Education or Knowledge is the root of every longing society. The root when not made strong enough faces destruction at every moment. A famous philosopher Jacques Lacan has said “Human beings are born into pre -existing systems of language, meaning, and social structures “. A foetus when not born yet has been designated with some societal roles, identity knowledge, and expectations whether it is a male or a female.
Education is not the pure transfer of knowledge, but opening up of conscience, forming of values and birth of awareness. Education in violence against women is considered to be much more than policy or punishment. It is a subversive power, which destroys the inherited forms of inequality, and develops enlightened minds, capable of seeing dignity and justice.
Violence against females is an issue that continues to prevail in houses, streets, work places and even in online areas and therefore, the question is not how to penalize violence, but also how to curb it before it even begins. This blog discusses the intellectual and practical aspects of education in the role of long-term social change. Does education have the power to write the story again? Is it capable of a forgetting centuries of silence and submission?
HOW EDUCATION CAN PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
1. Dismantling Patriarchal Conditioning.
Children as earlier mentioned are born with “tabula rasa” or an empty slate they do not inherit anything at all. They are taught by their guardians, society, culture and surroundings. From textbooks to television many grow up absorbing notions of gender roles, dominance and submission. A truly distinct education questions these terminologies. Before the unpleasant habit of normalizing violence, education will be the first line of defence, since, by training gender equality, critical thinking, and empathy early in life, it is possible to overcome this sort of normalization before it is even considered.
2. Empowerment Through Knowledge.
Education is empowerment to women and girls. It prepares them with tools and skills of identifying abuse, reporting, and seeking assistance and demanding their rights. A woman who goes to school will not keep quiet when something wrong is happening to her-not because she is brave but because she understands her value.
3. Teaching Consent and Respect.
Consent, boundaries, emotional literacy are not the topics that are discussed in classes of most societies. It is this silence that creates ignorance and entitlement. It must be taught in schools that respect is not a choice and power over another person’s body is never a right and more importantly the young boys should be taught from the grassroot about how not to do this.
4. Creating Safe Educational Spaces.
The schools are the knowledge cell of a youth thus schools and colleges should be made a safer environment where female students can feel safe, heard and respected. By addressing the issue of sexual harassment and gender-based bullying in institutions of learning seriously, it creates a heavy impression that violence is not welcome in society.
5. Breaking the Cycle of Silence.
The community, the parents, the teachers and the leaders are also empowered to discuss the violence without embarrassment with education. It promotes conversation as opposed to denial. With educated society, the responsibility of silence falls on the hands of the perpetrator. Generation trauma has to be left behind to bring the present in the right path. One who have survived the violence is the revolutionary being in this process so taking the responsibility with care should be made the goal.
LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL BACKING.
Education has been a preventive tool against gender-based violence and it is not just a philosophical idea it is being still getting developed under the shields. The government has also taken necessary steps to bring forward the cases of violence against woman in every place and have also implemented some rules most prominent being the-
1.NEP (National Education Policy) 2020.
The NEP also advocates value education, sensitivity to gender concerns and inclusivity at the base level. It promotes a combination of ethics, inclusiveness of diversity, and sensitivity to constitutional values, developing foundations of more gender-sensitive and socially less irresponsible beings. The NEP 2020 has also included holistic education regardless of any gender discrimination in schools and colleges.
2.The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
The act gives legal protection to women against domestic abuse. Nevertheless, it works best by relying on awareness. Education among women increases chances of them being aware of their rights, pursuing the legal process and being able to stand up to abuse given that education is a primary facilitator of legal empowerment.
3.Beti Padhao Beti Bachao Scheme.
This scheme already says the more women would be educated the less is the chance of violence against them education gives them the power to speak argue to stand strong. This initiative puts a clear connection between education and the survival and empowerment of the girl child. It facilitates sensitization of gender equity and the need to educate girls, particularly the communities where girl child literacy and security is threatened.
FAQ’s
1.What are the initial indicators that a person may be facing abuse?
Withdrawing from social interaction, staying calm, locked in room, unexplained injuries, if having a controlling partner, further in severe cases it can lead to PTSD or depression.
2. In what cases do women remain in abusive relationships?
There is financial dependence, children need, fear of social, fear of revenge or emotional blackmail. It is good to know that quitting is not always doable and safe.
3.What makes the survivors speak up after being violated?
The motivation shown by the survivors is frequently the ability to learn at the inner level, support systems, or the fear not to want others to face similar scars. Coming forward is a very personal and at times curative process.
4. Are women who are confronted with violence vindicated in a majority of cases?
Sadly, there are numerous cases that are not reported or solved either because of societal stigma, delay-ridden court process or fear of reprisal. Nonetheless, the situation is being alleviated by survivor-led campaigns and awareness programs that boost accountability.
5. Which type of support can be most useful to a woman who experienced violence?
The most essential kinds of help come in form of emotional validation, legal, financial autonomy and getting appropriate and secure housing or therapeutic attention.
6.What steps should guardians follow to protect their girl from violence?
First of all, basic education needs to be provided to them and they should be equally treated in their house holds just like a child not a girl or boy and should make them comfortable in their own house so that they can speak in house at first.
