers eleven themes including growing up healthy, emotional well-being and mental health, interpersonal relationships, values, gender equality etc. (Image credit: https://dsel.education.gov.in/)

– Jatin to Vikram: “I often help my mother in the kitchen and enjoy it.. but if I share this with the class, students will make fun of me as women are supposed to do all the cooking and cleaning.”

Vikram: “No, Jatin. I also love to cook and help maa in the kitchen. These are gender stereotypes that suggest only women should cook. Cooking is a basic life skill and can be pursued as a hobby or profession both by men and women.”

– Reena: “I enjoy playing cricket with my brother but my grandfather tells me to play with dolls instead, which upsets me, so I often get in conflict with him.”

Teacher: “It is a common misconception that cricket can be played by men only. This is a kind of gender discrimination..”

Boys can cook too and help their mothers in the kitchen, girls can play cricket, transgenders deserve equal respect in society and should not be teased due to their gender — topics including these and more are a part of a unique comic book “Let’s Move Forward” released by the UNESCO Delhi in association with the NCERT and the Union Ministry of Education to spread awareness on several taboos and shatter stereotypes among schoolchildren.

The colourful comic book covers eleven themes including growing up healthy, emotional well-being and mental health, interpersonal relationships, values, gender equality, health and sanitation, prevention and management of substance abuse, reproductive health and HIV prevention, menstrual hygiene, safety and security against sexual violence, internet safety and responsible social media behaviour.

Eric Falt, director and representative, UNESCO to India, Bhutan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, said that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development shows that “quality education, good health and well-being, gender equality and human rights are intrinsically intertwined. The NCERT took the lead in developing the School Health Programme curriculum and resource materials on the health and well-being of adolescents in partnership with UN agencies and other partners. The essence of joyful learning comes through this comic book which aims at enhancing knowledge and awareness of adolescents.”

Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister for Education, said that “good health is a pre-requisite for national development. Therefore, the health and well-being of adolescents is the topmost priority in nation-building efforts. Education and health are inextricably linked and schools are ideal setting for both health education and health promotion initiatives. They need to be addressed in school curriculum and pedagogy.”

unesco book

The cover page of the book.

The 32-page comic page which is available for students to read on the website of the Union Ministry of Education, also guides children that they should not fall for misleading advertisements about beauty products or bodybuilding supplements which can also have an ill effect on their health.

Sample this: “This is a pamphlet about a protein powder which helps in building muscles. I am planning to buy it,” says Jatin, to which her friend Reena replies: “Such advertisements are misleading and make false promises. My friend once got cheated into buying a beauty cream that promised to make her fair.. what matters is our inner beauty and strength.”

Moral of the story: Our beauty is based on how we look at ourselves as well as the values we possess.

The comic book also has an important lesson for school heads and management, that they should have wheelchair-accessible ramps and other facilities for children with disabilities, with a message that “It is important to be sensitive to others around us. We can play an important role in supporting children with disabilities by understanding their needs and making them feel inclusive.”

Another theme of sexual misconduct and social media behaviour is portrayed in the story of Divya, who starts missing school after the peon touches her inappropriately and sends her a friend request on social media using a fake ID. Her parents do not remain silent (as most parents do), inform the school head and initiate legal action against the peon.

“Students should have a basic understanding of violence, abuse and unsafe situations and develop effective ways to respond and seek help,” says the moral of this story.

The comic book, in another interesting theme, sensitizes children on respecting transgenders and other third gender persons.

Seeing a group of transgenders begging on the road, a girl asks: “Why are they begging?” Her mother replies: “Our society does not provide them with equal status or opportunities.” The girl, seeing a group of boys teasing transgenders says: “It is not funny to tease someone because of their gender. They deserve the same respect as everyone else.” She then makes the boys apologize to them.

unesco books

The issue of gender discrimination has been efficiently addressed in the book.

The message at the end of the story says: “It is important to identify gender discrimination and raise our voices against it to debunk stereotypes and stigma. We must allow each individual to live with their own identity peacefully. We must support transgender rights and encourage others to speak out and help change the minds of people who aren’t support of transgender people.”

The comic books also touch several other health-related topics such as reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, stopping the use of dirty sanitary napkins, and HIV awareness among others.

For instance, the book also has a chapter on Anand, a football player who starts smoking and taking drugs to relieve exam stress.

The issue of gender discrimination has been efficiently addressed in the book with the story of Reena, who is stopped by her grandfather from going out and playing till late. But with the support from her school, she is later selected as the team’s captain and also gets a scholarship.

Sample this:

Grandfather: Girls shouldn’t go out late..

Reena: Bhaiyya (brothers) gets to play out till late. This is gender discrimination. Every time I go out to play, you stop me and it upsets me.

Grandpa: That’s because I want you to stay safe..

Reena: Stay safe from whom? Boys? Then shouldn’t boys stay at home?

Reena’s mother intervenes and allows her to go for cricket coaching.

Reena’s mother: Our country has women participating in many sports including cricket. We must adapt with changing times…We must allow our children especially girls to grow and follow their interests.

After Reena is selected as captain of the team and wins a scholarship, her grandfather also apologizes to her and says: “Now I truly believe that if we succeed in empowering girls, we will succeed in everything else.”

“As generations change, it is important to break age-old norms and discriminatory practices. Both girls and boys can perform all kinds of tasks in and out of the household,” says the underlying message.

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