Workshop on “Gender Sensitization and Menstrual Health

The Samiti in association with Institute of Social Studies Trust (ISST) organised a one-day workshop on “Gender Sensitization and Menstrual Health” on July 26, 2019 at Kalyanpuri Police Station.
The aim of workshop was to get the attention of children towards encouraging them to think about changes in the thinking of people about ‘Gender Sensitization’ and ‘Menstrual Health & Hygiene’. Adolescent girls, domestic workers, house wives and others from the local community took part in the workshop. The session began with an introduction about GSDS by Ms. Asha and Ms. Shobha.
Senior Resource Person Ms. Amita Joshi spoke to the participants on gender sensitization. She said that ‘Gender Sensitization’ helps adolescent girls and women in examining their personal attitudes and beliefs on questioning the realities which they aren’t aware of most of the time. “Changes have to begin from the grass roots. In many families in both rural and urban areas while boys are encouraged to study and have a career, girls are taught to concentrate on household chores”, she said. They also showed a movie clip on the same subject.
Activity was done by the participating girls on gender equality where they showed they that girls are also equal and as important as boys.
The second session began with Dr. Manju Aggarwal lecture on ‘Good Touch and Bad Touch’, ‘Health & Hygiene and Menstrual Hygiene’. She gave demonstration on how girls can realize what ‘Good touch’ is and ‘Bad touch’. She told the young girls about the difference between good touch and bad touch. “Good touch feels pleasant, and not uncomfortable. It is a way to show care, love and help – like your parents gives you a goodnight kiss or your grandparents hold you in their arms and you hold your friends hands while playing, is not considered as a bad touch. Whereas, bad touch is that makes you uncomfortable and you feel unpleasant. If someone touches your private parts without your approval or if someone touches you and tells you not to tell anyone or if someone touches you in a way that you do not like, say No to them. It’s your body and no one can touch in a way that you do not like”, asserted Dr. Aggarwal.
Further she demonstrated how to wash hands properly by showing them through different steps and she has also demonstrated how adolescent girls & women should maintain the menstrual health & hygiene of their body. Many girls and women face challenges with managing their periods safely. She told about personal hygiene during menstruation. She encouraged the adolescent girls and women to use sanitary napkins.
Division of Group and Group Exercise was done by Ms. Asha and Shobha. 65 participants were divided into 5 groups (13 person in each group). We gave different topics to group which was raised by participants as following such as: “Personal Problem”; “Gender Equality”; “Health and Hygiene”; “Menstrual Hygiene” and “Health”
The five groups made presentation during the interactive session on these subjects. Many Participants have written their problems which they are facing through drawings or by writing slogans. During the interaction the participants raised various issues on security/ safety /eve-teasing and prejudice/discrimination between boys and girls. They said that their parents prevent them from talking to boys or even playing with them. Some of the participants felt that since they have to go out for their studies their parents showed allow them to bit more flexibility.