Gender Sensitivity in Journalism Education: The Case of University Education in Kerala

The concept of gender sensitivity has been developed as a way to reduce barriers to personal and professional development created and sustained by sexism. Gender sensitivity helps generate respect for individuals regardless of their sex. As education is the best way to change the attitude among the people on different social issues. Gender sensitive pedagogy in the curriculum is the finest way to develop the sense of gender equality. Gender sensitive education helps pupils determine which assumptions in matters of gender are valid and which are stereotyped generalizations. It opens up the widest possible range of life options for all genders. This study is an attempt to analyze how this approach has been reflected in mass communication education in Kerala. We take the syllabi of PG level media programmes in the universities in Kerala as a case point to find out to what extent mass communication education in the region is accommodative to gender questions and concerns. After a qualitative thematic analysis of the syllabi the authors argue that the proper utilization of gender education will help eradicate the existing gender inequality and gender stereotyping both in education and professional practices, but university level media education syllabi practically fails to cater to this approach.

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