Samir Parikh
Fortis Healthcare, India
Title: Creating gender sensitivity amongst adolescents in India-Role of peer moderators names
Biography
Biography: Samir Parikh
Abstract
The influence of peers is known to play an especially significant role during the phase of adolescence. The concept of gender sensitivity begins to be internalized at an early age, which subsequently develops based on the gender stereotypes and the gender role ideologies vicariously inculcated from one’s peers. This paper is based on the premise that children and adolescents tend to be highly receptive to training from their peers. Given the significance attached to the role of peer influence, this paper uses an example of a unique platform wherein, adolescents who are trained in gender sensitivity skills through intensive and interactive workshops, subsequently serve as Pro-social Peer Moderators and become role models for their peers, to propagate gender sensitivity amongst them. As the findings demonstrate the significance of the role of peer moderators, the paper also serves as a foundation for further research in the direction of promoting gender sensitivity as a skill that could empower adolescents with the ability to think critically in order to challenge widely held stereotypes and to foster positive attitudes and empathy towards others. Further, the potential implications towards developing such models of peer influence to propagate life skills amongst adolescents are indicated.