Media Release

Mangaluru, Sep 28: The UG and PG English departments of St Agnes College (Autonomous), jointly organized a National level seminar on ‘Gender and the Workplace’ on Friday September 27.

Prof Dr Kishori Nayak was the keynote speaker for the inaugural and she addressed the gathering with significant quotes by feminist writers like Simone De Beauvoir and Judith Butler and their perspectives on gender equality. She spoke about the importance of gender equality in a workplace. Speaking about the present situation in India she specially focused on ‘workplace’ being not just an office or an institution but the whole world itself. She focused on three major areas political, cinema and sports, as workplaces and the ratio of men and women in the workplace and politics, policy and decision-making bodies of the government.

Sr Dr Venissa AC, the principal of the college in her presidential address stressed on the importance of gender equality and inclusiveness in workplace as well as educational institutions. She emphasised on how the institution that has been imparting education to students for past 100 years practices gender inclusivity.

The inaugural was followed by a session by Jyothsna Hirode on diversity and inclusion at workplace. Speaking about the need and value of gender diversity, she said it is necessary to be flexible, resilient, provide quick response, more ideas, innovations and talents. With the help of different case studies, she explained how prejudices and biases result in gender discrimination and differentiation.

The second session was successfully conducted by Sandhya Karnad Deviah, who spoke about gender stereotypes and career choices. She spoke about gender stereotypes in the workplace and how it impacts a woman that leads to lack of self confidence and low self esteem. She gave five tips to break free the gender stereotypes. She highlighted the need for strong laws and policies for women in the workplace. She concluded the session by advocating for gender equity in the workplace.

There were paper presentations by the students after each session. The programme was presided over by Sr Dr M Venissa A C, principal and Sr Dr M Vinora A C, PG coordinator. The resource persons Jyotsna Hirode and Sandhya Karnad Devaiah, Sandya Nayak, convenor of the programme and Dr Zubaida H, HOD of the English department were present for this seminar.