Resumen de The adolescent girl-child and victim of cultural stereotypes in India: a study from Sambalpur City
- español
El presente artículo está basado en un estudio realizado entre alumnos de octavo a noveno grado de las preparatorias Femenil Lady Lewis, Burdharaja y Town, en la ciudad de Sambalpur, India. Su objetivo consiste en examinar la carga laboral de las alumnas de preparatoria en su ambiente escolar y doméstico. La participación de padres y maestros de los alumnos estudiados evidencia diversos prejuicios de género ampliamente aceptados por la sociedad, revelando temores y desventajas que obligan a las estudiantes a jugar un papel secundario en un contexto sociocultural dominado por hombres; en el cual, bajo la excusa de que “las mujeres deben ser obedientes”, son presionadas para realizar actividades adicionales en la escuela y en la casa. Ciertos estereotipos prevalecientes acerca de las mujeres limitan su libertad en el ámbito doméstico y externo; estas ataduras físicas y mentales, aunadas al temor, dan como resultado una actitud negativa. La dominación masculina es absoluta: los hombres controlan incluso la visión personal que las mujeres tienen de sí mismas, lo que impide fortalecer sus talentos naturales.
- English
The study was conducted among the schoolgoing children of three different high schools, namely: Lady Lewis Girls’ High School, Burdharaja High School and Town High School of Sambalpur city, India. Data were collected from students who were between 8th and 10th standards of the sample schools. As many as 80 students (total 240 students) were selected on a random basis from the attendance registers of each of the sample schools. Relevant information was gathered mostly by interview, observation and group discussion. The paper makes an attempt to explore the workload of the school-going girl students both in home and school environments. It analyses various cultural stereotypes on the girl-child which are widely accepted by the parents and teachers of the sample students. It brings to light various fear factors and disadvantages that force them to play a subservient role in the male-dominated surrounding. A female student is pressurized with both school task and other activities in school and at home with the plea “girls are obedient”. There prevail certain cultural stereotypes about girl children, where there is regulated freedom both in domestic and outside sphere. The physical and mental strain coupled with a sense of fear creates a negative attitude. The male domination becomes complete when the men become masters of the inner space too. A girl-child is deprived of nourishing her natural talents. All barriers must therefore be eliminated to enable girls without exception to develop their full potential and skills through equal access to education and training, nutrition, physical and mental health care and related information.
