By imparting gender values to the new generation, we can create a society that respects and protects women

Society has evolved from simple to complex, ancient to modern, and from uniform to multiform, homogeneous to heterogeneous. When society changes, its components and institutions are also altered to fulfill its demands. One of the main components of society is socialization. This component also evolves whenever society transitions from simple to complex. Socialization meets the primary needs of society by facilitating learning, communication, and the development of essential habits and thoughts about what is considered right and wrong in a particular culture. Overall, it is the main component that creates norms, customs, folkways, sanctions, and values within society. In a sociological sense, it is the central nerve or foundation that determines the path for societal development and shapes the structure of society.

Currently, we are witnessing an imbalance between different societies in terms of providing a safe environment for women, primarily due to differences in gender socialization. The biggest challenge and emerging social problem today is “women’s safety,” which poses significant concerns for social scientists and experts in the field. This issue affects society as a whole and requires solutions at both the international and community levels. From a sociological perspective, problems in society cannot be completely eliminated, but they can be minimized to the lowest possible level. Sociologically, issues can be addressed at two levels: the structural level and the individual level. At the structural level, policymakers play an essential role. They create policies, programs, and laws to restrict people legally and reduce problems in society.

Our country has done a lot to minimize this problem through various programs and policies. India has enacted several laws and policies, such as the Rape (Section 376 IPC), Kidnapping and Abduction of Women (Sections 363, 364, 364A, 336 IPC)—in cases of intended murder, for ransom, to compel marriage, and other purposes—Dowry Deaths (Section 304 IPC), Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage Her Modesty (Section 354 IPC)—including sexual harassment, voyeurism, and other forms of sexual violence—Insult to the Modesty of Women (Section 509 IPC)—including at work and in public transport—Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives (Section 498A IPC), Importation of Girl from a Foreign Country (up to 21 years of age, Section 366 IPC), Abetment of Suicide of Women (Section 306), and the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. Additionally, there are the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. At this level, institutions are involved in minimizing the problem, and they are working efficiently.

So, what do we lack as a society and as individuals that lead to incidents like the Nirbhaya case and the Kolkata hospital incident? Policymakers have also enacted laws relevant to our networked society, such as cyber laws. Yet, why is it that “one woman reports a rape every 15 minutes in India (NCBR)”?

At the structural level, our nation has made significant efforts to minimize this social problem. But at the individual level, our society is lagging. This is because our total socialization process remains the same as it was before the 19th century. While our society has changed due to various variables like internet technology, our process of socialization has not yet evolved. Socialization at the individual level still happens without considering gender. Some countries have made progress in protecting women from different crimes by incorporating gender and women’s studies into various disciplines. This has significantly changed people’s perspectives. However, the main area where progress can be achieved is gender socialization.

Socialization is the process that cultivates the thinking processes and intellectual development of the upcoming generation. Gender socialization is the process of learning gender roles and the social expectations, behaviour, and values associated with those roles. This is an area where we can impart gender awareness to the new generation, which I believe is a functional prerequisite for this post-modern era. When something becomes a prerequisite for society, it needs institutionalization, just like marriage, family, kinship, and so on. The time has come to institutionalize gender values. For that, policymakers can create a separate institution at the local level to work on this process of gender socialization. This will transfer the values and norms related to gender among the common masses of society. As August Comte said, “Change comes when people change intellectually.”

Children in countries like Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, and Sweden learn about gender values from their parents or family. They gain knowledge about gender from family members and then through schools, colleges, and universities. This comprehensive approach significantly impacts their lives, instilling respect for women. In comparison, children in our society only gain knowledge about gender in universities. This stage of socialization is not as strong as primary socialization. Primary socialization creates a more profound impression on individuals compared to secondary socialization. Most individual habits are developed during primary socialization. As sociologist Talcott Parsons said, “The early process of primary socialization not only prepares children for their roles in society as adults, but it also has a strong influence on their personality and emotional security.”

At the societal level, we are not socialized in a way that teaches respect for women. Our socialization often trains us to think poorly of women, leading to inappropriate behaviours while travelling or working. Those who engage in such activities are not solely responsible; they have learned these behaviours from their elders or through various social platforms. They see their peers engaging in these activities from a young age. In our Kashmiri society, these behaviours are often considered normal. On every road and in other places, we find young boys commenting on girls, even in movies and dramas. So, what we need is to change our socialization process and impart gender values to the new generation so that in the coming years, our sisters and mothers can be saved from unacceptable incidents in society.

The writer teaches sociology at the college level

Adil Hussain Bhat