Gender Sensitization Programme  - DWFCS - Kolkata Diocese

The position of men and women in society is the result of differences that are socially determined. The word gender refers to those socially defined differences. People themselves define certain behaviours and qualities as being masculine or feminine and identify certain activities as being appropriate for men or women in a specific society. What is women’s work in one country or community might be men’s in another. Specific gender behaviour is based on and influenced by the cultural, legal, social, economic and political environment in which people are living. And in family relationships gender behaviour is also deeply rooted and defined. As a result of gender differences, women and men have different experiences in life and their knowledge, perspective and priorities are not the same.

Keeping in mind the situations in regard to gender justice, the Diocesan Women’s Fellowship for Christian Service, Kolkata Diocese organized a programme on “Gender Sensitization” at the St. James Church Kolkata from the 18-20 July 2008. A total number of 50 women from 15 different Churches of the Kolkata diocese participated in the programme. As this was the first programme of its kind being organized in the Diocese after a long time,  all the women attending the programme showed their interest and were looking forward to be active in their own local churches to bring about changes in and outside the church and also to create awareness. The Rt. Rev. Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Kolkata Diocese inaugurated the programme and encouraged the women representing the different churches of Kolkata diocese to work and move on together as a Church. The presence of the Bishop was highly appreciated and acknowledged by the WFCS members present for the programme.

The Coordinator Women & Gender Concerns CNI, Rachael Pradhan along with Ms. Sadhna Halder and Urmi Chanda Upadhaya form Barrackpore Diocese facilitated the Bible Studies and the sessions. During the sessions, topics like Understanding Gender, Gender Stereotypes in different Institutions /Different Roles, Women’s Positions in different Institutions, Role Play on Stereo Type,  Ideal Society and Role Play – Family, Education, Religion, Media, Society and Workplace were covered which helped the participants to finally sum up with an Action Plan for starting a new beginning at the local level. The Bible Studies and discourses challenged the participants to stand against the forces that do not recognize their existence and contributions.