VIPS Gender Champions Club

1. Name of the Organization: Gender Champions Club
3. Title of Activity/Event: Let’s Uncomplicate (session 1)
5. Venue: Instagram page of Gender Champions Club
7. Faculty Coordinator(s): Dr. Anshu Gagal and Ms. Tahzeeb Fatma

2. Type of Activity/Event: Centralized
4. Date & Time: From: 5th May 2020, 7 PM- 8 PM
6. Poster of the announcement of Activity / Event:
8. Student Co-ordinator(s): Shambhavi Sharma and Amardeep Singh

Core Team Members

Core Team Members

The Gender Champion Club of VIPS organized an online live session through its Instagram handle (@genderchampion_vips) on 5th May 2020 at 7 PM. Mr. Darvesh Singh Yadavendra, founder of Pahal Foundation was the speaker of this insightful session titled “Sexuality on the Spectrum”. Shambhavi Sharma, student co-ordinator Gender Champions Club, VIPS, moderated the session. The session received 292 views in total wherein people joined in to watch the session and also communicated their observations through remarks.

The Session commenced with the moderator introducing Gender Champions Club and the motivation behind conducting these sessions, she further introduced the guest and expert for the session Darvesh Singh Yadavendra and welcomed him on behalf of the club. The session was an interaction where Mr. Yadavendra answered and clarified common misconceptions related to gender and sexuality. At the onset addressed the concept of what LGBTQI+ stands for and the similarity and differences among them. He also elaborated on the idea of what means to be ‘trans’ and how the “hijra” community differs from it, he went on to elaborate on the fact that the ‘hijra’ community is a cultural community and is found only in the Indian sub-continent. He also cleared various myths that are prevalent in our society for example how people believe that sexual abuses faced in childhood can be held responsible for one’s sexuality and how therapy can be used to alter a person’s sexuality, he debunked both these misconceptions with sensitive examples and shared that the phobia regarding homosexuality and subsequent rights violations are especially common in small towns and rural areas where information and awareness are required to fight a regressive mindset. Mr. Yadavendra also clarified on the query regarding what is the best way to address a transgender person to which he replied that it is best to ask the person in question for the pronouns they prefer using rather than assume their identity, using they/ them/ their pronouns can also help.

Mr. Yadavendra reflected on the idea of the stigma associated with conversations regarding sexuality and mental health and said that the best way to be of help to those struggling is to begin conversations around such subjects so as to raise awareness, he stressed that schools and colleges can do a lot to take this cause further. He shared that decriminalization of section 377 has brought a change in society but we still have a long battle to fight for. He also appreciated the Club for the steps it is taking to raise awareness through such sessions. The session ended with a vote of thanks to the guest for clarifying the idea of gender and sexuality. The moderator also thanked the management of VIPS for proving the Club with the opportunity to hold these sessions to raise awareness and address significant these issues, she thanked Prof. Shilpa Khatri Babbar and teacher co-ordinators Dr. Anshu Gagal and Ms. Tahzeeb Fatma for their guidance and support.

The session was well received by the audiences who kept responding through comments while the session was on. The live session was able to generate a discourse around sexuality on the spectrum and uncomplicated the idea of gender and sexuality while educating on the need for sensitivity.

• Name of the Organization: Gender Champions Club

• Type of Activity/Event: Centralized

• Title of Activity/Event: Let’s Uncomplicate (session 2)

• Faculty Coordinator(s): Dr. Anshu Gagal and Ms. Tahzeeb Fatma

• Student Co-ordinator(s): Shambhavi Sharma and Amardeep Singh

• Date & Time: From: 8^th May 2020, 7 PM- 8 PM

• Venue: Instagram page of Gender Champions Club

• Poster of the announcement of Activity / Event:

The Gender Champion Club of VIPS organized an online live session through its Instagram handle (@genderchampion_vips) on 8th May 2020 at 7 PM. Vihaan, member of Nazariya (Queer Feminist Resource Group) was the speaker of this insightful session named, “Gender- Beyond the binaries”. Amardeep Singh, student co-ordinator Gender Champions Club, VIPS, moderated the session. The session received 175 views in total wherein people joined in to watch the session and also communicated their observations through remarks.

The Session commenced with the moderator introducing Gender Champions Club and the motivation behind conducting these sessions, and welcomed the guest of the session. The speaker first introduced us with his name and work with the Nazariya, resource group. He then mentioned his preferred pronouns: “him” and “his”. The session started with a basic question about the definition of gender, to which the speaker replied that for him, gender is something more than a social construct and how along with gender comes the whole idea of gender identity. He further added that he identifies himself as a “man”.

He explained the difference between assigned sex and gender identity of a person and how the trans people feel that they are beyond these binaries of men and women. The speaker further elaborated on how the identities such as: transgender, gender nonconforming, gender queer and nonbinary are different from each other but are often thought to be inter related. He explained that gender is spectrum and people are free to associate themselves with any gender of their own choice.

The discussion then proceeded towards how to politely ask a person belonging to the community about their gender identity or their preferred pronoun, he however stressed that there is no need to know someone’s gender identity but one can simply ask the preferred pronouns or can use safe umbrella terms like, “they” and “them”.

Issues and challenges especially faced by trans community in their everyday life were addressed. Vihaan stressed that security check points and washrooms are the most difficult places to go in as the fear of mis-gendering follows trans people everywhere. There is no gender-neutral washroom available for them and they also have to undergo a lot of discrimination at their work place. Talking about violence and discrimination the speaker pointed that such acts are not just restricted to public platforms but are faced by the individual at home too. The process of coming out in front of parents is the most difficult yet important one.

Vihaan suggested to use one’s friends or trusted people as a “safety kit” while coming out in family. But before taking this step it is very important to accept yourself first. Self-acceptance is more important than social acceptance. One should educate oneself and get rid of internal homonegativity (if any).

The session also discussed the Nalsa judgement, (which said that the gender identity is self-determination of identity) and Transgender Bill which is now an Act at length. The speaker addressed the concerns with the Transgender Act one of which is the jail term for sexual abuse or rape if a trans person is 6 months-2 years only, something that is inherently discriminatory and affects the safety of trans people.

The speaker answered questions from the audience in the last ten minutes if the interaction. The session ended with a vote of thanks to the guest for explaining the idea of gender beyond the binaries and for an insightful and informative session. The moderator also thanked the management of VIPS for proving the Club with the opportunity to hold these sessions to raise awareness and address these significant issues, he thanked Prof. Shilpa Khatri Babbar and teacher co-ordinators Dr. Anshu Gagal and Ms. Tahzeeb Fatma for their guidance and support.

The session was well received by the audiences who kept responding through comments while the session was on. The live session was able to generate a discourse around how gender is much more than the binary notion that people assume and gave insight into the concerns and discrimination faced by the trans community, it also educated on the need for sensitivity and inclusivity in the society for one and all.

• Name of the Organization: Gender Champions Club

• Type of Activity/Event: Centralized

• Title of Activity/Event: Let’s Uncomplicate (session 3)

• Faculty Coordinator(s): Dr. Anshu Gagal and Ms. Tahzeeb Fatma

• Date & Time: From: 15^th May 2020, 7 PM- 8 PM

• Venue: Instagram page of Gender Champions Club

• Poster of the announcement of Activity / Event:

• Student Co-ordinator(s): Shambhavi Sharma and Amardeep Singh

Core Team Members

The Gender Champion Club of VIPS organized an online live session through its Instagram handle (@genderchampion_vips) on 15th May 2020 at 7 PM. Ms.Asmii, member of All India Queer Association was the speaker of this insightful session on the topic “Gender inequality in the current scenario”. Shambhavi Sharma, student co-ordinator Gender Champions Club, VIPS, moderated the session.

The Session commenced with the moderator introducing Gender Champions Club and the motivation behind conducting these sessions, and welcomed the guest of the session. Asmii first introduced herself and the discussion was taken forward with the topics of gender equity, gender equality and women empowerment as a lot of people get confused between these terminologies. The guest also addressed how notions of masculinity amongst adolescents contribute to sexual violence and also emphasized on the need for gender sensitization at home. She stressed the significance of eliminating many gender related stereotypes such as, “girls are not good at sports”

The session also addressed the concept of sexual violence and how it is intricately related to the notions of patriarchy. The speaker also explained how gender inequality pertains even in the LGBTQI+ community where gay cis men have more privileges over others and also hold a sense of superiority in the community and are more visual. The speaker mapped the history of feminism and explained the various waves of the movement that have shaped it. She explained that the idea of feminism is related to equality and it does not aim or demand for matriarchy nor is it a conspiracy against men as commonly misunderstood. Feminism is a call for equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for all the genders.

The session further focused on the causes of gender inequality and how this issue can be resolved. It stressed the need of explaining and teaching the concept of consent and dissent to and its significance to people. The speaker concluded the session by saying that our country needs new laws to fight against this issue of gender inequality.

The session ended with moderator thanking the guest for an informative session, she also thanked the management of VIPS for proving the Club with the opportunity to hold these sessions to raise awareness and address these significant issues, she thanked Prof. Shilpa Khatri Babbar and teacher co-ordinators Dr. Anshu Gagal and Ms. Tahzeeb Fatma for their guidance and support. The session was well received by the audiences who kept responding through comments while the session was on.