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The Impassioned Peahen
Despite being a singer and a musician, what sets this principal aflame are the words “gender justice”. The number of professionally competent and employed daughters and wives is increasing progressively, but it would be brought up to greater speed if the Principal Hilda Peacock of La Martiniere for Girls in Kolkata could have her way. Schools need to be just
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institutions, if only because it is there that future citizens are educated. Ms. Peacock dwells on how it all began.
Hilda Peacock is an unorthodox teacher and outspoken principal and these are undoubtedly the two characteristics that have given La Martiniere for Girls in Kolkata a high place in the list of ‘Best Schools in the Country.’ Particularly noteworthy is her commitment to Gender Justice. Women like her will not rest until women all around get the respect, dignity and justice each one of them is entitled to.
We know that India’s legislative framework has tried its best to provide for equality in society between men and women. However, laws and rights cannot be enforced without changes in social institutions, values and attitudes. The portals of a school contain one of the main bodies within which the values and attitudes can be nurtured to make gender justice a reality. We quizzed the passionate principal on the subject.
Mentor:
Define 'gender justice'. Where is India at, regarding gender justice?
Hilda Peacock:
Gender justice for me means an equal opportunity and equal treatment in everything and by everybody. It means that one should not feel that there are any privileges on either side. India is very far away from this ideal.
--> How was this passion set alight in you? What were your own experiences
as a young girl?
--> Where is this injustice really stark - when you have had to cry and fight
for justice
--> What are some of the chief barriers and fixed attitudes in low-esteem
girls that you find yourself comming against- how do you deal with them?
--> What are some of the measures you use in your school to show girls how
precious they are to God and to society?
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