Charu Sinha Advocates For Gender Equality At Stand With Her Panel In Hyderabad

Telangana Women Safety Wing Director General Charu Sinha on Saturday addressed the fifth edition of the "Stand With Her" panel discussion in Hyderabad, emphasizing that awareness and dialogue within families are essential to challenge patriarchal attitudes and promote gender equality. The event, which focused on the theme of equality, care, and emotional honesty, brought together experts from academia, cinema, social activism, law enforcement, and journalism.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Sinha highlighted the invisible norms that dictate gender roles within households, describing them as "a rule book no one has written, but everyone follows." She noted that fostering greater awareness and open conversations within homes could drive meaningful social change.

The panel featured several prominent figures, including K. Suneetha Rani, Dean of the School of Social Sciences at the University of Hyderabad. Ms. Rani observed that families should nurture equality and emotional well-being instead of reinforcing restrictive gender roles, stating that "family is a bonding, not a bondage."

Film producer and actor Supriya Yarlagadda discussed the necessity of freeing individuals from gender-based expectations to help them realize their full potential. Planetarium Vegan Foundation founder Poornima Deepika spoke about the importance of self-care, particularly for women who are frequently expected to prioritize others' needs over their own.

Filmmaker Sashi Kiran Tikka urged men to actively engage in conversations surrounding gender equality to challenge patriarchal structures. Additionally, University of Hyderabad research scholar Aman Kumar shared sociological perspectives on how gender norms are learned and perpetuated within the family unit.

The discussion also touched upon the significance of emotional honesty, shared caregiving responsibilities, and mutual respect in building equitable homes.

According to the organizers, the panel is part of a year-long campaign designed to encourage constructive conversations on gender equality through monthly discussions on different themes. Saturday's session concluded with a collective emphasis from participants that lasting social change must begin within families by promoting equality, empathy, and shared responsibility.