The Women Development Cell of DGMC organised a guest session on the topic “Changing Roles of Women amidst Covid Lockdown” with Dr. Sangeeta Khullar a Sociologist and an Associate Professor in Psychology at MKP PG College, Dehradun, on 29th October at 3pm, over Google Meet.
Principal Dr. Amee Vora, in her opening remarks embarked upon the positive side brought by the lockdown in bringing families closer as they ended up spending more time together. Continuing with this point further, Dr. Khullar gave a very engaging and enlightening talk on the different changes that have been adapted by women and men too. She emphasised on how the Covid-19 lockdown has pushed us beyond the physical into the virtual and has given more time with the family.
The roles that women carry have seen an upsurge; from lady entrepreneurs to bloggers and from attending online course to designing courses, women have risen to the occasion and have taken up many new responsibilities. Dr. Khullar says with, “Ushering an age of greater compassion, women can lead the change and women can be the drivers of change.”
The flip side of the discussion of how there has been an increase in violence and harassment during this lockdown was also spoken about, to which Dr. Khullar also said that, “Women are more frustration tolerant and frustration tolerance should be taught to both genders.” Quoting several recent studies, Dr. Khullar provided a bird’s eye view on factors affecting domestic violence such as loss of livelihoods and the subsequent loss of economic independence by women. This also contributed to the general frustration levels, leading to an upsurge in violence.
With work intruding our homes, the roles women play have become more challenging and it has become a juggling act, but through this women have learnt to prioritise things.
She ended on the note that, “Shattering the stereotypes is the need of the hour and It’s time we make boys more feminine and girls more masculine.”
Dr Sangeeta Khullar gave an enriching session and her views truly left the students with a new direction and perspective to ponder upon and seek mental help whenever required.
