The Ek Saath Online Course on Gender and Masculinities
What does it mean to be a man?
Has its meaning changed over time?
Are there different experiences of masculinity for different people?
How does masculinity interact with caste, class, sexuality, age and other contexts?
This course explores all these questions.
It looks at the power relations between men and women, and among men. It looks at what is gender, and gender based discrimination. This is not a classroom-type course with lectures or lots of study. Nor can a participant sit back and take it easy – one has to react, respond, think, plan and talk back to us.
The course has been developed by its team of experts on gender and masculinities who have been leading the work with men and boys for gender equality for many decades. The course has six modules, each filled with stories, short films, videos, quizzes, games, questions and more:
- Gender
- Equity and Equality
- Masculinities
- Gender Based Violence
- Sexualities
- The Samanta Saathi Challenge
In starting this course one will be taking the first step to joining thousands of other likeminded youth through the national level campaign Ek Saath, which means ‘together’, that provides a platform for men to partner with women, and other men, in working for gender justice and changing discriminatory gender social norms.
Objectives
- After undertaking this e-learning resource young men in particular will develop a greater understanding of the need for gender equality.
- They will become aware about the different forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls arising from unequal social norms created by patriarchal thinking and practices.
- They will reflect on how masculine behaviours are developed and their existing powers and privileges.
- They will take initiative to bring about changes leading to greater equality in their personal life and in the college/community around them
- These youth or Samanta Saathi will be expected to contribute to a common pool of activities and engagements on the issue through the Ek Saath campaign and its partner organisations, networks and campaigns
The course is available in both Hindi and English. Anyone above 18 years of age can register, both men and women. It takes approximately 20 hours to complete, over a period of 10-20 days. Every participant is actively mentored by experts and in every batch webinars are also held for greater interaction.
Certificates are generated for all who complete the course fully, and participants become part of the community of Samanta Saathis with opportunities to deepen their engagement with the issue by featuring in multiple other linked Ek Saath platforms with their views and action plans.
To join the next batch of participants, send an email to mitra@mitraindia.org