1st Edition
Gender and Craftwork in Rural Society The Role of Education
This book examines the potential of craft-centered education to influence gender socialization of rural children through a philosophical, sociological and psychological lens. It discusses Gandhi’s vision of craft-centered education and situates its place within his concept of ‘swaraj’.
The volume looks at the construction of gender at home, students’ participation in crafts at school and parental perception of craft-centered education. It studies the students' experience, its impact on their intellectual and physical development and the nature of the interaction between the socialization of children at home and in school.
An important contribution to the study of Gandhian practices, the book will be of considerable interest to students and researchers of gender studies, education, non-violence, peace studies, And South Asian studies.
Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Theoretical Perspective Chapter 3: Girlhood, Education and Crafts: A Conceptual Exploration Chapter 4: Methodology Chapter 5: History of Craft-centered Education Chapter 6: The School and the World Chapter 7: Constructing Gender: At Home and in School Chapter 8: Analysis II Learning Through Crafts: A Psychological Investigation Chapter 9: Implications and Conclusion
Biography
Nidhi Gaur works in gender and education with Room to Read. She completed her doctoral studies at the Central Institute of Education, University of Delhi, India. She has contributed papers and essays on craft-centered education, Gandhi studies, and children's literature.
“Dr Nidhi Gaur has written a delightful engaging and lucid book. It looks at children studying in a Gandhian school near Wardha. Her work shows us the viability of the extensions of Ashram life where everything is woven together. Marcel Mauss spoke of the "total social fact" where specialization, differentiation and knowledge are in an interactive mode. So also, Dr Gaur's work will show how therapeutic craft education is in modern schools.”
Susan Visvanathan was formerly Professor and Chairperson, CSSS, JNU, New Delhi.
“Nidhi Gaur's meticulous field work and analysis go into the depths of an old and important question about the impact of handicrafts on the mind and behaviour. This study looks at the school Gandhi had started at Sevagram and reveals to us the mystery of its continued success.”
Krishna Kumar, former Director, NCERT.
