When schools in India’s Kerala state reopened on June 3 after a long summer break, students walked into classrooms with the usual excitement.
This year, however, they were greeted with a surprising and groundbreaking change. The textbooks they received were unlike any they had seen before — filled with gender-neutral images and instructions.
The initiative, driven by the state’s commitment to fostering equality from a young age, aimed to break down traditional gender roles and promote inclusivity.
Students found pictures of boys and girls engaging in various activities without gender-specific expectations. One of the images showed the father grating coconut in the kitchen while his wife cooked food.