Gender Sensitization Workshop by CPIML

A Bihar State level workshop was organized on 13 January in Patna on gender oppression, discrimination against women, sexual violence and other such issues. The workshop was addressed by Comrade Kavita Krishnan.

Addressing the workshop, Comrade Kavita Krishnan said that it is the responsibility of progressive and revolutionary organizations and parties to struggle against patriarchy and every form of gender-based oppression and take upon themselves the collective responsibility to end such oppression. The need of the hour is to increase our conscious efforts to change patriarchal actions and thoughts rampant in society today. Gender violence and discrimination can be against women, children (boys as well as girls), homosexuals and transgender people. Most perpetrators are men, but women can also be perpetrators.

Comrade Kavita further said that gender-based oppression includes domestic violence (physical, mental and economic); rape culture (encouraging victim blaming and holding women responsible for rape and sexual harassment; judging women by patriarchal standards like dress, personal life, love affairs, ‘character’ etc; moral policing and interfering in the personal lives of women and girls; giving greater value to men and men’s work; keeping women away from positions of leadership and important roles in programs; encouraging anti-women thinking, abuses, jokes, and prejudices. She pointed out that there are several weapons for maintaining gender-based oppression, and we must learn to recognize and fight against these weapons.

Participants at the workshop also spoke about their thoughts and experiences. The workshop was attended by AIPWA General Secretary Meena Tiwari, senior Party leader Swadesh Bhattacharya, State Secretary Kunal, Dhirendra Jha, Amar, Rajaram Singh, KD Yadav, Shashi Yadav, Saroj Chaube and others.