Participation of youth in social media: A study with reference to gender sensitization

Pages: 2086-2091
Nity and Gaurav Singh (Department of Psychology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)

The emerging trend of social media usage among youth is easily visible in our society. There are a variety of social media platform that has stimulated the thoughts of young generation more eloquently. The contribution and participation of social media by the youth is no doubt different. The content of social media varies as per the interest of young generation. The major part of the social media content is focused on the burning issues related to our society and that too with gender sensitization. Gender sensitization is the process changing the mind set of stereotype of men and women-a mind set that strongly believes that man and woman are ‘unequal entities’ and hence have to function in different socio-economic space. It creates a mind set in men that no longer sees in women the stereotypical image. The general perception of men and women on the rigid gender division of labor and other orthodox practices related to gender begin to die down. Women also tend to develop the perception that they are no subordinate to men and they have an equally important role to play in decision making at household, community and organization level. The main problem of Indian society is lack of women recognition and appreciation for women’s involvement in multifarious activities. The researchers have focused on social media content with reference to gender sensitization among the youth population. It is the need of the hour to change the perception about women in our society. The research study aims at analyzing the efficacy of social media as a medium of communication for creating awareness related to gender sensitization. The main objective of the research work is to disseminate information on important social issues used in social media and to sensitize the society against women atrocities and several other problems that are being faced by the women on daily basis. The research will help in studying the nature of social evils against women in our society. A survey of 100 post graduate students was conducted in Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow. The research was conducted through convenient sampling. The research study focuses on the participation of the students on social media. The research work also focuses on the type of content students browse and post on the social media platforms that are related with gender sensitization.