Gender Realities - Identities, Inclusion and Development

About the Course

Gender is among the most powerful forces that shape inpidual experiences, identities, and social behaviours in everyday life. Understanding gender as a social construction necessarily underpins any meaningful engagement with questions of equity, inclusion, and justice in development processes. The Constitution of India guarantees equality and non-discrimination, yet gender continues to influence access to opportunity, decision-making spaces, and development outcomes. 

Among courses on gender studies and development, this course is grounded in the principle that understanding gender is not an academic exercise - it is a prerequisite for effective, equitable practice.

The course aims to build a comprehensive understanding of the core topics related to gender. It builds upon the foundational concepts of sex and gender and explores the influence of gender and patriarchy in shaping and perpetuating gender inequality. 

This knowledge is essential to understanding other related concepts - sexuality, intersectionality, pision of labour that collectively shape experiences of inequality in different spheres of life. 

This course will foster sensitivity, build awareness and reflection, to promote equality and gender justice.

The course emphasises:

• Understanding key concepts related to gender, gender and patriarchy, and intersectionality in social and developmental contexts
• Developing critical perspectives to analyse how gender shapes access, opportunities, and participation across institutions
• Building reflective and analytical skills to challenge biases, promote inclusion, and contribute to gender-just development practices, including gender mainstreaming in organising and programme context

Objectives of the Course

• Understand the difference between biological sex and gender, and recognize how everyday gender shapes identities, roles, and behaviours
• Recognize how gender and patriarchy, stereotypes, and social institutions shape identities, influence access, participation, and opportunities
• Explore gender and sexuality, acknowledging different gender identities and engaging critically with gender identity development theory
• Analyze how gender intersects with other social categories
• Develop understanding about gender roles, unpaid work, and systemic participation

Who is this Course for?

This course is designed for students, teachers, grassroots functionaries, researchers, academicians, consultants, development professionals, CSR managers, and anyone interested in understanding gender as a social construct and how it shapes individual experiences and societal structures. 

It is relevant for those working at the intersection of equity, governance, and programme design.

Benefits of the Course

Among gender studies courses available to development professionals, this course stands apart by grounding conceptual frameworks, including gender and patriarchy, intersectionality, and gender identity development theory, in field-relevant, practitioner-oriented analysis. 

You will develop a sharper understanding of how gender shapes institutional structures and development outcomes. 

This course builds the reflective and analytical capacity needed for gender mainstreaming in your own organisation or programme.

Learning Approach

The course is structured into multiple sections, providing learners with a comprehensive understanding of key concepts through interactive and engaging modes of learning, including text, videos, audios, case studies, graphics, assignments, and additional reading materials. 

It is advised that you complete this course in a quiet environment to enhance your learning, given that the material in the course might be sensitive in nature. Additionally, a stable, high-speed internet connection is essential for smooth access to all course content.

You will have two weeks to complete the entire course, from the date of signing up and receiving your login details. You can save your progress at any point and come back to the course within this two-week period. You can use different devices to complete the course, such as laptops/ desktops, smartphones, and tablets.

Upon successful completion, including completing all assignments, learners will receive a certificate.

People Behind the Course