A case study is a comprehensive and in-depth examination of a particular subject, often within its real-life context. It serves as a methodological tool to explore, analyze, and understand complex issues or phenomena, ranging from individual experiences to organizational challenges. Typically employed in various academic disciplines, business settings, and scientific research, a case study involves an extensive investigation that aims to provide a detailed account of the subject under scrutiny. By delving into the intricate details of a specific case, researchers can uncover valuable insights, draw conclusions, and offer practical solutions. This method offers a holistic approach, allowing for a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted factors influencing the subject, making it an invaluable tool for gaining knowledge and informing decision-making processes.
Q14. You are recently posted as district development officer of a district. Shortly thereafter you found that there is considerable tension in the rural areas of your district on the issue of sending girls to schools.
The elders of the village feel that many problems have come up because girls are being educated and they are stepping out of the safe environment of the household. They are of the view that the girls should be quickly married off with minimum education. The girls are also competing for jobs after education, which have traditionally remained in boys’ exclusive domain, adding to unemployment amongst male population.
The younger generation feels that in the present era, girls should have equal opportunities for education and employment, and other means of livelihood. The entire locality is divided between sexes in both generations. You come to know that in Panchayat or in other local bodies or even in busy crosswords, the issue is being acrimoniously debated.
One day you are informed that an unpleasant incident has taken place. Some girls were molested, when they were en route to schools. The incident led to clashes between several groups and a law and order problem has arisen. The elder after heated discussion have taken a joint decision not to allow girls to go to school and to socially boycott all such families, which do not follow their dictate. (250 Words, 25 Marks)
(a) What steps would you take to ensure girls’ safety without disrupting their education?
(b) How would you manage and mould patriarchic attitude of the village elders to ensure harmony in the inter- generational relations?
Tags: Case Studies
Case Summary:
I am posted as district development officer of a district where the rural areas don’t welcome girl’s education. A combination of extreme poverty and deep biases against women creates a remorseless cycle of discrimination that keeps girls in developing countries from living up to their full potential. It also leaves them vulnerable to severe physical and emotional abuse. The gender discrimination is prevalent in many parts of the country. They are deprived of the opportunities for education and employment and other means of livelihood.
Stakeholders: District Development Officer, Elders of the Village, Male Population facing unemployment, Families in support of sending their girls to School, panchayats/Local Bodies.
Ethical Issues/Ethical Dilemmas: Safety of Girls, Education to Girls, Gender Bias in Education and Employment, Patriarchal attitude of Villagers.
(a) What steps would you take to ensure girls’ safety without disrupting their education?
The issue involves ensuring the safety for girls while ensuring equal educational and employment opportunities for them in comparison to the boys. It also involves ironing out the difference of opinion between the different generations.
Steps for safety and education of girls include:
- Persuasion Techniques and Social influence: For bringing social change through attitude transformation, different techniques of social influence and persuasion could be used. Elders should be persuaded to allow education for girls, while promising them of their safety.
- Altering Socialization Pattern: Gender typecasts need to be shattered by changing the socialization process of children. It is important to eliminate the gender discrimination encountered by girls. Child rearing practices can be modified in accordance with the Social Values.
- Infrastructural Development: Safety of girls in rural areas is often compromised because of lack of adequate infrastructure, like street lights, toilet facilities etc. Bridging these gaps by providing necessities along with CCTVs and an arrangement of transport facility with lady police personnel, will help in providing a sense of security to girls.
- Security Provisions and Self-Defense: Engage the police so that patrolling can be increased on routes to schools. Girls can also be taught self defense techniques for their own safety at the time of threat.
- Tackling Crime Incidents: In case of any crime against girls, strict and quick action should be taken against the culprits.
(b) How would you manage and mould patriarchic attitude of the village elders to ensure harmony in the inter- generational relations?
The patriarchal attitude of the village elders towards girls cannot be changed in a short span. They need to be made aware of the importance of education and how education enriches the family and society as a whole. Grown up educated girls can play an important role in the development of their country. They can share the burden of men in different walks of life. They can serve the society as teachers, lawyers, doctors and administrators. They can work at banks, hospitals, government offices and large businesses. Education empowers a grown up girl to become economically independent. They will be able to stand up for their rights.
- Attitude Change: Persuading the leaders of both generations through rationale, logic, emotions and expressions regarding the importance of girl education. Stereotypes and prejudice can be broken through education and dissemination of information regarding the benefits of girl education even among adults.
- Holding sessions by calling women, who have achieved a lot in their career aspect due to their education, so that they can act as role models for the younger generation and help in bringing attitudinal change and elders.
- It also requires me to be emotionally intelligent, in order to understand and manage the emotions of the village elders. This is crucial for the success of other steps. The issue has a lot of emotional components which need to be managed properly.
- Sarpanch of the village can play a substantial role in this, since this position has authority to influence behaviour of people.
- Help from NGOs and Similar Organizations: Taking help of NGOs working in the field of education to create awareness among elders regarding girl education.
- Talk with the Influencers: Asking local influential people, leaders to interact with the villagers and bring about the positives for the encouragement of girl education.
- Educating about Laws relating to Girl Education: Making people familiar with laws, policies of the government like ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ bringing positive changes in the lives of the girls and development in the village.
- Raising Awareness by bursting Myths: Defying the myths of job loss by citing examples where developmental activities for girls have generated employment in the villages and society for both men and women.
While social change can be difficult to bring about, with the right efforts and with the right beneficiaries, it can happen if the targeted steps are taken and the road-blocks are eliminated. Following the above measures can help in attitudinal changes of the society which can gradually open the door of development for the deprived sections of the society and also ensure that there is intergenerational harmony.
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