In a world where we hear narratives such as Boys should be strong, here’s 17-year-old Shankar, part of ECF’s Action For Equality, a behaviour change program that is challenging this very notion. Amid the pandemic and staying at home Shankar learnt to do different household chores and believes that boys must learn everything that girls are taught to. Diving deeper into human rights, Shankar has started questioning and challenging the skewed discrimination where women and girls are not allowed to visit temples or participate in celebrations and festivals during menstruation.
Q. Hello! Can you tell me what are your hobbies and the things that you like to do?
I love to write and my hobby is writing songs and skits. I spend time helping those less privileged than me and want to become a social worker one day.
Q. How have you been spending your time during the pandemic and the lockdown? How have you been feeling?
Whenever I got the time I would write and spend time helping out my family members at home.
Q. What changed for you in the pandemic? Did you notice any difference in your household activities and chores amidst the several lockdowns?
While staying at home I learnt how to do different household chores and did that during the pandemic.
Q. How long have you been part of the sessions conducted by the ECF foundation?
Since August 2018.
Q. What happens in these sessions? Can you describe it to me?
In these sessions I learnt about human rights, changes that happen in our bodies during adolescence, violence, gender norms, menstruation and menstrual taboos, child marriage, substance abuse and addiction, career guidance etc.
Q.What is your favourite part of these sessions?
A. My favourite sessions were the ones where we discussed human rights, violence, addiction and child marriage.
Q. How are the sessions different from other activities that you may have been part of?
A8. We go into each topic in great depth, this is something that I enjoy about the sessions that makes it different from our programmes.
Q. What are some of the gender stereotypes that you have started to question? Can you share examples?
I have started to challenge women not being allowed into temples or being a part of religious celebrations during menstruation.
Q. How do you contribute to house chores? How do your parents, siblings, grandparents, relatives and other friends react?
A. My family members praise me for doing my household chores well!
Q. What were some of the changes that you saw before joining the sessions and after going through the program?
A. I am more peaceful, I have learnt how to talk to people, and I am able to share my thoughts on different social issues better with my friends.
Q. Can you describe the sessions in one word?
Wonderful sessions, all the boys in my group look forward to attending sessions, and our mentor ensured every question we had was addressed.
Q.What are some of the stereotypes of being a boy you want to talk about?
As a society, we must continue to change and learn to differentiate between traditions that are of value and those that must be left behind.
Q. How do you support women and girls? How do you become an ally?
A.We must understand each other. We must be receptive to what women and girls want.
Q. A message you would like to share for all young boys your age?
A. Boys must learn everything just like girls are taught. If we expect all girls to be “sarva gun sampann” then we must be sarva gun sampanna too and this includes being caring and affectionate.
