Staging Gender the Role of Performing Arts in Socialising Reproductive Health Awareness

Bibliographic Data

ID22196135
AuthorsSadaf Iqbal (Amity University), Bithika Das (Banaras Hindu University), Dolly Dolly (National Council Of Educational Research And Training)
Year2023
Volume4
Issue2
Publication date2023-12-31
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2582-7472 • E-ISSN: 2582-7472
PublisherGranthaalayah Publications and Printers (PUBLISHER • IN)
DOI10.29121/shodhkosh.v4.i2.2023.6143
OpenAlexW4413166273
LanguageEN
References cited9

Performing arts folk theatre, street plays, community theatre, dance and participatory performance have long been used to communicate social messages across diverse publics. This paper investigates how performing arts function as sites of gender socialisation and as mechanisms for disseminating reproductive health knowledge. Drawing on a mixed-methods study conducted in urban and semi-urban Indian sites where community theatre interventions were implemented, the research analyses how performances shape gender norms, mediate information about reproductive health, and facilitate dialogic spaces for behavioural change. Findings suggest that when performances are locally grounded, gender-sensitive, and participatory, they can reduce stigma, increase knowledge, and open channels for intergenerational conversation but outcomes are mediated by caste/class, religious norms, and the nature of the art form. The paper concludes with programmatic recommendations for integrating performing arts into public health outreach while safeguarding local agency and sensitivity

Art · Developmental psychology · Environmental health · Reproductive health · The arts · Visual arts · Art Therapy and Mental Health · Diversity and Impact of Dance · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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