Boys Can Cook & Girls Can Play Cricket: Comic Book By Education Ministry Breaks Stereotypes

Gender equality, mental health, menstrual hygiene, and internet safety are only a few of the topics that a comic book is attempting to spread awareness of.

UNESCO Delhi has launched a comic book titled "Let's Move Forward" in association with the NCERT and the Union Ministry of Education to spread awareness about several taboos and break stereotypes among schoolchildren.

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Breaking stereotypes through comic

The 32-page comic book covers eleven themes in total, such as:

• Good physical health
• Mental health
• Interpersonal relationships and values
• Gender equality
• Health and sanitation
• Prevention and management of substance abuse
• Reproductive health and HIV prevention
• Menstrual hygiene
• Safety and security against sexual violence
• Internet safety
• Responsible social media behaviour

The comic book also guides students not to fall for misleading advertisements about beauty products and bodybuilding supplements.

Fun interactions to send across the point of inclusion

A character, Reena, quips, "I enjoy playing cricket with my brother, but my grandfather tells me to play with dolls instead, which upsets me, so I often get in conflict with him."

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The teacher replies such: "It is a common misconception that cricket can be played by men only. This is a kind of gender discrimination.."

Further, the book touches on the discrimination faced by transgenders in Indian society.

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Next, Reena helps Jatin steer away from misleading advertisements.

"This is a pamphlet about a protein powder which helps in building muscles. I am planning to buy it," says Jatin.

Reena replies: "Such advertisements are misleading and make false promises. My friend once got cheated into buying a beauty cream that promised to make her fair.. what matters is our inner beauty and strength."

The comic book also has valuable lessons for school heads and management.

For instance, it states that schools must have wheelchair-accessible ramps for children with disabilities.

"It is important to be sensitive to others around us. We can play an important role in supporting children with disabilities by understanding their needs and making them feel inclusive," the comic book read.

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