Madras Cafe Unlocked 2020: Online Panel Discussion: Engaging young women and men towards a gender just society

  • Wednesday September 23, 2020
  • 12.30 - 13.30
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This panel discussion is part of the Partnership and Solidarity stage of the fantastic Madras Café Unlocked: An online gathering of food, festivities, music, solidarity and humanity in support of rural communities in India. For more info have a look at our website.

Activists and women’s rights organisations continue to challenge gender inequality and discriminatory gender norms, in spite of pushback from the patriarchal State. How best to work with young women and engage men and boys in this process will be discussed by practitioners from different parts of India.

Daily, we hear of incidences of violence against women and girls in India. And now with the COVID-19 lockdown we see two aspects of women’s lives exaggerated – unpaid care work and domestic abuse. While women and girls remain on the margins, the slightest socioeconomic shock propels them into multi-dimensional poverty and discrimination. This is despite the fact that the country has some of the most progressive policies and civic movements, a large proportion of elected women representatives and millions of women actively participating in self-help groups.

At the same, India has one of the largest cohorts of young men between the ages of 13 to 26. Many of them are under-educated, under-employed, lack positive role models and struggle with perceptions of masculinity. To see real change, we need to focus on the eco-system around power and offer innovative strategies for young men to face issues of patriarchy and masculinity head on and become their best selves.

Panellists:

  • Bimla Chandrasekar, Ekta Resource Centre for Women
  • Manisha Gupte, Masum
  • Nandita Shah, Akshara Centre
  • Anindita Majumdar, EquiDiversity Foundation

 

If you are enjoying our online events and would like to support our Partners in India, you can donate to Madras Cafe Unlocked.


About Madras Café Unlocked

As a result of COVID-19, WOMAD festival 2020 has been cancelled which has a huge impact on Madras Café and AVI. This is normally a key fundraising event and opportunity to raise awareness about AVI’s solidarity with rural communities across India. Our re-imagined event, Madras Café Unlocked brings you a summer of online content in support of Action Village India and partners. We launch our five ‘stages’: Madras Café Family, Madras Boombox, Food for Thought, Partnerships & Solidarity and our Exhibition: Food for Justice and Peace on the 24th, 25th & 26th of July and events will run throughout the summer up to 26th September, when we conclude with an International meal in support of Jai Jagat 2020.

Please visit our website www.madrascafeunlocked.co.uk for more information.

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