What ails female literacy in India?
July 15, 2025
  • Read Ecopy
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • International
  • Opinion
  • Op Sindoor
  • More
    • Analysis
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Special Report
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • G20
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Vocal4Local
    • Web Stories
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
MAGAZINE
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • International
  • Opinion
  • Op Sindoor
  • More
    • Analysis
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Special Report
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • G20
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Vocal4Local
    • Web Stories
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
Organiser
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • International Edition
  • RSS in News
  • Magazine
  • Read Ecopy
Home General

What ails female literacy in India?

by Archive Manager
Mar 22, 2009, 12:00 am IST
in General
FacebookTwitterWhatsAppTelegramEmail

Women Teaching In South Asia, edited by Jackie Kirk, (HB), Sage Publications, Pp 241, Rs. 495

Policy makers in developing countries, especially in Asia have adopted the strategy of employing increasing number of women teachers in schools as a way of increasing enrollment of girl child. While it may appear that this move has paid off, the teachers, the carriers of this torch are an ignored lot. A recent publication Women Teaching In South Asia edited by Jackie Kirk has put together articles by teachers, researchers and educationists to discuss the issue from teachers? point of view.

The volume is an attempt to project and draw attention to the dichotomy of what is called WID and GAD i.e. Women In Development and Gender And Development. WID is a rather ancient idea, looking at women in separation from development, much as the UPA views minorities. Whereas GAD includes women in development, placing gender in the midst on all policies, plans and programmes. To make women the centre or the focus of development.

?The dominant approach with respect to women teachers in development context is one of integration into existing gender and educational paradigms. Such a paradigm appears to separate body from context, body from mind and most particularly body from politics? it focuses primarily on quantity rather than quality, on outcome rather than experience,? says Jackie Kirk in the introduction.

According to global education statistics, 59 per cent of the world primary and secondary teachers were women. While it is as high as 84 per cent in North America and Western Europe, it is 44 per cent in South and West Asia.

The book contains experiences of women teachers from six countries in South Asia ? India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal as they share a common social matrix, in terms of beliefs and societal structure.

Teaching is seen as a ?culturally appropriate? profession for women. Just an extension of the women'snature to care for children. It is socially accepted and even approved for a woman to be a teacher. Mainly because it does not disturb the domestic atmosphere, where she continues to look after her husband and family and carries on the domestic chores. Most women teachers in the book have mentioned these as reasons for choosing the profession.

Despite the increasing number of women as teachers, there has hardly been any study of their working conditions and their classroom experiences. Separate rest rooms for women teachers, separate toilets for girls and women teachers are not available in most non-urban schools in the region. In fact, this is sighted as one of the reasons for lack of response in Nepal to girls attending schools.

The stereotyping of women does not escape the teachers also. An overwhelming number of male colleagues felt that they were good as ?primary teachers? as they could give ?love? to small children. And they did not have to teach ?hard? subjects like maths and science. A ?women'sghetto? in the teaching profession. According to Swarna Jayaweera, from Sri Lanka ?women teachers seem to have contributed to reinforcing rather than challenging pervasive gender stereotypes and attitudes?? by emphasising on the shorter working hours and vacations as the motivations for choosing the profession, rather than enthusiasm for teaching.

While the situation in India may not be as bad as it exists in other countries in the region, especially Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal, the aspects of women not being involved in the policies and programmes being evolved for them is very much relevant. There is no denying the fact that female literacy and women teachers are interconnected, the latter enhancing the former. But to use women teachers only as a rouse to better female enrolment defeats the very purpose of the effort.

Our culture exalts teacher to the position of God. And hence the profession of teachers even today is looked at with respect, across the gender. But that does not eliminate the discrimination and the ?ghettoising? that women teachers face in India. With education fully becoming a commercial venture in India, and a large part of them operating in unorganised sector, the disparity and inequalities are bound to be more. As the editor of the book has suggested, it is high time studies were taken up on the working condition of women teachers, as their numbers increase by the year.

The book is an academic work that should stimulate the thoughts of people in the planning and programme departments in the countries in the region.

(Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd., B1/1-1, Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area, Mathura Road, New Delhi-110 044.))

ShareTweetSendShareSend
✮ Subscribe Organiser YouTube Channel. ✮
✮ Join Organiser's WhatsApp channel for Nationalist views beyond the news. ✮
Previous News

Remove disparities to materialise the concept of ?harmonious society??K. Lakshma Reddy

Next News

Hindu Rashtra, the conflict of civilisations and Le-Chatelier's principle-III Establishment of a Uniform Civil Code A global vision to build institutions of excellence in Science and Technology

Related News

Representative Image

Post-Operation Sindoor: India faces new swarm drone challenge from Sino-Pak Border

Legendary Marathoner Fauja Singh dies at 114 in tragic road accident

“Turbaned Tornado” Fauja Singh, world’s oldest marathoner passes away at 114 in a road accident

Golden temple gets bomb threat email

Bomb Threat Email Targets Golden Temple: Punjab Police steps up security, launches probe

Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush, Government of India addressing the gathering at the  inauguration ceremony of Shalyacon 2025

AIIA Hosts National Shalya Tantra Conference; Highlights integrative Ayurvedic surgery

International Day of Population: Addressing global issues and demographic shifts

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressing the gathering on the occasion of Bharat Vikas Parishad foundation day

Bharat Vikas Parishad Foundation Day: Amit Shah hails BVP for national service and embodying ideals of Vivekananda

Load More

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

Representative Image

Post-Operation Sindoor: India faces new swarm drone challenge from Sino-Pak Border

Legendary Marathoner Fauja Singh dies at 114 in tragic road accident

“Turbaned Tornado” Fauja Singh, world’s oldest marathoner passes away at 114 in a road accident

Golden temple gets bomb threat email

Bomb Threat Email Targets Golden Temple: Punjab Police steps up security, launches probe

Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush, Government of India addressing the gathering at the  inauguration ceremony of Shalyacon 2025

AIIA Hosts National Shalya Tantra Conference; Highlights integrative Ayurvedic surgery

International Day of Population: Addressing global issues and demographic shifts

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressing the gathering on the occasion of Bharat Vikas Parishad foundation day

Bharat Vikas Parishad Foundation Day: Amit Shah hails BVP for national service and embodying ideals of Vivekananda

Andhra Pradesh: Senior TDP leader Ashok Gajapathi Raju named Governor of Goa

Viksit Gaon for Viksit Bharat: Modi Govt's Rural Blueprint

Viksit Gaon, Viksit Bharat: Modi govt’s rural blueprint to empower villages by 2047

Church built by Christian Missionaries on an encroached hill in Thiruvannamalai

17 Church-linked institutions continue squatting on temple lands despite court orders to vacate

Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, courtesy: getty images

Bihar voter list revision: “ECI is doing a good job,” says Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi 

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

  • Home
  • Search Organiser
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • North America
    • South America
    • Europe
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Entertainment
  • More ..
    • Sci & Tech
    • Vocal4Local
    • Special Report
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Politics
    • Law
    • Economy
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
  • Subscribe Magazine
  • Read Ecopy
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Policies & Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Refund and Cancellation
    • Terms of Use

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies