March 15 – A community awareness session on the Impact of Parenting on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) was successfully conducted at Peace Point Boarding school, Located at Mid baneshwor, Kathmandu, bringing together parents to discuss how parenting styles influence children's behavior and perpetuate GBV. The interactive session encouraged parents to rethink their roles in fostering a more gender-equal society.
The event kicked off with a lively ice-breaking activity, where parents were tasked with protecting their own balloon while attempting to burst others. This engaging exercise symbolized the challenges of balancing protection and discipline in parenting.
Understanding Parents’ Expectations and Challenges
“We have always focused on our children to be a respected figure but Who will teach the children, the leader of the future nation, to become a loyal and honest man/women” A point highlighted by our facilitator.
The discussion then shifted towards how parenting styles directly affect children’s development and behavior. Experts emphasized that parenting approaches, communication patterns, and emotional responses significantly impact children's attitudes toward gender roles and violence. The session encouraged parents to reflect on their parenting techniques and how they might unintentionally reinforce harmful gender norms.
Challenging Gender Norms and Traditions
The afternoon session took a thought-provoking turn as participants engaged in a group discussion and debate on the Garud Purana and Rituals of marriage, a religious text believed to contain sacred wisdom. However, certain sections of the book were found to promote gender discrimination, particularly against women and girls. This led to a critical dialogue on the need to question and reform traditional norms that do not align with modern principles of gender equality.
In the ongoing debate one of the participants expressed ‘“ We must obey and follow our traditions as per the book. It is pure ,written by scholars and if we follow the rituals and traditions as per book we will definitely have a path carved for us towards Heaven”.
However the opposing party clarified that just because it is mentioned there some 300 years ago we do not have to follow it. Time is changing so we are ,What’s the purpose of going to heaven when your living life is not more that hell because of husband torture, discrimination and stereotype.
The discussion concluded with a strong consensus: outdated and discriminatory practices must be challenged rather than followed blindly. Parents were encouraged to instill values of equality, respect, and fairness in their children, ensuring a future free from gender-based discrimination and violence.
A New Perspective on Parenting
The session proved to be an eye-opener for many parents, offering them a fresh perspective on modern-day parenting challenges. It emphasized the importance of self-reflection and adapting parenting methods to create a nurturing and equitable environment for children.
By the end of the session, parents left with a renewed sense of responsibility, understanding that fostering respect, open communication, and non-violent conflict resolution at home can significantly impact their children's attitudes and contribute to reducing gender-based violence in society.