Kerala Leader Vellappally Natesan Says, Co-ed Schooling Against Indian Culture, Is it so?

Indian culture has viewed men and women as the two noble aspects of one person only, but people have interpreted them in the hierarchical norms. Using cultural references to promote gender inequality is to escape own prejudices and biases.

A leader from Kerala, Vellappally Natesan does the same. While responding to a question on the gender-neutral policy in co-ed schools, Natesan remarked, "girls and boys sitting together in classrooms was against Indian culture and breeds anarchy."

Media persons on 28 August, Sunday questioned him regarding the LDF government's gender-neutral policy of the same uniforms for girls and boys in co-ed schools. Natesan pointed out that our culture is unlike America or England, where boys and girls sit together. Children sitting together, and hugging each other is not desirable in India, and it is dangerous. Is it so?

Often in debates on gender equality, patriarchy detects that the problem lies in the social conditioning of gender. Natesan's statement overlooks the need for equal social conditioning among children. Why gender-neutral protocols are paramount? Is it necessary to inculcate such ideas in children at a naive age? Perhaps, the answer lies in the social conditioning of children as well. It plays a major role in one's the development and holistic growth. Toddlers perceive what they observe, learn and practise unconsciously from their environment. Gender-neutral clothing could be one of the keys to All sexes being equal. Such a small thing could be a start to ingrain a gender equality notion in the social conditioning of children. A human being could develop a mindset without prejudices. Being unequal, being in hierarchal norms could be broken.

Vellappally Natesan Against Co-ed School

Natesan also added, "Below 18 years of age or young adults in colleges should not be sitting together and hugging each other when they are still studying. Once the children grow up and attain maturity, they can do whatever they want."

Once grown, doing whatever they want, based on their understanding could be dangerous. Many are unable to pick a conversation with the opposite sex. Respect the opposite gender's choices or be unable to digest a rejection. It could cause unpredictable consequences. All boys’ schools could breed hypermasculinity, whereas all girls' school could be a cocoon. What if this was reversed? Opposite sexes know how to deal with each other, respect boundaries, and channelise the rejection pain. A possibly positive outlook towards the issues. Will this happen? Maybe when invisible social barriers created in childhood are disregarded. Because of these barriers, for instance, separate sitting arrangements contribute to the conventional mindset. This culminates in low confidence and shyness and could impact adulthood. It is assumed patriarchy will last for centuries together, with little to be changed. At least not when efforts made are undone by such statements.

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The leader as a public figure, needs to rethink his statement and what message he is passing to society. Society already stigmatises the women standing alone in the same room. Children in a happy environment without patriarchal pressure, stigma, and fear could perceive these notions easily. The schools can provide such an environment and make efforts to change these narratives. Under the surveillance of responsible authorities, children's mindsets could be shaped more inclusively. Gender equality lessons could help them to become better adults.

The views expressed are the author's own.