Gender, School and Society | Free BEd Books | Free BEd study materials | Download BEd Books
Gender, School and Society is one of the most critical and transformative papers in the Bachelor of Education (BEd) curriculum. It moves beyond the common-sense understanding of gender as a simple binary and examines how schools—as miniature societies—both reflect and reproduce gender inequalities. For every aspiring teacher, this paper is not merely a syllabus requirement; it is the analytical lens that reveals how seemingly neutral classroom practices, textbooks, and institutional structures can perpetuate discrimination. It equips future teachers with the knowledge, sensitivity, and agency to become champions of gender equality. Recognizing the need for accessible, high-quality resources, this free study material from Mangalore University’s Centre for Distance Education is made available for direct download.
This comprehensive guide covers the complete syllabus in two blocks and twelve units, from the foundational concepts of gender socialization and discrimination, through gender issues in curriculum and jurisprudence, to practical strategies for developing positive self-concept, using gender-free teaching materials, and becoming an agent of change. Students who master this material build both the theoretical understanding and the practical competencies required to create gender-inclusive classrooms and schools. In this detailed guide, you will explore the complete syllabus of the Gender, School and Society paper, unit-wise coverage, key concepts, and how this free study material helps in BEd exam success and future teaching careers.
Table of Contents
Overview of Gender, School and Society BEd Study Material
The Gender, School and Society study material provided by Mangalore University is a thoughtfully curated, self-learning resource that covers the entire syllabus prescribed for the B.Ed. degree programme under Open and Distance Learning. It is structured into two blocks and twelve clear units, each breaking down complex sociological, feminist, and pedagogical concepts into digestible, exam-focused notes.
The main units included in the book are:
Block 1: Gender Issues and Socialisation Process in India
Unit I: Gender Socialisation and Gender Roles
Unit II: Gender Discrimination at Different Levels of Institutions
Unit III: Gender Identities and Socialisation Practices in Different Types of Families in India
Unit IV: Gender Concerns Related to Access, Enrolment, Retention, Participation, and Overall Achievement
Unit V: Gender Issues in Curriculum
Unit VI: Gender Jurisprudence
Block 2: Gender Issues and Education
Unit I: Developing Positive Self-Concept and Self-Esteem among Students
Unit II: Teaching Learning Materials to teach Gender Issues
Unit III: Classroom Transaction in relation to Gender Issues
Unit IV: Teacher as an Agent of Change in the Context of Gender and Society
Unit V: Theories and Identity of Gender & Education (Indian context): Socialisation Theory and Structural Theory
Unit VI: Culture, Gender and Institution, Girls as Learners, Curriculum, Gender Culture and Hidden Curriculum
Each unit begins with clear objectives and an introduction to the topic. Concepts are explained in simple language, followed by key points, definitions, and distinctions. This structured format ensures students first grasp the theoretical concept and then understand its application in classroom practice and school reform.
Download the Free BEd Book – Gender, School and Society below:
| Free BEd Book | Free BEd Study Materials |
|---|---|
| Complete Book – Gender, School and Society | Download – Gender, School and Society |
Click the link above to access the direct download. The PDF contains both blocks and all twelve units, covering the entire syllabus. This resource is completely free and can be saved to your device for offline study, printed for personal use, or shared with fellow BEd students.
Importance of Gender, School and Society for BEd Students
The Gender, School and Society paper is not just another exam to pass. It is the foundational framework for understanding how schools perpetuate or challenge social inequalities. Its importance lies in several key areas:
It reveals the hidden curriculum. Schools teach more than just subjects. Through routines, rituals, language, and interactions, they transmit powerful messages about gender. This paper equips teachers to see and transform these hidden lessons.
It addresses real classroom inequalities. From who is called upon more often, to who is praised for neatness versus intelligence, to who is steered toward science versus home science—gender operates in every classroom. This paper provides the vocabulary and framework to address these disparities.
It prepares teachers to support all students. Transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender-questioning students are present in every school. This paper builds the understanding and empathy needed to create truly inclusive classrooms.
It connects education to constitutional values. The Indian Constitution guarantees equality. This paper examines the gap between constitutional promise and educational reality, and empowers teachers to bridge it.
It is essential for competitive exams. Topics from this paper—gender socialization, discrimination, gender jurisprudence, policies for girls’ education, and the role of teachers in promoting equality—are repeatedly asked in teaching eligibility tests like CTET, UGC NET, KVS, NVS, and state TET exams.
Students who thoroughly study this material find both their BEd examinations and their teaching practice significantly more socially conscious and transformative.
Unit-Wise Conceptual Clarity
Block 1: Gender Issues and Socialisation Process in India
Unit I: Gender Socialisation and Gender Roles
This unit establishes the foundational distinction between sex (biological) and gender (socially constructed). It examines the process of gender socialization—how families, schools, peer groups, and media teach children the expected behaviors, attitudes, and roles associated with being masculine or feminine. The unit explores theories of gender development and analyzes how gender roles are learned, internalized, and performed. It answers the fundamental question: How do children learn to be boys and girls?
Unit II: Gender Discrimination at Different Levels of Institutions
This unit moves from the individual to the institutional. It examines how gender discrimination operates at multiple levels—within the family (differential treatment of sons and daughters), within schools (differential expectations, access, and opportunities), within the workplace (glass ceilings, wage gaps), and within the state (laws, policies, and their implementation). The unit provides a multi-level framework for understanding discrimination as systemic, not merely individual.
Unit III: Gender Identities and Socialisation Practices in Different Types of Families in India
This unit addresses the diversity of Indian family structures—nuclear, joint, single-parent, matrilineal, patrilineal—and examines how different family types shape gender socialization practices. It explores regional variations, caste and class dimensions, and the specific experiences of transgender and gender-diverse individuals within family systems. The unit answers: How does the Indian family, in its many forms, produce and reproduce gender?
Unit IV: Gender Concerns Related to Access, Enrolment, Retention, Participation, and Overall Achievement
This unit is the empirical heart of the paper. It examines the educational trajectory of girls and gender-marginalized students through five critical stages: access to schooling, enrolment in schools, retention across years, active participation in classroom processes, and overall academic achievement. The unit analyzes data, identifies bottlenecks, and examines government policies and schemes (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, etc.) aimed at addressing these concerns.
Unit V: Gender Issues in Curriculum
This unit provides the tools for critical textbook analysis. It examines how the formal curriculum—syllabus, textbooks, language, images, examples—reproduces gender stereotypes. Students learn to identify and challenge representations of women and men in curriculum materials. The unit also examines the null curriculum: what is not taught, and how the absence of women’s contributions, feminist perspectives, and gender diversity shapes students’ worldviews.
Unit VI: Gender Jurisprudence
This unit examines the legal framework for gender equality in India. It analyzes constitutional provisions (Article 14, 15, 16, 21), landmark judgments (Vishaka guidelines, NALSA judgment on transgender rights, Shayara Bano on triple talaq), and key legislation (Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act). The unit answers: What does the law say about gender equality, and how can teachers use legal frameworks to advocate for students?
Block 2: Gender Issues and Education
Unit I: Developing Positive Self-Concept and Self-Esteem among Students
This unit moves from critique to construction. It examines how gender socialization damages self-concept and self-esteem, particularly among girls and gender-nonconforming students. It provides practical strategies for teachers to build positive self-concept through language, affirmation, representation, and creating success experiences. This unit answers: How can teachers heal the psychological wounds of gender discrimination?
Unit II: Teaching Learning Materials to teach Gender Issues
This unit is practical and creative. It provides guidance on selecting, adapting, and creating teaching-learning materials that are gender-fair and gender-transformative. It includes criteria for evaluating textbooks, strategies for supplementing biased materials, and methods for creating new materials—stories, posters, activities, role-plays—that challenge stereotypes and promote equality.
Unit III: Classroom Transaction in relation to Gender Issues
This unit focuses on the moment-by-moment interactions that constitute classroom life. It examines teacher language (who is praised, who is corrected, who is called upon), classroom routines (who leads, who cleans, who carries), grouping practices (boys vs. girls seating, activities), and disciplinary practices (differential treatment for perceived gender-appropriate behavior). It provides practical strategies for gender-fair classroom transaction.
Unit IV: Teacher as an Agent of Change in the Context of Gender and Society
This unit positions the teacher as a transformative intellectual. It examines the ethical and professional responsibility of teachers to challenge gender discrimination, both within the school and in the wider society. It explores the concept of critical pedagogy and provides case studies of teachers who have successfully transformed gender relations in their schools and communities. This unit answers: What does it mean to teach for gender justice?
Unit V: Theories and Identity of Gender & Education (Indian context): Socialisation Theory and Structural Theory
This unit provides theoretical depth. It examines two major theoretical frameworks for understanding gender and education: Socialisation Theory (focusing on how individuals learn gender roles through socialization) and Structural Theory (focusing on how social structures—economy, polity, law—create and maintain gender inequality). The unit applies both frameworks to the Indian context, examining their strengths and limitations.
Unit VI: Culture, Gender and Institution, Girls as Learners, Curriculum, Gender Culture and Hidden Curriculum
This culminating unit synthesizes earlier themes. It examines the complex relationship between culture, gender, and educational institutions. It focuses specifically on girls as learners, exploring their unique challenges and strengths. It revisits curriculum analysis through the lens of gender culture, and provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and transforming the hidden curriculum of gender.
Benefits of Free BEd Study Material PDF Download
Downloading the free Gender, School and Society BEd study material from Mangalore University offers several practical advantages for BEd students.
Easy Access Anytime, Anywhere
Students can access the complete book on smartphones, tablets, or laptops. This allows flexible study schedules, quick revision during travel, and access even in remote areas with low internet connectivity.
Cost-Free Resource
BEd textbooks can be expensive. This resource is completely free, removing financial barriers and ensuring every student, regardless of their economic background, has access to high-quality study material.
Exam-Focused Content
The material is organized unit-wise, exactly as per university syllabi. Key concepts are highlighted, distinctions are clearly tabulated, and the language is straightforward—ideal for last-minute revision and exam writing.
Print on Demand
Students who prefer reading from physical books can easily download the PDF and print only the units they need, saving both money and paper.
Lifelong Reference
This material is not just for exams. It serves as a valuable reference during teaching practice, internship, and throughout a teaching career—especially when designing gender-inclusive lessons, selecting textbooks, or addressing gender-based discrimination in schools.
Importance for Teaching Competitive Exams
The Gender, School and Society study material is not limited to BEd semester examinations. It is equally vital for aspirants appearing for teaching eligibility tests.
CTET and State TET: Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test and its state counterparts include significant weightage on gender and inclusive education. Questions on gender stereotypes, discrimination, girls’ education, and inclusive practices are directly covered in this material.
UGC NET Education: For those pursuing higher studies and lectureship, this material forms an important part of Paper 2 and Paper 3 syllabus in Education, particularly the units on gender studies and inclusive education.
KVS/NVS Recruitment: Kendriya Vidyalaya and Navodaya Vidyalaya teacher recruitment exams increasingly include questions on gender sensitivity and creating inclusive classrooms.
Students who master these notes find themselves at a significant advantage in competitive exams.
How to Study Gender, School and Society Effectively
Merely downloading the PDF is not enough. A strategic approach is essential to master this paper.
Step 1: Distinguish Between Sex and Gender
This is the most fundamental distinction in the entire paper. Ensure you understand it thoroughly and can explain it with examples.
Step 2: Create Theorist-Theory Matrices
This paper draws on multiple theorists and frameworks—socialization theory, structural theory, critical pedagogy, feminist jurisprudence. Create clear matrices connecting theorists to their key ideas.
Step 3: Memorize Constitutional Provisions and Landmark Cases
Gender jurisprudence requires knowledge of specific articles, acts, and judgments. Create a timeline of key legal developments in gender equality in India.
Step 4: Practice Textbook Analysis
Unit V on gender issues in curriculum is best learned through practice. Take a school textbook from any subject and analyze it using the frameworks provided in the unit.
Step 5: Collect Case Studies
Unit IV in Block 2 on teacher as change agent is enriched by real examples. Collect case studies of teachers who have worked for gender equality in Indian schools.
Step 6: Connect Theory to Classroom Practice
Examiners increasingly ask application-based questions. For every concept, ask: How would I address this in my classroom? How would I respond to a gender-biased remark? How would I select a gender-fair textbook?
Step 7: Practice Previous Year Questions
Download previous years’ question papers from your university. Identify repeated topics. Practice writing answers within time limits.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Rote Memorization without Understanding
This paper is deeply conceptual and value-based. Memorizing definitions of gender, sex, socialization, and discrimination without understanding their lived reality leads to poor application in exam questions and no real transformation in teaching practice.
Confusing Similar-Sounding Terms
Students often confuse: Sex and Gender, Gender and Women’s Studies, Equality and Equity, Socialisation Theory and Structural Theory. Create clear, separate definitions for each.
Ignoring the Indian Context
Many students rely on Western examples and theories. This paper requires specific knowledge of the Indian context—Indian family structures, Indian constitutional provisions, Indian policies and schemes.
Neglecting the Practical Units
Units on developing self-concept, teaching-learning materials, and classroom transaction are often treated as “soft” and studied superficially. Examiners expect detailed, practical strategies.
Relying Solely on One Source
While this free study material is comprehensive, cross-verifying with your university syllabus and engaging with contemporary debates on gender in Indian society is essential.
Time Management Tips for BEd Students
BEd students often juggle theory classes, internship, lesson planning, and exam preparation simultaneously. Effective time management is crucial.
Divide your preparation into:
Concept Building (30% of time) — Reading and understanding each unit thoroughly, especially the theoretical units.
Memorization (20% of time) — Learning constitutional provisions, legal cases, policies, schemes, and key definitions.
Application Practice (30% of time) — Practicing textbook analysis, case study analysis, and developing lesson plans.
Answer Writing Practice (20% of time) — Writing full-length answers under timed conditions, especially application-based and reflective questions.
Long-Term Professional Benefits
Mastering Gender, School and Society builds a foundation for:
Gender-Inclusive Classroom Practice — Creating classrooms where all students, regardless of gender identity, feel valued, respected, and capable.
Critical Textbook Selection — Evaluating and selecting teaching-learning materials that challenge rather than reinforce stereotypes.
Addressing Discrimination — Responding effectively to gender-based bullying, harassment, and exclusion in schools.
Parent and Community Engagement — Working with families and communities to promote girls’ education and challenge regressive norms.
Teacher Eligibility Exams — Direct questions in CTET, UPTET, REET, KVS, NVS, and other TET exams on gender and inclusive education.
Higher Education — Essential base for MEd and UGC NET in Education, particularly the gender studies and inclusive education specializations.
Social Transformation — Becoming a teacher who does not merely transmit the existing social order but actively works to transform it.
Why This Free Study Material Should Be Your Primary Resource
There are many expensive guidebooks and coaching materials available. However, this free resource from Mangalore University remains a reliable and accessible starting point. It provides:
Complete Syllabus Coverage — Both blocks and all twelve units, no gaps.
Clear and Simple Language — Complex sociological and feminist concepts broken down for easy understanding.
Exam-Focused Presentation — Key points, distinctions, and important legal provisions and policies highlighted.
Zero Financial Barrier — High-quality education democratized.
Once you have thoroughly understood the concepts from this material, you can confidently move to reference books by NCERT, NCF position papers on gender, and reports by the National Commission for Women for deeper reading, and to previous year question papers for practice.
Gender, School and Society is not merely a BEd paper to be passed and forgotten. It is the critical consciousness that transforms an ordinary teacher into an agent of social justice. The free study material provided by Mangalore University makes this essential knowledge accessible to every future teacher, regardless of their access to coaching or expensive textbooks.
By studying consistently, mastering foundational distinctions, understanding the Indian legal and policy context, practicing textbook analysis, connecting theory to classroom practice, and revising thoroughly, BEd students can not only excel in their examinations but also become teachers who recognize that every interaction is an opportunity to either reinforce or challenge gender stereotypes.
This BEd book is not just a collection of notes—it is the beginning of a teacher’s journey toward becoming a feminist educator, a gender-just practitioner, and a transformative leader in the long struggle for equality.