Abstract
This chapter discusses the K-12 equivalent education system in India- which is known as 10+2 education system, its uniqueness, advantages and limitations, as well as the assumptions and perceptions and other associated factors like trends, issues, and challenges surrounding the women from backward communities serving in senior positions of the education system. This chapter also highlights the probable solutions against the prejudices. The study examines the situation through literature review along a survey of the women from the backward communities and outside the communities to get a more holistic view of the situation.
TopDesign Of The Chapter
The chapter primarily explores the background of the women from backward communities and their struggle through literature review along with the fundamental concepts of 10+2 educational system, backward communities and the presence of backward community women in diverse leadership positions across societies. The study also incorporates a qualitative survey of women in leadership positions from diverse professional fields including academia to gauge the assumptions and perception of the people about the women from backward communities. It has been imperative to incorporate the viewpoints of all women in leadership position irrespective of the classes, since it envisions a more robust, holistic and the entire tapestry for the chapter. The survey involves 158 Indian women from academia, primarily working in schools and colleges with plus 2 education or serving in various government jobs or administrative positions and their responses have been recorded and narrowed down through pattern coding or category coding, generating common themes based on the patterns of responses. As already highlighted, intentionally the sample has been comprising of the women from upper and lower communities to identify the class barrier between the communities; this has been crucial and momentous as a research design, since it gives a sound knowledge about the entire viewpoint of the society. Hence, the survey has been carried out with two sets of women- the women from general categories or so called upper caste (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas) and the women from backward communities (SCs, STs and OBCs) to capture the viewpoints of outside communities as well as within communities. The Table 1, Table 2, Table 3 and Table 4 show the cross dimensional profiling of the respondents. Figure 1A shows the research design. Figure 2, Figure 4 and Figure 5 highlight the profiling of the respondents. The surveyor has only considered and incorporated the opinions of those backward community members, who hold the government certificate for the minority communities giving the right of reservation benefits. The respondents have primarily expressed their opinions through face to face interview based on an open ended structured questionnaire/ WhatsApp call/ messages/ mail/ online survey forms and the seed of questionnaire has been initially prepared based on a focus group interview. The anonymity of the respondents for their responses has been maintained to save them from social embarrassment and to give them the mental security about the freedom of expression. The sampling technique has been snowball sampling through references of the respondents for the need of maintaining the criteria of the study (referral tree method). The primary research has been completed in two phases- phase one as focus group interview to know the basis of the problem and phase two to conduct the questionnaire based survey. The study envelopes the following research questions:
Key Terms in this Chapter
Social Equity: Social equity is the concept of justice, fairness, and impartiality in society. It means that all people have the same opportunities and resources to thrive, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or other factors. Social equity goes beyond equality, which means treating everyone the same, to recognize that people have different needs and experiences, and that resources and opportunities should be distributed accordingly.
Backward Communities: Backward communities in India refer to a group of people who are socially and educationally disadvantaged.
Caste System: The caste system is a complex and ancient social hierarchy that has existed in India for thousands of years. It is based on the Hindu belief in reincarnation and karma, and it divides people into four main categories, or varnas: Brahmins (priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (merchants and landowners), and Shudras (servants and laborers). Below the four varnas is a fifth category, known as the Dalits, or untouchables. Dalits are considered to be outside of the caste system altogether, and they have historically been subjected to severe discrimination and violence.The caste system is hereditary, meaning that people are born into their caste and cannot change it. This has led to a great deal of inequality and social injustice in India. For example, people from lower castes have traditionally been denied access to education, employment, and other opportunities.The Indian Constitution prohibits caste discrimination, but the caste system continues to play a significant role in Indian society. Dalits and other lower-caste people still face discrimination in many areas of life, including education, employment, and housing.