Gender Sensitization Workshop
Until recently, "gender issues" have been viewed as an alien concept and not applicable in the Tibetan community.
Many believe that, unlike many other cultures, there is no discrimination against women in government, law and in religion. Therefore, gender development programs are seen as Western parodies.
However, it has been generally observed and learnt at a CTA Project Officers' Workshop that Tibetan customs and cultures interwoven with sets of beliefs and myths had inadvertently created gender gaps, which should be done away with. At the same workshop, the chairman of the Kashag expressed that there is a lack of female participation and initiative even though the same rights and opportunities are provided to all. This points to the existence of a gender imbalance, which can be traced to the stereotyping of gender roles.
The existence of gender gaps and imbalances was clearly found at an NCA program evaluation, where many of the project benefits had not reached women. Following this, a Gender Desk was established at the Planning Commission in November 2006.
This Desk has conducted workshops and surveys since its establishment and has learnt that it can work to create projects and programs to facilitate the development of a more gender equitable society. The Desk strongly felt a need for gender awareness programs for the public in order to encourage participation and support.
Although these programs are a necessity, the workload of implementing them would have exceeded the capacity of the Gender Desk. Thus, the single staff member of the Gender Desk outsourced some of the activities to the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA). TWA is the one of the oldest NGOs in the Tibetan community, dually committed to both the Tibetan cause and the welfare of Tibetan women.
Problem Statement
The Tibetan community is by far one of the most equitable from a gender perspective. This is demonstrated by women often maintaining their maiden name after marriage, and the common existence of both matriarchal and polyandrous practices. There are no prohibitions against women’s rights under the government charter, law, and in religion.
Regardless, gender gaps and subtle discrimination do exist, and inadvertently disenfranchise the women who struggle to take equal footing with men.
Moreover, the general public is oblivious to gender issues, and regard such issues as inapplicable to our community. Those who do have some idea equate gender issues with a misunderstood form of feminism and consequently distant themselves.
This has lead to significant differences in who receives development benefits and disproportionate gender representation in positions of power. Although the status and circumstances of women seem to be changing with time, it is possible that subtle discrimination may become overt due to cultural diffusion and following the trends of the modern world.
Unless gender issues are promptly addressed, they may contribute to the detriment of women and the community as a whole. Therefore, the gender sensitization of the masses and surveys on gender related issues in the Tibetan community are necessary.
Objectives:
- To empower, encourage and sensitize the women and men of Tibetan settlements in South India and in the state of Uttaranchal in North India
- To enable women to participate and assume leadership positions in community activities and development
Gender Sensitization Workshop: November 7-9, 2007
Three Gender Sensitization Workshops were given to Deckyiling settlement and Clementown settlement. In Clementown, a 2-day workshop was given to members of the community, while a 1-day workshop was given to high school students of Clementown Central School for Tibetans. Please find the workshop schedule attached with this report. Please find separate reports for each location and for the different target groups who were provided the gender workshop.
Deckyiling
Target Group: Members of the CommunityNumber of Participants:31
Trainers: Phuntsok Chomphel and Tenzin Palkyi
Date: November 7-8, 2007
Regional Tibetan Women’s Association of Deckyiling provided ample support and assistance that was needed to organize the gender workshop in Deckyiling.
31 members of Deckyiling settlement attended the workshop and most of them were older members. There were 2 college attending girls amongst the group as well. As the first day unfolded, we could tell a little bit regarding who amongst the group were more receptive to the gender sensitization workshop.
There was only one older man amongst the participants who seemed to hold on to very strict principles and he firmly believed that men were above women and that men and women were created that way. So, as trainers, we didn’t engage with him too much and we sort of isolated him from our conversation. Although, we listened to his points, we didn’t think it necessary to respond, as it would have just led to unnecessary arguments.
All the activities went very well, and many people told us that such workshops are needed in the community. Some said that due to the many activities/games that we incorporated in our workshop, at first it seemed like a child’s play. Later, during debriefing, they said that all the games made a lot of sense and that such workshops should be given to younger Tibetans in the community.
After the facts and figure presentation, many participants expressed their views on the importance of female representation in the leadership positions of Central Tibetan Administration. And after the socialization workshop session, many young mothers talked about how they will consciously try not to contribute to the existing gender stereotypes and that they will try their best to raise their children (both boys and girls) in a gender sensitive way. One mother personally came to a trainer and told the trainer that she has always held her daughter back by not allowing her young daughter to try out many things. The mother promised that she wouldn’t hold her daughter back anymore.
The transformation that the trainers saw in some of the participants was overwhelming and very inspiring. The participants requested us to come back in February to conduct another gender workshop for a different group of people. Phuntsok Chomphel also conducted a session on AIDS awareness using power point presentation. The participants had many questions and towards the end of the session, they were discussing ways to get checked for HIV and the importance of it.
We had a couple of feedback sessions, where we took in responses from the group regarding the content of the workshop, the delivery and the trainers’ ability to deliver the content. We had all positive responses where the participants requested us to travel to other Tibetan settlements and give the workshop there as well. The workshop on the whole went well and most of the participants were very open in sharing their thoughts and views on all the subjects that we discussed.
Clementtown
Target Group: Members of the Community
Number of Participants: 30
Trainers: Tenzin Jigme and Tamdin Dolma
Date: November 7-8, 2007
Regional Tibetan Women’s Association of Clementown played a fundamental role in organizing this gender workshop and getting people to attend the workshop. Former Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputy, Tenkyab la, honored the workshop as the Chief Guest on the first day. There were about 30 participants and most of them were female.
Most of the participants were very receptive to the gender sensitization workshop and they seemed very supportive. There were 2 drunken participants who kept asking very irrelevant questions and the trainers isolated them from the group conversations.
All participants reflected on the workshop as being very innovative and new to the Tibetan community. They said such workshops are needed in the community and that our target group should include Tibetan students in exile.
One participant said that initially, the workshop seemed feministic in its approach, but later on it became very clear that the workshop was on individual freedom and not only women’s freedom. One Tibetan woman from Amdo who was educated in Tibet said that even in Tibetan Buddhism it is clearly stated that men are much better and more capable than women. But after series of constructive debates and clarification from the trainers, the Amdo lady was seemingly transformed.
There were 2 young boys (in their 20’s) amongst the participants who were very communicative and quick in understanding all the concepts.
Many participants said that all concepts and the specific words should be translated in Tibetan. They also said the HIV education is also needed in high school level.
High school Clementtown
Target Group:High school students of Central School for Tibetans
Number of Participants: 30
Trainers: Tenzin Jigme, Phuntsok Chomphel and Tenzin Palkyi
Date: November 9, 2007
Regional Tibetan Women’s Association of Clementown informed the trainers that around 30 high school students would be available on 9th November if we were interested in staying one extra day. We immediately agreed to stay behind and it worked out for the best that it turned out to be the right decision.
Most of the students were very interactive, smart, and open in sharing their views. They didn’t know what stereotype meant. In the one-day workshop, we spend the whole morning talking about the difference between Sex and Gender and Stereotype and the negative impacts of gender stereotyping.
The afternoon was spent on socialization and AIDS awareness workshop. We also played the Agree/Disagree game and that generated a lot of heated debate. At the closing circle, we asked each student to say one word about the workshop and these were some of the words that they said; new knowledge, exciting, inspiring, educational etc.
It was definitely inspiring to see many young Tibetan boys speaking for women rights and how they think women should be treated equally and given equal chance at education and leadership positions. Many boys passionately argued over how they thought that Tibetan women are just as capable and bright as Tibetan men.
Even though this extra day of workshop was not planned, we are thrilled that we were able to give this workshop to young Tibetan students.
Gender Workshop Schedule in India:
Dec 6-7: Bangalore Youth Hostel (Phuntsok Chomphel, Tamdin Dolma and Tenzin Palkyi)
Dec 9-10: Chennai College Students (Phuntsok Chomphel, Tamdin Dolma and Tenzin Palkyi)
Dec 12-13: Mundgod (Lobsang Yeshi, Phuntsok Chomphel, Tamdin Dolma and Tenzin Palkyi) ***2 simultaneous workshops in both areas. 2 trainers will go to each place***
Dec 14-15: Hunsur (Lobsang Yeshi, Phuntsok Chomphel, and Tenzin Palkyi)
Dec 16-17: Bylakuppe (B. Tsering, Lobsang Yeshi, Phuntsok Chomphel, and Tenzin Palkyi) ***2 simultaneous workshops in both areas. 2 trainers will go to each place***