Gender Sensitization Programme– DWFCS Agra Diocese  

It need hardly be emphasized that Gender equality is a noble vision yet to be realized especially at the level of common life. In pursuance of this cause and to contribute to the discussions and actions bringing gender issues relating to women, especially to work towards the gender sensitivity among the women of the Church of North India and also to build a movement towards empowering women with tools to challenge injustice against women, the DWFCS – Agra Diocese organized a Gender Sensitization Programme for 3 days in Agra from 12-14 April 2008 at the Queen Victoria Boarding Home. A group of 33 participants from 19 different Churches of the Diocese of Agra participated in this gender sensitization programme to affirm that gender is designed by God for appreciation and not for discrimination. In a male chauvinistic society like India , women have been seen as lesser human being and made confined within the four walls of the kitchen only.  Of course, thanks to the ecumenical movement for empowering women over the decades for which the trend is now changing and so is the attitude of people.  The church has a vital role to maintain justice and equality in the society by creating space for women and bringing them to the limelight of leadership and professions.                                                                                       

The training programme consisted of Sessions, Bible Studies, Group works, Group discussions, group presentations, individual presentations, debates, role plays and enacting the situations of women today in regard to gender discrimination that is prevailing in our society. The participants were encouraged to start within oneself at first as it is the great need of today and that we need to use the opportunity that is given to us and avail it with courage and to work towards fulfilling our dreams. The methods of having power against patriarchy were also introduced and then were elaborated. The definition of the word 'Gender' and the gender roles, the activities, the control of labour were was also discussed and debated. Referring to the sessions and discussions on how different institutions have been involved in the gendering process, especially the family, educational institutions and religion, the facilitators have been able to present to the participants the fact how patriarchy through different institutions have exerted control over women’s life in matters regarding fertility, sexuality, labour resources and mobility.  

The focus was also given on gender analysis and the factors to be taken into account such as division of labour, access and control and also the needs. Through different exercises the participants realized that the disabling forces are more in number than the enabling forces and it is high time that women challenge such disabling forces and even defy or condemn them if they stand in the way of Gender Justice and substantive equity. Through the training programme the participants were able to realize that the fact that Patriarchy has led women in a position of conflict and this can be only solved when resources are equally shared. The causes could be also categorized as cultural, economical, political and psychological and are interrelated giving rise to further causes of oppression.  There were interactive sessions too through which real life instances came out of many inhibitions and finally summing up with an Action Plan for Starting a New Beginning in the local pastorates. It was a platform for the women to come together from the different Churches of Agra Diocese to encounter the challenges for the cause of women.   The Coordinator, Women and Gender Concerns-CNI and Mrs. Ranjana Caleb from the Diocese of Chandigarh were the facilitators for the programme. The Bible Studies and discourses challenged the participants to stand against the forces that do not recognize their existence and contributions.